Human Resources Specialist (Recruitment and Placement)

USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS); Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 55,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is seeking a Staffing Specialist to announce vacancies and onboard new hires, helping field teams meet agency objectives.

The role involves coordinating announcements, evaluating applicants, and managing the new hire process within automated HR systems, supporting staffing across programs and seasons.

Qualifications

• Completed all requirements for an associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational, or technical degree.
• GS-7: one year of graduate education toward a degree in Human Resources, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a closely related field.
• Specialized experience at GS-7: one year of experience equivalent to GS-5, including communicating information clearly and using automated information systems.

Responsibilities

• Prepares merit promotion, case exam, direct hire and Pathways Program vacancy announcements using automated HR systems/applications.
• Evaluates merit promotion, case exam and Pathways Programs applicants to determine eligibility against qualification standards.
• Coordinates bundled/batched announcement pushes and surge hiring with seasonal cycles.
• Uses automated staffing systems to conduct the new hire process.
• Codes and approves SF-52 requests for personnel actions for standard, recurring actions.

Job description

Find Your Future With Us at USDA – Animal Plant Health Inspection Service

Job Summary

If selected, you will serve as a staffing specialist, announcing vacancies and onboarding new hires to enhance and facilitate the function of field teams to achieve agency objectives.

Qualifications

To qualify, you MUST meet all program and qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement. To be eligible, applicants must meet one of the following requirements; Completed all requirements for an associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational, or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution within the previous two (2) years. Individuals who, due to military service obligation, were precluded from applying to the Recent Graduates Program during any portion of the 2-year eligibility period described above shall have a full 2-year period of eligibility upon release or discharge from active duty. This eligibility period cannot extend more than 6 years from the date on which the requirements for the academic course of study were met. EDUCATION GS-7: Completion of 1 year of progressively higher level graduate education leading toward a degree in Human Resources, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a closely related field of study. OR Superior Academic Achievement: To qualify based on superior academic achievement, you must have completed the requirements for a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution AND 1) have a class standing in the upper third of the graduating class, 2) membership in a national scholastic honor society (excluding Freshman honor societies), or 3) must meet certain GPA requirements. GPA requirements: 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 as recorded on official transcripts or as computed based on 4 years of education, or courses completed during the final 2 year of the curriculum; OR 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on the average of the required course completed in the major field or courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum (GPA will be rounded to one decimal place, e.g., 2.95 rounds to 3.0 and 2.94 rounds to 2.9). TRANSCRIPTS are required. OR SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-7 GRADE LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to the next lower level (GS5) in the Federal Service. This experience may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors. Examples of qualifying experience include, but are not limited to: Communicating factual and procedural information clearly, verbally, and in writing for administrative functions. Using automated information systems to research, interpret, and apply policies, regulations, laws, and guidance. Working independently and setting priorities with little oversight for daily work and special projects. Conducting transactional work that requires using a variety of systems, methods, guidelines to complete. COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-7 GRADE LEVEL: Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level. Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed graduate education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Major Duties

• Prepares merit promotion, case exam, direct hire and Pathways Program vacancy announcements using automated HR systems/applications.
• Evaluates merit promotion, case exam and Pathways Programs applicants to determine if eligibility requirements and established qualification standards have been met.
• Serves as a coordinator for bundled/batched announcement pushes, surge hiring efforts, and working with seasonal hiring cycles.
• Utilizes automated staffing systems to conduct the new hire process.
• Codes and approves SF-52 Request for Personnel Actions for standard, recurring personnel actions.

Position Start Date

10/28/2026

Position Close Date

11/03/2026

Salary Offered

55012 - 71517 USD Per Year

You can make a difference! The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Marketing and Regulatory Programs (MRP) needs bright, energetic and committed professionals to facilitate the domestic and international marketing of U.S. agricultural products and to protect the health and care of animals and plants in the United States. We operate in domestic and global markets. Be part of an organization that protects the health and agriculture of the American people. Join our team! To learn more about what it's like to work at the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, what the agency does, and the types of careers, please visit the APHIS careers site. APHIS is an emergency response agency. This means that all Agency employees may be asked or assigned to participate in rotating temporary duty assignments to support emergency programs at some time during their careers with APHIS. For details click: APHIS Emergency Response