Department of Homeland Security

Human Resources Specialist (Labor and Employee Relations)

Aliso Viejo, California, Camp Springs, Maryland, Bloomington, Minnesota, Irving, Texas Full time

Human Resources Specialist (Labor and Employee Relations)

Department: Department of Homeland Security

Location(s): Aliso Viejo, California, Camp Springs, Maryland, Bloomington, Minnesota, Irving, Texas

Salary Range: $63163 - $117034 Per Year

Job Summary: Protect your homeland and defend your culture. Join USCIS, America's frontline defense against illegal foreign infiltration and fraud. As an Human Resources Specialist (Labor and Employee Relations), you will provide expert labor and employee relations advisory services to high level and regional managers on a wide range of issues that impact labor relations functions as well as a wide range of personnel actions which are often sensitive.

Major Duties:

  • Organizational Location: This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, within LABOR AND EMPLOYEE RELATIONS DIVISION and are assigned based on the need of the agency.
  • The responsibilities described are for the full performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope performed with less independence, and limited complexity.
  • Provide expert advisory services to high level regional and field managers on a wide-range of personnel actions which are often sensitive and extremely difficult in nature that impact employee relations functions and programs region-wide.
  • Provide expert labor relations advisory services and technical guidance to high level regional and field managers on issues that impact labor relations functions, grievance procedures, arbitrations and unfair labor practice charges and programs.
  • Research, interpret, and apply all applicable USCIS, DHS and OPM guidelines, policies, case law, etc., and the national Collective Bargaining Agreement and other negotiated agreements, to provide authoritative technical guidance and advice.
  • Advise in the resolution of operational issues from new legislation on labor relations policies, deviation from standard practices, application of vague personnel policies or the absence of precedent to complex and controversial problems.
  • Serve as an agency advocate for arbitration cases occurring across LER Operations for matters such as employee discipline, adverse actions or disputes concerning the Union contract.
  • Coordinate with other human resources functions and high-level management to develop solutions to situations affecting numerous inter-related personnel issues.
  • Review policies and procedures to ensure consistency in application.
  • Recognize problems and recommend changes to established procedures and practices or alternative approaches to resolve complex or unusual issues and problems.

Qualifications: The qualifications for this position must be met by 11:59 PM (Eastern Time) on 11/28/2025. Current Federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the lower grade or equivalent grade band in the Federal service. The Time-in-Grade requirement must be met by 11:59 PM (Eastern Time) on 11/28/2025 GS-11: You qualify at the GS-11 level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience, which is equivalent to at least the GS-09 level in the federal government, that equipped you with the skills needed to successfully perform the duties of the position. You must have experience performing the following duties: Monitoring management compliance with established policies, regulations, and practices. Providing technical guidance and advice to managers on negotiated and administrative grievance procedures, arbitrations, and unfair labor practice charges. Delivering correspondence on a variety of disciplinary and adverse actions and/or notifications to Union officials. Responding to Union demands to bargain. OR You may substitute a doctoral degree (PhD or equivalent degree) or three (3) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in any field, or L.L.M. if related for experience at the GS-11 grade level or such education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise three years of graduate study. If that information is not available, use 54 semester or 81 quarter hours. GS-12: You qualify at the GS-12 level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience, which is equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the federal government, that equipped you with the skills needed to successfully perform the duties of the position. You must have experience performing the following duties: Delivering presentations, briefing, and training sessions to managers and/or Union officials. Consulting with managers on complex labor and employee relations lines of business. Researching and applying broad labor and employee relations concepts, principles, laws, practices, policies, and regulations. Creating collaborative partnerships to labor-relations issues, and alternative dispute resolutions Providing comprehensive HR services to management and recommend appropriate resolutions to complex HR problems and issues. GS-13: You qualify at the GS-13 level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience, which is equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the federal government, that equipped you with the skills needed to successfully perform the duties of the position. You must have experience performing the following duties: Independently providing expert level advisory services on labor and employee relations issues pertaining to potential impact of third-party decisions. Serving as an agency representative and a technical representative in third party hearings, to include coordinating with other HR functions, Agency counsel, and higher agency levels. Analyzing and solving complex and sensitive problems and issues involving conflicting laws with vague and untested areas of case law. Please read the following important information to ensure you submit everything we need to consider your application: It is your responsibility to ensure that you submit your responses and appropriate documentation prior to 11/28/2025. Your resume will be used to determine your qualifications for the position advertised in this announcement. Therefore, your resume must highlight your most relevant, significant experience related to the requirements found in the qualification section of this announcement, as well as any applicable education. Limit your resume to no more than two pages. The USAJOBS database will not allow an applicant to submit an application that includes a resume over two pages. To help ensure your resume remains clear and easy to read, we recommend using margins of at least 0.8 inches and a font size of at least 11 point. Be clear and specific when describing your work history since Human Resources cannot make assumptions regarding your experience. Your application will be rated and ranked based on your responses to the online questions. Please ensure EACH work history includes ALL of the following information: Job Title (include series and grade if Federal Job) Duties (be specific in describing your duties) Employer's name and address Supervisor name and phone number Start and end dates including month, day and year (e.g. June 18 2007 to April 05 2008) Start and end dates for each grade/pay level if you've held a federal position. Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week) Salary Determining length of General or Specialized Experience is dependent on the above information and failure to provide the above information may result in a finding of ineligible. Note: Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Federal Experience: If you are using current or prior federal experience as a basis for qualifying for this position, the grade levels and length of employment (mm/dd/year) at each grade level must be listed in your work history. This information will be further validated if selected for this position. National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): 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 criteria 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 service.

How to Apply: Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows: Click the Apply Online button. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement 11/28/2025. If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The 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 is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the 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 later, you can re-use 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. Visit the USA Hire Applicant Resource Center for practice assessments and assessment preparation resources at https://support-usahire.opm.gov/hc/en-us. To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To view the announcement status or your application status: Visit https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/howto/application/status/. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application. Announcement is open to multiple locations. Applicants are limited to selecting ONE location only. The actual salary will be set based on the grade, step, and location of the selectee(s) and/or position. You may be expected to report for work at a local USCIS facility based on the needs of the hiring office. View the 2025 Locality Pay Charts for more information. If selected, position will be assigned to HROC Staffing Help Desk and be located at any of the following locations: Aliso Viejo, California Bloomington, Minnesota Camp Springs, Maryland Irving, Texas We strongly encourage you to apply online. If you cannot apply online, you must contact the Human Resource Office listed below at least one business day prior to 11/28/2025 for instructions. Applications will not be accepted by mail.

Application Deadline: 2025-11-28