Supervisory Human Resources Specialist (Labor Relations)

Patent and Trademark Office (DOC); Alexandria (VA); On-site; USD 169,000 - 197,000; Full time

Job summary

Patent and Trademark Office (DOC) in Alexandria, VA seeks a Division Chief of the Labor Relations Division. The Division Chief leads labor relations with POPA, NTEU 243 and NTEU 245, and provides confidential advice to senior management while guiding staff and coordinating with the Office of Human Resources.

The incumbent will develop goals, analyze statutes and policies, advise management on bargaining matters, and foster collaborative solutions to minimize disruptions and improve

Qualifications

• Specialized experience at GS-14 level or equivalent.
• Experience overseeing negotiated grievance procedures.
• Experience advising on union matters and bargaining unit agreements.
• Experience supervising a labor relations team.

Responsibilities

• You thrive at developing goals and objectives that integrate labor relations related missions and functions into the Office of Human Resources.
• You research, interpret, analyze, and apply Federal statutes, OPM and USPTO guides, policies, regulations, labor-management bargaining unit directives and requirements.
• You enjoy providing sound advice and guidance to HR staff, managers and supervisors related to union negotiations and impacts.
• You have a strong desire to identify and resolve unique issues where no policy exists and can recommend innovative actions to address new needs or issues.
• You are committed to building collaborative relationships and can persuade others to accept recommendations, cooperate, and accept changes as needed working towards continuous improvement.
• You are excited about managing and resolving conflicts, grievances, confrontations, or disagreements in a constructive manner to minimize negative impact on organizational objectives.

Skills

Labor relations leadership

Union negotiations advice

Conflict resolution

Analytical thinking

Education

OPM Qualifications Standards familiarity

Job description

Summary

This position serves as the Division Chief of the Labor Relations Division. The Division Chief is responsible for all labor relations matters with the USPTO’s three unions, Patent Office Professional Association (POPA), National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) 243 and NTEU 245. The Division Chief provides confidential labor relations advice to senior management, directs the activities of labor relations staff, and collaborates with other Office of Human Resources staff.
Learn more about this agency

Summary

This position serves as the Division Chief of the Labor Relations Division. The Division Chief is responsible for all labor relations matters with the USPTO’s three unions, Patent Office Professional Association (POPA), National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) 243 and NTEU 245. The Division Chief provides confidential labor relations advice to senior management, directs the activities of labor relations staff, and collaborates with other Office of Human Resources staff.
Learn more about this agency

Overview

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Accepting applications
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Alexandria, VA
No matching locations found.
Work site options

Yes—Situational Telework Program

No

No

$169,279 – $197,200 per year

GS 15

15

Learn more about pay scale and grade

Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.

Full-time

Not required

Permanent
Occupations and job series

• 0201 Human Resources Management

Yes

This job is in the Competitive Service

No

No

Other

High Risk (HR)

Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.

Background check type

• Credentialing
• Suitability/Fitness

No

Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.

TMCO-HRMS-27-13102492-IMP

891338900

This job is open to

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Internal to an agency

Current federal employees of the hiring agency that posted the job announcement.

Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants.

Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from current USPTO Federal employees serving on career or career-conditional appointment in the Competitive Service and CTAP eligible candidates in the local commuting area.

Duties

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The physical worksite for this position is located in Alexandria, Virginia. Presence at the Alexandria, VA campus is required for this role, as it includes on site functions that must be performed in person.Position may be eligible for situational telework in accordance with agency policy/business unit discretion. The agency currently allows for 52 hours of telework per leave year.

The individual selected for this position will…

• You thrive at developing goals and objectives that integrate labor relations related missions and functions into the Office of Human Resources.
• You are eager to research, interpret, analyze, and apply Federal statutes, OPM and USPTO guides, policies, regulations, labor-management bargaining unit directives and requirements.
• You enjoy providing sound advice and guidance to the human resources staff, managers and supervisors related to union negotiations and impacts.
• You have a strong desire to identify and resolve unique issues where no policy exists and can recommend innovative actions to address new needs or issues.
• You are committed to building collaborative relationships and can persuade others to accept recommendations, cooperate, and accept changes as needed working towards continuous improvement.
• You are excited about managing and resolving conflicts, grievances, confrontations, or disagreements in a constructive manner to minimize negative impact on organizational objectives.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• Applications will only be accepted from United States Citizens and Nationals.
• Your resume and question responses must demonstrate the job-related competencies.
• You must meet the definition of specialized experience.
• Required to pass a background investigation and fingerprint check.
• Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov).
• If selected, you may be required to complete a one year probationary period.
• You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.
• Suitable for Federal Employment
• Time-in-grade/band requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

Qualifications

You must meet the United States Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) qualification requirements (including specialized experience and/or educational requirements) for the advertised position. You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement. OPM Qualifications Standards are available at General Schedule Qualification Standards.

Specialized Experience is experience that has equipped applicants with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, you must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to GS-14 in the Federal service: For this position, the next lower grade level is a GS-14.

Specialized experience for this position includes:

• Experience overseeing negotiated grievance procedures;
• Experience advising and supporting management on agency grievance procedures (covering bargaining unit employees);
• Experience advising on union matters (such as bargaining union agreements); and
• Experience overseeing/supervising a team of professionals in a labor relations work environment.

Candidates should also possess proficiency or the potential to develop proficiency in the following competencies prior to entry into a supervisory position.

Accountability – Holds self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results. Determines objectives, sets priorities, and delegates work. Accepts responsibility for mistakes. Complies with established control systems and rules.

Customer Service – Anticipates and meets the needs of both internal and external customers. Delivers high-quality products and services; is committed to continuous improvement.

Decisiveness – Makes well-informed, effective, and timely decisions, even when data are limited or solutions produce unpleasant consequences; perceives the impact and implications of decisions.

Flexibility – Is open to change and new information; rapidly adapts to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles.

Integrity/Honesty – Behaves in an honest, fair, and ethical manner. Shows consistency in words and actions. Models high standards of ethics.

Interpersonal Skills – Treats others with courtesy, sensitivity, and respect. Considers and responds appropriately to the needs and feelings of different people in different situations.

Oral Communication – Makes clear and convincing oral presentations. Listens effectively; clarifies information as needed.

Problem Solving – Identifies and analyzes problems; weighs relevance and accuracy of information; generates and evaluates alternative solutions; makes recommendations.

Resilience – Deals effectively with pressure; remains optimistic and persistent, even under adversity. Recovers quickly from setbacks.

Written Communication –Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, inc

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, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

Education may not be substituted for specialized experience at this grade level.

Additional information

If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System. If you are exempt from registration under Selective Service Law, you must provide appropriate proof of exemption. Please visit the Selective Service System website for more information.

This is a Non Bargaining Unit position.

This is a Public Trust position and has a risk level designation of “High ”.

Background Investigation – If selected for this position, you may be required to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306), which includes a fingerprint and credit check, to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation.

The USPTO participates in E-Verify. For more information on E-Verify, please visit the Department of Homeland Security Website.

All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choice.

Relocation Expenses are not authorized and will not be paid.

CTAP candidates will be eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a “well qualified” rating of 85 out of 100. Information about CTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management’s Career Transition Resources website at: OPM CTAP. CTAP documentation requirements are listed in the ‘Required Documents’ section of this announcement.

More than one selection may be made from this announcement if additional identical vacancies in the same title, series, grade, and unit occur within 90 days from the date the certificate was issued.

All application materials become the property of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case‑by‑case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full‑time, part‑time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

• Accountability
• Customer Service
• Decisiveness
• Flexibility
• Interpersonal Skills
• Problem Solving
• Resilience

The USA Hire Assessments includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

The best qualified candidates will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview. If referred all relevant documents submitted with your application package will be forwarded to the selecting official, due weight shall be given to performance appraisals and awards in accordance with 5 CFR § 335.103(b)(3), during the interview/selection process conducted by the hiring manager. Falsifying your background, education, and/or experience is cause for not hiring you or for changing your scored responses to questions you’ve answered, which may affect your overall final score.

Agency contact information

Ramon Murphy

571-272-0660

[e-mail]

TMCO – Office of Human Resources

Office of Human Resources

Mail Stop 171

P.O. Box 1450

Alexandria, VA 22313-1450

US

Next steps

You will receive a notice generated by the USAJobs System when you have successfully submitted your application.

You will be notified of your application status through USAJOBS at four points during the hiring process, as applicable. You can check the status of your application by accessing the USAJOBS website at http://usajobs.gov/ and clicking on “Track Your Online Application.” The four points of notification are:

• Application Received or Application Incomplete;
• Minimum Qualification Requirement Met or Minimum Qualification Requirement Not Met;
• Eligible (Application Referred to the Selecting Official) or Eligible (Application Not Referred to the Selecting Official); and
• Selected or Not Selected.

After all application packages have been received, we will review your application and transcript(s) (if you are qualifying based on education) to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. We will evaluate each applicant who meets the basic qualifications on the information provided and you may be contacted for follow-up supplemental documentation. It is the applicant’s responsibility to provide any supplemental documents or information requested by the Office of Human Resources within the allocated timeframes.

All application materials become the property of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Fair and transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Criminal history inquiries Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
Financial suitability New employee probationary period
Privacy Act Reasonable accommodation policy
Selective Service Signature and false statements
Social security number request

Required documents

Requirements:

A complete application consists of:

1. Resume: All applicants are required to submit a two-page resume (NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES). Resumes exceeding this limit will not be considered eligible. Please submit only one resume. Only the document uploaded under the “Resume “section as the “Document Type” will be reviewed to assess your qualifications and for evaluation purposes. To receive full credit for relevant experience, please list the month/year (MM/YY – MM/YY) and number of hours worked for experience listed on your resume. We suggest that you preview the online questions, as you may need to customize your resume to ensure that it supports your responses to these questions. Resume should clearly state your experience related to this position as described in the Duties section and Qualifications section.

2. Professional or Academic References: Provide 2-3 professional/academic references (name, phone, email); one must be your current supervisor. We’ll notify you before contacting them.

Please Note: Any experience claimed in a cover letter should be substantiated by information contained in your resume. A HR Representative will validate the qualifications of those candidates eligible to be referred to the selecting official.

Supporting Documents:

1. Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50): For current and/or former Federal employees, your status eligibility and highest permanent grade/step/salary held in the Federal service will be validated with a copy of your most recent NON-AWARD SF-50 , “Notification of Personnel Action” so that we may verify your time-in-grade.

2. Performance Appraisal: Recent performance appraisal with supervisor’s signature showing the official final rating of record and copy of incentive award(s). In cases where the performance appraisal is incomplete or unavailable, applicants may provide explanation of the reasons.

3. Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) documents:

1. CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents: 1. A copy of your RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a directed geographic relocation outside of the local commuting area; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice of eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice); 2. A copy of your SF-50 “Notification of Personnel Action”, noting current position, grade/band level, and duty location; 3. A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and 4. Any documentation from your bureau/operating unit that shows your current promotion potential.

4. Transcripts:You MUST submit copies of your college transcripts for verification of the education requirements. Unofficial copies are accepted, however, if selected you will be required to furnish official transcripts. It is your responsibility to provide adequate proof that you meet the above educational requirement. Inadequate or illegible information could result in non-qualification and loss of consideration.

You can upload your documents when you register or update your information on the Dept. of Commerce site which you access through the USAJobs site.
Your application and all required documents must be received by 11:59 pm ET on the closing date of this job announcement.

NOTE: The preceding documents requirement are based on job requirements and individual applicant eligibility. Not all documents are applicable to all applicants; if you are unsure which documents apply to you, contact the HR Specialist listed on this announcement