Human Resources Specialist (ELR/Performance Management)

US Federal Transit Administration; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 158,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work eligibility

Job summary

Federal Transit Administration is seeking an HR specialist to support complex Employee and Labor Relations matters, performance management, and ER/LR program administration. The role involves advising employees and management, administering programs, and overseeing the agency’s Drug Testing Program in line with regulations.

Responsibilities include addressing root causes of ER/LR issues, processing discipline and grievances, and ensuring compliance across graded levels.

Qualifications

• Experience in Employee and Labor Relations and performance management.
• Knowledge of drug testing programs and telework/leave programs.
• Ability to advise on conduct, discipline, grievances, and appeals.

Responsibilities

• Analyze ER/LR issues to identify root causes and guide management.
• Administer and maintain ER/LR programs including labor agreements.
• Manage HR programs: performance management, telework, leave, and drug testing.
• Oversee Drug Testing Program per regulations and agency guidelines.
• Counsel on conduct issues, grievances, and adverse actions.
• Work scope scales with grade level and advancement.

Skills

Employee and Labor Relations

Performance Management and Awards

Drug Testing and Alternative Work

Oral and Written Communication

Education

GS-11: Education alone (3 years grad leading to PhD)

GS-12: Education not sufficient; experience required

GS-13: Program evaluation and investigations

Job description

Serve as an HR specialist supporting complex Employee and Labor Relations matters, performance management, and ER/LR program administration for the Federal Transit Administration.

Responsibilities

• Analyze complex Employee and Labor Relations (ER/LR) issues to identify root causes, address workforce challenges, and provide strategic guidance to employees, supervisors, and management.
• Administer, evaluate, and maintain agency ER/LR programs, including negotiating agreements and supporting collaborative labor-management partnerships.
• Manage core HR program areas, including Performance Management, Performance Awards, Telework policy administration, and Leave programs.
• Oversee and facilitate the agency’s Drug Testing Program in accordance with federal regulations and established agency guidelines.
• Provide expert advice and counseling on complex conduct and discipline issues, grievances and appeals, and adverse actions.
• Perform duties where responsibility and task complexity scale with the grade level and advancement of the position.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship or U.S. National is required.
• Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date.
• Submit required documents by the closing date.
• Direct Hire Authority/SME will be used to fill this position.
• A 1-year probationary period may be required to evaluate fitness and whether continued employment advances the public interest.
• Selective Service requirement: males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered.
• Government Travel Card: travel is involved; a contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only.
• Background investigation is required for selected individuals; appointment is subject to successful completion and favorable adjudication.
• Applicants may need to complete a one-year probationary period unless already completed.
• To meet minimum qualifications, you must meet either the education or experience qualifications for the grade requested.

Qualifications (by Grade)

• GS-11 (Experience): at least 1 year equivalent to GS-09, including:
  • Assisting with research on regulations, case law, and agency policies to draft preliminary responses or documentation for performance, conduct, discipline, grievances, or appeals.
  • Assisting supervisors and employees with processing routine performance, leave, and telework actions under established statutory and regulatory guidelines.
• GS-11 (Education alone): 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or equivalent doctoral degree. Qualification may also be met with a combination of higher level graduate education and experience.
• GS-12: at least 1 year equivalent to GS-11, including:
  • Managing daily administration for agency HR programs (Performance Management, Telework, Leave, or Drug Testing Program).
  • Researching, providing technical guidance, and drafting official documentation for employee performance actions, misconduct, disciplinary actions, adverse action, grievance, and appeals.
  • Advising managers (additional details in source material extend beyond the provided excerpt).
• GS-12 education: cannot qualify with education at this level; experience is required.
• GS-13: at least 1 year equivalent to GS-12, including:
  • Establishing program priorities, evaluating agency-wide ER/LR operations, and ensuring full compliance with statutory, regulatory, and collective bargaining obligations.
  • Conducting factual research, third-party investigations, and analysis to recommend formal decisions on contested performance actions, disciplinary/adverse actions, grievances, and additional elements in the source excerpt.
• KSAs listed:
  • Employee and Labor Relations
  • Performance Management and Awards
  • Drug Testing and Alternative Work Program
  • Oral and Written Communication
• Experience may include paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps).
• All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date.

Education

• This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Required Documents

• Resume: maximum two (2) pages accepted; must include information needed to determine qualifications, including employment beginning and ending dates, full-time or part-time status, average hours per week, and position titles.
• If federal employment: provide position series and grade level.
• Displaced employees (CTAP/ICTAP): if requesting consideration, provide the most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility letter, and the most current SF‑50 showing current series and grade.
• Failure to submit required documents by the closing date results in removal from consideration.

How Applications Are Evaluated

• Evaluation is based on how well you meet the qualification requirements and KSAs at the needed proficiency level.
• Applicants who meet basic qualifications may be assessed to validate KSA proficiency.
• Qualified applicants may be referred to the selecting official for further consideration.
• To receive full credit, assessment responses must explicitly reference information from your resume.
• Falsifying background, education, and/or experience may result in not hiring or adverse action after hiring.
• This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

Eligibility and Opening

• Open to the public: U.S. Citizens, Nationals, or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
• Career transition (CTAP/ICTAP/RPL): eligible federal employees with a job/agency/department eliminated may have priority.
• Applications will be accepted from any U.S. Citizen.
• Due to potential high volume, not all applicants may receive consideration.
• Rule of Many, Veterans Preference, and traditional rating and ranking do not apply to this vacancy.

Conditions of Employment

• As a condition of employment, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period evaluating fitness and public-interest advancement.
• After probation, employment may be terminated unless you receive written certification that continued employment advances the public interest.

Benefits

• Eligibility depends on position type and whether the role is full‑time, part‑time, or intermittent.
• A career with the U.S. government includes a comprehensive benefits package.

Agency & Application Details

• Location: Washington, DC 20590 (onsite); Telework eligible (situational telework).
• Work site options: Remote job: No; Relocation expenses reimbursed: No.
• Salary: USD 85,447 - 158,322 per year.
• Accepting applications: closes when 75 applications are received, which may occur before the closing date.
• Accommodation requests
  • Application online accommodations: [e-mail]
  • Interview process accommodations: [e-mail]
• Agency contact: [e-mail]
• Address: DOT, Federal Transit Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave SE / HAHR - 50, Washington, District of Columbia 20590, United States