Summary Reclamation is seeking a career professional looking for an opportunity to capitalize on their expertise as a Human Resources Specialist (Employee/Labor Relations). You can make a difference in the West by assisting in meeting increasing water demands while protecting the environment. Duty Location: Billings, Montana For living conditions go to: https://www.usbr.gov/gp/employment/living\_conditions.pdf. Responsibilities -Provides guidance and assistance to management and employees on employee and labor relations matters. -Assists supervisors and managers in resolving employee/management relations and recommends appropriate courses of action. -Assists supervisors and managers by dealing with employee and union grievances, unfair labor practices, interpretation of negotiated agreements and decisions of the Federal Labor Relations Authority. -Advises on grievances and appeals, adverse actions, employee discipline, performance evaluation, sick leave, employee motivation/morale, and harassment and discrimination complaint issues. -Advises employees on issues beyond the scope of solution at supervisory levels. Advises both management and employees during discipline and adverse actions. -Prepares disciplinary actions, ensures compliance with requirements, and recommends alternate actions as necessary. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National. You must be suitable for federal employment, determined by a background investigation. You must submit a resume and supporting documentation (see Required Documents). You must submit eligibility documents for veterans consideration (see Required Documents). You must meet any minimum education and/or experience requirements (see Qualifications). Who May Apply: 30% or More Disabled Veterans Bureau of Reclamation Employees (Competitive) Bureau of Reclamation Employees (Non-Competitive) Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) Department of the Interior Employees (Competitive) Department of the Interior Employees (Non-Competitive) Federal Employees (Competitive Transfer) Federal Employees (Non-Competitive Transfer) Former Federal Employees (Competitive Reinstatement) Former Federal Employees (Non-Competitive Reinstatement) Individuals with Disabilities (Schedule A) Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) Military Spouses Miscellaneous Appointing Authorities Pathways Program - Conversion Eligible Peace Corps & AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteers Public Lands Corps (PLC) Hiring Authority Special Hiring Authorities Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) Veterans Recruitment Authority (VRA) Qualifications In order to be rated as qualified for this position, the HR Office must be able to determine that you meet the education/specialized experience requirement - this information must be clearly supported in the resume. GS-09: Specialized Experience: One full year of specialized experience equivalent in responsibility and scope to the GS-07 level. Specialized experience must include experience providing information associated with labor and employee relations; researching laws and regulations regarding labor and employee relations; and assisting with negotiations. OR Education: A masters or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate degree leading to such a degree, or LL.B. or J.D. The education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. OR Combination of graduate education and specialized experience as described above. GS-11: Specialized Experience: One full year of specialized experience equivalent in responsibility and scope to the GS-09 level. Specialized experience must include experience providing advice to management and employees on a wide variety of laws, regulations, and processes associated with labor and employee relations; researching and interpreting Federal laws and regulations regarding disciplinary and adverse actions; interpreting labor-management agreements in private or federal sector; and assisting with negotiations. OR Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related. OR Combination of qualifying specialized experience and graduate education. GS-12: Specialized Experience: One full year of specialized experience equivalent in responsibility and scope to the GS-11 level. Specialized experience must include experience providing technical advice to all levels of management and employees on a wide variety of labor and employee relations matters; representing management in dealings with union officials, appeals, and multiple third-party actions; applying conflict resolution techniques to resolve highly charged employee relations or labor relations situations; developing and conducting employee relations or labor relations training; and participating in the development of contract negotiation proposals and strategies. 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. Time-In-Grade: Current career or career-conditional employees of the Federal government, or former career or career-conditional employees, who have a break in service of less than one year, are required to meet the time-in-grade restriction of one year of Federal experience at the next lower-grade, with few exceptions outlined in 5 CFR 300.603(b). You must meet all Eligibility and Qualification requirements, including time-in-grade restrictions and any selective placement factors if applicable, by 11/13/2024. Education This vacancy announcement allows substituting education for experience at the GS-09 and GS-11 grade levels. You must submit a copy of college transcript(s) (unofficial copy is acceptable) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include the name of the college or university and date the degree was conferred. A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not-qualified for the position. You will be required to provide official college transcripts to verify educational qualifications, if selected. An official transcript must be sent directly from the University's Registrar's office and must be provided from the institution awarding the degree. Academic transcripts certified by notary publics are NOT official. Official transcripts must be submitted prior to reporting to work as a condition of employment. Failure to submit official transcripts may be grounds for dismissal or rescission of the job offer. Accreditation: Only education from an accredited college or university recognized by the Department of Education is acceptable to meet education requirements or to substitute for experience, if applicable. For additional info, refer to the Office of Personnel Management and U.S. Department of Education. Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. For additional info, refer to the U.S. Network for Education Information. Additional Information You may be required to serve an initial probationary period. Reclamation has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and you may be allowed to telework with supervisory approval. If otherwise eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit: Recruitment Incentive or Relocation Incentive. If otherwise eligible and qualified, you may request consideration for a Superior Qualifications Appointment. For information, visit: OPM Fact Sheet. Related non-Federal experience or related experience as retired members of the uniformed services may be credited towards computing entitlement to leave accrual, at managerial discretion, providing that experience meets certain criteria. This provision allows new employees to earn annual leave at a higher rate than would otherwise be allowed. (5 Code of Federal Regulations, 630). For additional information, please visit: Creditable Service for Annual Leave DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including applicant rights and responsibilities, please visit https://www.e-verify.gov/ This position is designated as a MODERATE RISK Public Trust position. It requires a fully completed and favorably adjudicated Public Trust Suitability Background Investigation (T2S or T2RS or equivalent) that is current (within the last 5 years). This is a condition of employment. Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must certify registration with the Selective Service System or that the applicant is exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. Go to: https://www.sss.gov This is a non-bargaining unit position. Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement. 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. 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 here.