Lead Human Resources Specialist

Summary This position is within the Office of Human Resources. As a Lead HR Specialist, you will be responsible for leading a multi-functional team in the full spectrum of staffing, recruitment, and classification functions; advising on complex reports, balancing workload, and fostering team development; and integrating the organizational vision and ensuring timely, quality results.

This announcement will close on November 5, 2026 or once 75 applications are received whichever occurs first. Duties

As a Lead Human Resources Specialist, you will:

• Lead a team of HR Specialists, assigning work, balancing workload, coaching staff, and ensuring timely, high-quality completion of projects and deliverables.
• Provide expert strategic advice, including the interpretation and application of HR laws, regulations, and policies for HR functions to include recruitment and placement, position management and classification, pay and compensation, and personnel actions.
• Conduct quality assurance reviews of job analyses, assessments, job opportunity announcements, eligibility and qualification determinations, certificates, pay actions, and personnel actions for accuracy and compliance with federal regulations.
• Design and deliver training, workshops, and briefings on strategic human capital topics to internal and external stakeholders.
• Analyze data and develop reports and presentations that drive executive decision-making.

Qualifications

A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower NNSA Demonstration Project pay band or GS grade level in the Federal service, i.e., NQ-02 or GS-12.

Specialized experience for this position is defined as:

• Experience providing advice and guidance to managers, other human resources professionals, and employees on Title 5 federal civilian staffing and placement regulations, policies, and procedures;
• Performing the full range of recruitment and placement functions to include developing job analyses, advising on assessments, drafting job opportunity announcements, reviewing applications for eligibility and qualifications, issuing certificates, setting pay, and extending job offers; and
• Collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to deliver effective HR solutions.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps) as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. 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.

Your resume should demonstrate how you meet the specialized experience. Do not copy and paste the duties or specialized experience from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications.

Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) candidates: If you are eligible for selection priority under CTAP or ICTAP, you must meet the definition of "well qualified" which is defined as having a score of 85 or better. For more information on CTAP/ICTAP, please visit OPM's website.

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education NQ-03: There is no education requirement or substitution at this grade level.

Requirements

• You must be a United States Citizen.
• This position is a Testing Designated Position (TDP) subject to applicant testing and random drug testing thereafter. Failure to test or a positive result on random drug tests conducted after appointment may result in removal from Federal employment.
• If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See www.sss.gov.
• If selected, your appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• This position has been designated as Non-Critical Sensitive and requires a security clearance at L Access. The selectee is required to obtain and maintain this clearance; failure to do so may result in separation from federal service.
• You may be required to successfully complete a one (1) year probationary period.

How you will be evaluated You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. 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
• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service
• Decision Making
• Flexibility
• Influencing/Negotiating
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Learning
• Reading Comprehension
• Reasoning
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork

The assessment 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 online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

To preview the application questionnaire, click the link below.

https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13104895 How to apply Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments, and required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents sections. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the announcement closing date to receive consideration. The application process is as follows:

• Click the Apply Online button.
• Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all required and supporting documentation.
• Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 pm (ET) on the announcement closing date.
• If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. This notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice.
• Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access to USA Hire is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials.
• Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessment. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning your assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended.
• Set aside at least 3 hours to take the USA Hire assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue at a later time, you can reuse your unique assessment link.
• Your responses to the USA Hire assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused.

If you need help with login.gov or USAJOBS (e.g., account access, Resume Builder) visit the USAJOBS Help Center: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/. If you experience difficulty applying on USAJOBS, after clicking the Apply Online button, or you are experiencing a significant hardship hindering your ability to apply online, the Agency Contact listed in the announcement can assist you during normal business hours. If you receive any system error messages, take screenshots; if possible, to aid technical support. Other information

• A Recruitment/Relocation Incentive may be authorized for a highly qualified applicant in accordance with agency policy and applicable regulations.
• More than one selection may be made from this vacancy announcement.
• The Fair Chance Act prohibits specific inquiries concerning an applicant's criminal or credit background unless the hiring agency has made a conditional offer of employment to the applicant. An applicant may submit a complaint to the agency within 30 calendar days of the date of alleged noncompliance by completing the Fair Chance Act Intake Form and submitting it to the Administrative Investigations Program at AdministrativeInvestigations@hq.doe.gov.