To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/09/2026. 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. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. The BASIC REQUIREMENT for the HR Specialist GS-0201 series is presumed met if found qualified at the GS-0201-7 level and above. Selective Placement Factor: This position includes a skill, knowledge, ability or other worker characteristic basic to - and essential for - satisfactory performance of the job. Selective Placement Factors are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for a position. Your resume must clearly detail your experience as it relates to the selective placement factor. Applicants who do not meet it are ineligible for further consideration. The Selective Placement Factor for this position is: Preparing disciplinary or adverse actions for management use. Specialized Experience: 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 fundamental labor relations and employee relations law, theories, principles, and practices with an understanding of the interrelationships of human resources management programs to provide solutions to labor and employee relations problems/issues; Researching VA/AFGE Agreement as well as other national and local agreements in order to advise and assist management and others in the interpretation/execution of the contract and other agreements; Knowledge of fundamental principles and methods used in collective bargaining including negotiating strategies, interest/position based bargaining processes, and dispute resolution sufficient to articulate and facilitate management interests; Applying consulting methods and techniques sufficient to meet/deal tactfully and persuasively with others to resolve a wide range of issues. ~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: Applying advanced HR principles, concepts, and practices related to all aspects of employee and labor relations programs. Researching and interpreting legal and regulatory program guidance to include case law, United States Code, Code of Federal Regulations, and VA Handbooks and Directives. 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. Administrating performance management systems which include employees covered executive and non-execute career field systems. Presenting briefings and/or training sessions to management pertaining to Labor/Management Employee Relation 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. Conducting fact findings or types of inquiries. Participating on teams to help improve and/or streamline programs and services. 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/.