Lead Human Resources Specialist (ER/LR)

This Lead Human Resources Specialist (ER/LR) position is with Veterans Health Administration (Department of Veterans Affairs) in Phoenix, AZ. The primary purpose of this position is to serve as a Lead Human Resources Specialist (ER/LR) with subject matter expertise in all matters of Employee/Labor Relations within the VISN. The incumbent serves as a Lead Employee Relations Specialist when resolving Employee and Labor Relations (ER/LR) issues within the VISN Shared Services Unit (SSU). Key duties: • VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: HR Specialist Total Rewards The duties of the position include, but are not limited to: Resolving difficult and complex problems which could have a direct impact on the department mission. Working closely with staff and operational officials, employee groups, etc., to develop and explore labor relations alternatives to improve policies, techniques and procedures. Analyzing, evaluating and developing major aspects of agency-wide labor relations programs that require isolating and defining unknown conditions, resolving critical problems, and developing new concepts and methodologies. Resolving issues of sensitivity and potential controversy that may promote advances in principal human resources plans, goals, objectives and milestones. Serving as a staff subject matter expert to other consultants handling negotiations that typically involve the development of new approaches. Serving as a technical advisor to management on the potential impact of negotiations and third-party decisions, charges of unfair labor practices, negotiability issues, and impasse resolutions as they relate to organizational and mission goals Leading the community of HR Specialists (ER/LR) practitioners VISN-wide through regular communications on relevant changes in ER/LR laws, regulations and policy, via diverse modalities including community of practice conference calls where an exchange of information and sharing of expertise enhances competency within the discipline throughout the VISN. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm, subject to change based on the needs of the facility. Compressed: May be authorized, will be discussed during the interview process. Telework: This position may be authorized for Ad-Hoc telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Lead Human Resources Specialist (ER/LR)/PD99969S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required. Qualifications: To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/02/2026. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. PREFERRED EXPERIENCE: Experience drafting proposal and decision letters for disciplinary and adverse actions. Experience advising management on matters concerning employment actions, conduct or leave. Experience using Cyber feds, and other research tools to research topics that touch upon employee relations. Experience evaluating the impact of statutory, regulatory, or policy changes on employment actions; knowledge of MSPB case law; knowledge of prohibited personnel practices, knowledge of merit system principles, knowledge of agency grievance procedure, knowledge of the principles of just cause. Experience reviewing disciplinary and adverse actions of ER employees. Experience reviewing ER documents including, but not limited to letters of expectations, written counseling's, sick leave certifications, and sick leave counseling's. The BASIC REQUIREMENT for the HR Specialist GS-0201 series is presumed met if found qualified at the GS-0201-7 level and above. To qualify for this position at the GS-13 level, you must meet one of the following listed Criteria: Criteria 1 - Graduate Degree and Specialized Experience: Successful completion of a graduate level degree or higher and three years of progressive specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level. Such experience may be gained in administrative, professional, technical or other responsible work positions in the public (i.e., Government or military) or private sector. Qualifying specialized experience includes: Applying laws, regulations, collective bargaining agreements concepts and related guidelines to support an employee and labor relations program, including negotiation with labor representation; Researching and interpreting legal and regulatory program guidance to include case law, regulations, and policies; Providing technical guidance, information, and assistance to management and senior leadership officials on sensitive, serious, and controversial employee relations issues regarding employees in a wide variety of occupations with substantial differences in working conditions, entitlement, and occupational practices and policies; Conducting and advising on employee relations matters, adverse actions, coordination and oversight, fact finding, grievance examining, suitability, Drug Free Workplace, Workplace Violence Prevention Program and third-part hearing representation; Analyzing changes to regulations and policies to determine the impact on the employee and labor relations program. ~OR~ Criteria 2 - Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in federal service that demonstrates HR management knowledge, concepts and principles and the performance of work in one or more of the HR specialty areas. Such experience may be gained in administrative, professional, technical or other responsible work positions in the public (i.e., Government or military) or private sector. Qualifying specialized experience includes: . Such experience may be gained in administrative, professional, technical or other responsible work positions in the public (i.e., Government or military) or private sector. Qualifying specialized experience includes: Researching and interpreting legal and regulatory program guidance to include case law, United States Code, Code of Federal Regulations, and VA Handbooks and Directives in order to apply advanced HR principles, concepts, and practices related to all aspects of employee and labor relations programs, including fact finding or types of inquiries; Providing technical guidance, information, and assistance to management and senior leadership officials on sensitive, serious, and controversial employee relations issues regarding employees in a wide variety of occupations with substantial differences in working conditions, entitlement, and occupational practices and policies; Represent management at arbitrations and in situations involving proceedings before other third-parties; Presenting briefings and/or training sessions to management pertaining to employee/labor relations topics (e.g. performance appraisals, disciplinary actions); Writing responses to grievances, unfair labor practice charges, contract interpretations or contract bargaining proposals on behalf of management. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. View the full announcement and apply on USAJOBS.gov.