← Back to jobs

Patent and Trademark Office

Human Resources Assistant (Employee Relations)

Alexandria, Virginia $57736 - $83119 PA GS Closes Oct 26, 2026
Apply on USAJOBS

This announcement is sourced from the official USAJOBS API. Federal Job Alerts is not affiliated with OPM, USAJOBS, or any U.S. government agency.

Summary

You must meet the United States Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) qualification requirements (including specialized experience and/or educational requirements) for the advertised position. You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement. OPM Qualifications Standards are available at Clerical & Administrative Support positions. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped applicants with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, you must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level in the Federal service. GS-07 requires one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-06 grade level in the federal service. Specialized experience includes: Experience applying federal human resources regulations, principles and concepts to perform a variety of clerical projects (e.g., employee rights, procedures for filing grievances); Experience initiating and processing personnel actions (e.g. separations, change to lower grade, pay changes) in a Human Resources Information system (HRIS); and/or Experience providing administrative support to Human Resources Specialists and customers in a Workforce Relations office or similar environment. GS-08 requires one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the federal service. Specialized experience includes: Experience independently applying and interpreting federal human resources regulations, principles and concepts to perform a variety of clerical and technical projects (e.g., employee rights, management rights, procedures for filing grievances); Experience initiating and processing personnel actions (e.g. separations, change to lower grade, pay changes) in a Human Resources Information system (HRIS); and/or Experience providing support to Human Resources Specialists and customers in a Workforce Relations office or similar environment. 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.

Major Duties

The physical worksite for this position is located in Alexandria, Virginia. Presence at the Alexandria, VA campus is required for this role, as it includes on site functions that must be performed in person. Position may be eligible for situational telework in accordance with agency policy/business unit discretion. The agency currently allows for 52 hours of telework per leave year. This rewarding opportunity is the ideal next career step for you if: You're eager to apply established methods and techniques to gather and provide information and make proper referral to specialists, as appropriate. You're proficient in thoroughly conducting research to support projects in assigned areas and presenting data in a clear, concise, and accurate format relevant to the problem or issue. You're self-sufficient in running statistical reports from the division's case tracking system. You're enjoy performing data entry for multiple types of documents into a program. Processing automated data entry and data extraction, processing assigned personnel actions, and producing reports, charts, graphs, and correspondences.

Required Documents

A complete application consists of: 1. Resume: All applicants are required to submit a resume (NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES). Resumes exceeding this limit will not be considered eligible. Please submit only one resume. Only the document uploaded under the "Resume "section as the "Document Type" will be reviewed to assess your qualifications and for evaluation purposes. To receive full credit for relevant experience, please list the month/year (MM/YY - MM/YY) and number of hours worked for experience listed on your resume. Resume should clearly state your experience related to this position as described in the Duties section and Qualifications section. 2. Professional or Academic References: Provide 2-3 professional/academic references (name, phone, email); one must be your current supervisor. We'll notify you before contacting them. 3. Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50): For current and/or former Federal employees, your status eligibility and highest permanent grade/step/salary held in the Federal service will be validated with a copy of your most recent NON-AWARD SF-50 (PREFERABLY YOUR LAST PROMOTION OR WITHIN-GRADE INCREASE (WGI)), "Notification of Personnel Action" so that we may verify your time-in-grade. Supporting Documents: 1. Veterans' Preference Documentation: If you are a veteran with preference eligibility, you will be asked to submit a copy of your DD-214 containing your discharge disposition, dates of service, and rank. If you are a preference eligible claiming a service-connected disability of 10 percent or more, you will be asked to submit documentation (i.e., a letter dated 1991 or later from the Department of Veterans Affairs or from a branch of the Armed Forces) certifying to the veteran's present receipt of compensation. For more information, please visit Feds Hire Vets. 2. Performance Appraisal: Recent performance appraisal with supervisor's signature showing the official final rating of record. In cases where the performance appraisal is incomplete or unavailable, applicants may provide explanation of the reasons. 3. Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) documents: CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents: 1. A copy of your RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a directed geographic relocation outside of the local commuting area; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice of eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice); 2. A copy of your SF-50, noting current position, grade/band level, and duty location; 3. A copy of your latest performance appraisal/rating; and 4. Any documentation that shows your current promotion potential. ICTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents: 1. A copy of your RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a directed geographic relocation outside of the local commuting area, notice of disability annuity termination, certification from your former agency that it cannot place you after your recovery from a work-related compensable injury; or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement. 2. A copy of your SF-50, documenting your RIF separation, noting your position, grade/band level, duty location, and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through RPL, etc.; 3. A copy of your latest performance appraisal/rating; and 4. Any documentation that shows your current promotion potential. 4. Transcripts: You MUST submit copies of your college transcripts for verification of the education requirements. Unofficial copies are accepted, however, if selected official transcripts are REQUIRED. It is your responsibility to provide adequate proof that you meet the above educational requirement. Inadequate or illegible information could result in non-qualification and loss of consideration. 5. Special Appointing Authorities: Special Appointing Authorities: If you are applying under a special appointing authority (i.e., Schedule A, disabled veterans, or certain military spouses, NOAA Corps), you will be asked to submit documents showing eligibility to non-competitively apply under Merit Assignment announcements. For more info on non-competitive appointments and supporting documents, please visit Federal Employment of People with Disabilities or Feds Hire Vets - Special Hiring Authorities. Documentation supporting NOAA Commissioned Corps: NOAA Form 56-16 or other documentation supporting active duty in NOAA Corps. You can upload your documents when you register or update your information on the Dept. of Commerce site which you access through the USAJobs site. Your application and all required documents must be received by 11:59 pm ET on the closing date of this job announcement.

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 closing date. 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 2 hoursto 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.