Human Resources Specialist

U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Delaware; Wilmington (DE); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Delaware is seeking an HR Specialist to administer onboarding/offboarding, personnel actions, and employee records in Wilmington, DE.

The role supports staffing, recruitment, and candidate screening while advising staff on HR policies, benefits, and leave programs. You will help with performance management, employee relations, and HR reporting to ensure compliance with federal guidelines.

Qualifications

• One full year of specialized experience at the GS-07 level or equivalent in HR matters.
• Graduate education in a related field can substitute for experience as allowed by regulation.
• A combination of education and experience may be used to meet total requirements.

Responsibilities

• Administer onboarding and offboarding processes.
• Maintain accurate employee records per federal guidelines.
• Support staffing, recruitment, and job postings and candidate screening.
• Advise staff on HR policies, benefits, and leave programs.
• Prepare HR reports and assist with workforce planning and employee relations.

Skills

HR advisory

Recruitment strategies

Performance management

Benefits administration

Employee relations

Records management

Education

Master's degree in HR or related field

Graduate education 2+ years in related field

LL.B./J.D. in related field

Job description

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Delaware represents the federal government in civil and criminal litigation within the state of Delaware. The office is committed to upholding federal law, protecting the public interest, and ensuring fair and impartial administration of justice. Staff members work in a professional, mission-driven environment that values integrity, accountability, and public service. Employees collaborate closely with attorneys, support staff, and partners across federal, state, and local agencies.

Role Description: The Human Resources Specialist is a full-time, on-site position located in Wilmington, DE. The role involves administering HR processes, including onboarding and offboarding, personnel actions, and maintaining accurate employee records in compliance with federal guidelines. The specialist supports staffing and recruitment activities, coordinates job postings, assists with candidate screening, and helps facilitate hiring and placement actions. Daily responsibilities include advising staff on HR policies, helping manage employee benefits and leave programs, and supporting performance management and employee relations activities. The role also requires preparing HR reports, ensuring adherence to federal HR regulations, and collaborating with leadership to support workforce planning and organizational effectiveness.

At the full performance level, you will provide a variety of human resources management services in two or more of the following functional areas: recruitment and placement, position classification, employee relations and performance management, employee benefits, and human resources development. Duties include:

• Performing position analysis to determine organizational requirements.
• Determining recruitment strategies and posting job announcements.
• Reviewing applications and applying qualification standards.
• Providing advice and assistance on performance management.
• Providing assistance in the administration of benefits programs.
• Administering guidance on pay and leave.
• Identifying training and development needs.
• Conducting evaluations of human resource program operations.

Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory pre-employment adjudication. This includes fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing. Continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation.
• You must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable.
• If selected, you may be required to complete a one year probationary period.
• Time-in-Grade: Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements within 30 days after the closing date of this announcement.
• You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days after the closing date of this announcement and before placement in the position.

Qualifications

GS-9: To be eligible at the GS-09 level, you must meet at least ONE of the following conditions, as defined below: Specialized Experience, Education, OR a combination of Specialized Experience and Education.

Specialized Experience: One full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in Federal service which could have been gained in the federal, public, and/or private sector. Specialized Experience is defined as:

• advising management on Human Resources matters;
• applying problem solving methods and techniques on a variety of Human Resources issues;
• presenting findings or recommendations related to at least one of the following areas: position classification, training, staffing and recruitment, Human Resources information systems, employee relations and performance management, employee benefits, pay and compensation, or records management and administration.

OR

Education: One of the following types of education in a related field (e.g., Human Resources, Business Administration): a Master's or equivalent graduate degree; OR 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; OR LL.B. or J.D., if related. Education at the graduate level must be in an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position.

OR

Combining Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed graduate education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements. In order to qualify based on a combination, graduate education must be in excess of 1 full year.

GS-11: To be eligible at the GS-11 level, you must meet at least ONE of the following conditions, as defined below: Specialized Experience, Education, OR a combination of Specialized Experience and Education.

Specialized Experience: One full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in Federal service which could have been gained in the federal, public, and/or private sector. Specialized Experience is defined as:

• providing comprehensive management advisory and technical services on Human Resources laws and regulations;
• advising management on recruitment methods and strategies;
• applying problem solving methods and techniques on a variety of Human Resources issues; and
• interpreting regulatory material to present findings, training, or recommendations related to at least one of the following areas: position classification, staffing and recruitment, employee relations and performance management, employee benefits, or pay and compensation.

OR

Education: One of the following types of education in a related field (e.g., Human Resources, Business Administration): a Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate degree;

OR

3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; OR LL.M., if related.

OR

Combining Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed graduate education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements. In order to qualify based on a combination, graduate education must be in excess of 2 full years.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)

The ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in the announcement; and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and receive a score of 85 or better on established ranking criteria. You must provide proof of eligibility to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form. Additional information about ICTAP eligibility is at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)

The CTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the Department of Justice with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your Department of Justice component has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your CTAP eligibility, 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and receive a score of 85 or better on established ranking criteria. You must provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application. Additional information about CTAP eligibility is at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA)

VEOA allows eligible veterans to apply and compete for positions announced under merit promotion procedures when the hiring agency is recruiting from outside its own workforce. To be eligible for a VEOA appointment, a veteran must be honorably separated and either a preference eligible or have substantially completed three (3) or more years of continuous active military service. If you are applying for a Merit Promotion announcement and wish to be considered under VEOA, you must submit a copy of the Member Copy 4 of your DD-214, in addition to any other required documents listed on this announcement.

Special Employment Consideration

Persons with disabilities, veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more, certain other veterans, spouses of certain members of the armed forces, and returning Peace Corps volunteers are examples of individuals who are potentially eligible for non-competitive appointments. For further information, click on the links provided below. You must specify in your online questionnaire under what authority you wish to be considered and submit appropriate documentation to verify your eligibility.

Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities Links: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/competitive-hiring/#url=Types-of-Appointments