Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management
Section Chief
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Summary
For GS-14: Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-13, in the Federal Service. Specialized Experience is the experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform the duties of the position successfully, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level. To qualify for this GS-201-14, applicants must meet 3 of the following examples of specialized experience: Experience leading a team of HR professionals by planning, organizing, and assigning work; balancing workload based on organizational priorities; adjusting long and short-term goals; and ensuring the timely, quality completion of HR program requirements. This includes monitoring staff performance, providing technical guidance, and directing resource allocation to meet mission needs. Experience providing oversight of personnel action processing functions by applying expert knowledge of HR systems, action codes, and the Guide to Personnel Recordkeeping to ensure accuracy, regulatory compliance, and data integrity. This includes reviewing and validating personnel action data, resolving processing issues, conducting audits, identifying error trends, and implementing corrective actions or workflow improvements. Experience interpreting federal HR laws, OPM and agency guidance, and program specific regulations to advise stakeholders; resolve complex HR processing issues; and develop solutions for ambiguous or unclear regulatory scenarios. This includes conducting research and analysis, preparing policy recommendations, and advising customers and staff on proper HR procedures. Experience delivering training, coaching, and technical instruction to HR staff, supervisors, and employees on HR processes, personnel action requirements, and system usage. This includes preparing clear written materials (e. g., job aids, guides, reports), communicating tactfully with diverse stakeholders, presenting program information, and collaborating to address customer needs and improve HR service delivery.
Major Duties
There is one vacancy available. The position may be located in any of the following cities: Washington, DC; Atlanta, GA; Boston, MA; New York City, NY; Chicago, IL; Dallas, TX; Philadelphia, PA; or San Francisco, CA. For detailed office locations, please visit: DOL offices. This position is in the Division of Compensation and Processing (DCP) within the Office of Human Resources (OHR), OASAM. The employee serves as a section chief and first-line supervisor, responsible for planning, directing, organizing, and overseeing the work of assigned staff performing duties that include, but are not limited to, the following: Lead a section of the division by planning and organizing the work of HR staff, setting and adjusting short and long term priorities, providing advice and technical direction to staff, and monitoring performance. Apply knowledge of HR systems, forms, action codes, and personnel action processing to interpret HR regulations, use technical processing methods, and ensure accurate and compliant personnel actions across multiple hiring and pay systems. Analyze technical HR problems and propose resolutions, workflow improvements, or corrective measures that improve the quality and compliance of personnel action processing. Plan and execute audits of personnel actions to identify error trends, evaluate workflow effectiveness, and use findings to develop targeted training and corrective strategies for HR staff. Lead the planning, execution, and monitoring of department-wide projects by establishing milestones, directing team activities, assessing progress, and recommending new policies or procedures that improve program efficiency and effectiveness. Interpret applicable regulations to respond to customer inquiries on personnel action processing and provide solutions that support accurate, timely, and customer focused HR service. Provide training, coaching, and support to HR staff, supervisors, and employees to build understanding of HR processes, resolve issues, and improve the quality and responsiveness of services. Review personnel action data, identify discrepancies, and coordinate with customers to obtain required information, ensuring records are complete, accurate, and aligned with service expectations. Prepare written documents such as training materials, job aids, reports, policy recommendations and briefing materials that convey technical HR information. Represent the agency and division in meetings, briefings, and conferences by presenting program information, summarizing assessments, and communicating recommendations to stakeholders.
Required Documents
The following documents must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the vacancy closing date. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements of time-in-grade (52 weeks at the next lower grade), time-after-competitive-appointment (90 days), and minimum qualifications (52 weeks equivalent to the next lower grade in federal service). These requirements must be met within 30 days of 10/26/2026 the announcement closing date. The following documents are required from all applicants (PLEASE READ CAREFULLY): FEDERAL STATUS APPLICANTS: When applying as a status candidate with current or former Federal Service, please provide a copy of your last or most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action which shows your appointment eligibility for the position for which you are applying. Your SF-50 must identify the highest grade you held on a permanent basis, Pay Plan/Pay Schedule, Series, Grade/Pay Band, and career status. Multiple SF-50 may be submitted to demonstrate your highest previous rate and eligibility. *WARNING: An award SF-50 (ex. cash or time off award) may not indicate grade, step, and competitive status. For current DOL employees, an award SF-50 DOES NOT indicate grade and step. Resumes are required - provide a resume either by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one from your computer and USAJOBS profile. To receive full consideration for relevant and specialized experience, please list the month, year, and number of work hours worked for the experience listed on your resume. We also suggest that you preview the vacancy questions and confirm that your resume supports your question responses. Most recent performance appraisal/evaluation signed and dated within 18 months is requested by the agency but will not disqualify candidates if not submitted. If not submitted during the application process, one may/will be requested at the time of the interview if the opportunity is extended. *In most cases, ICTAP/CTAP applicants must submit this document - please see ICTAP/CTAP links below for more details. The following documents are required (if applicable): Displaced Employee Placement Documents - Only required if requesting priority consideration under Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) Eligibility. Click/Review these ICTAP/CTAP links to confirm what must be submitted as proof that the requirement has been met. DD-214 - verifying military service, eligibility for consideration under the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA), and showing the character of discharge (ex. Member Copy 4 and 2 are acceptable vs. Copy 1 which is not acceptable to adjudicate veteran's preference) Special/Non-Competitive Appointing Authority Documents - Applicants who are eligible for consideration, and wish to be considered, under one of the following non-competitive hiring authorities must submit appropriate documentation (click on the links below to see the documentation requirements): (a) Persons with Severe Disabilities (SCHEDULE A) (b) 30% or More Compensable Disabled Veterans (DAV) (c) Military Spouses (MISP) Land Management Eligible(s): a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50 or equivalent) proving your eligibility for appointment under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act. This service must have been performed in competitive service, under a time-limited appointment in a Land Management Agency, as defined by P.L. 114-328. For more information, click here. Do not upload password-protected documents. Applicants selected for employment who are not current DOL employees will be required to provide proof of citizenship, and the E-Verify system will be used to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires. Refer to these links for more information: GENERAL INFORMATION, REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS, ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION, FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: - your performance and conduct; - the needs and interests of the agency; - whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and - whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
How to Apply
Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or have speech disabilities, please dial 711 to access telecommunications relay services. You must complete the initial online application, including submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section. Your application and ALL required supplemental documents MUST be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the vacancy closing date. *Save your information before the 30 minute system timeout! For help, go to USAJOBS Help Center. STEP 1-Create USAJOBS Account on www.usajobs.gov, including Resume and Saved Documents. For each employment period, include start/end month & year and note full-time or part-time (if part-time, include # of hours worked per week) otherwise, your application may be considered incomplete. In alignment with the Presidential Memorandum titled Merit Hiring Plan, dated May 29, 2025, applicants may only submit a resume limited to two (2) pages. Only the résumé uploaded under the 'Resume" document type in USAJOBS will be reviewed. If the resume submitted exceeds two (2) pages, the application will be deemed ineligible for further consideration. STEP 2-Complete the 1st part of the application process (USAJOBS). Once you have identified a job on USAJOBS that you wish to apply for, click on the job title and then click the Apply button. For questions about the vacancy, contact the Agency Contact at the bottom of the announcement. Proceed through the steps noted at the top of the USAJOBS page. You will be able to select a resume and documents from your USAJOBS Account that you can submit as a package as part of your DOL application. In the final step, once you have certified your application, click the Continue to agency site button. STEP 3-Complete the 2nd part of the application process (DOL). On the DOL page, create a DOL Account if you have not already and click Apply to this vacancy. Continue through the progress steps at the top of the DOL page. The 2nd progress step is where you answer the vacancy-specific questions. The 3rd progress step Documents is where you submit the required documents (only if applicable to you) specified in the Required Documents section of this vacancy. STEP 4-On the Review and Submit step, verify each section of your application is complete and correct. In order to submit your application, you must have a check mark next to each section listed. If there is an X, return to the appropriate section and follow the prompts. When it is ready for submission, certify your application and click the Submit Application button. STEP 5-Edit Application as needed by 11:59 pm Eastern Time of Closing Date by returning to USAJOBS, clicking the vacancy, then Update Application. 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 about 1 hour to take the Federal Supervisor Assessment; 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. *It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. For more detailed information, click here to view the U.S. Department of Labor, How to Apply website.