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Human Resources Specialist

NASAMultiple LocationsFull Time
Compensation
$106,437–$172,980/year

Job Description

Summary

The Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO) is seeking high-performing Human Resources (HR) professionals to provide guidance and support on complex human capital matters supporting high-visibility human resources initiatives that impact workforce effectiveness and mission delivery. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement and may include Employee Relations, Executive Services, Classification and Position Management, and HR Business Partner.

Open & closing dates
03/18/2026 to 03/24/2026
Salary $106,437 to - $172,980 per year

Salary range reflects the lowest and highest potential salaries. Actual salary range varies by selectee(s) location.

Pay scale & grade GS 13
Locations

Who Can Apply

Current NASA federal employees serving on a career, career-conditional, VRA, Schedule A for individuals with disabilities, or NASA term appointment that provides eligibility to convert to a permanent appointment.

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Duties

  • Provides management consultative services involving one or more HR functional areas, e.g., HR Business Partner, employee relations, Executive Services, position management/classification, workforce planning/analytics.
  • Applies expert knowledge of HR practices, laws, regulations, policies, and precedents and analytical methods to ensure compliance and identify, evaluate, and recommend appropriate HR solutions.
  • Provides HR advisory services to executive leadership, including SES and political appointees, on workforce management and personnel matters.
  • Supports executive resources activities including staffing actions, performance management processes, and leadership transitions.
  • Conducts position classification reviews and provides advisory services on classification and position management matters.
  • Analyzes organizational structures and recommends position management solutions aligned with mission requirements.
  • Provides management advisory services on employee relations matters including conduct, performance, and workplace issues.
  • Contributes to development of legally defensible personnel actions and supports responses to grievances, appeals, and third-party proceedings.
  • Partners with leadership and OCHCO functional areas to support workforce planning, organizational changes, and human capital initiatives.
  • Provides HR subject matter expertise on teams, working groups, or projects.

Requirements

  • Duty location will be determined upon selection. While this position is not remote, if you are selected and are currently on a time limited or indefinite exception to reporting on-site, it may continue.
  • You must meet qualifications, time in grade, and 90 days after competitive appointment requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
  • Financial Disclosure, Drug Testing, and/or the Travel Requirements for this position may differ and be required based on the duty location/NASA Center requirements.
  • Position subject to pre-employment background investigation or higher-level clearance. Investigation/Clearance may differ and be required based on the duty location/NASA Center requirements.

Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work.

To qualify for GS-13, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level:

  • Providing advisory services to managers or leadership on complex human capital matters affecting programs or organizational operations.
  • Interpreting and applying Federal HR laws, regulations, and policies to resolve issues and recommend appropriate courses of action.
  • Researching and evaluating human resources issues and recommending solutions in one or more areas such as classification and position management, employee relations, workforce planning, executive resources, or organizational design.

Your resume must include a clear and detailed narrative description, in your own words, of how you meet the required specialized experience. Experience statements copied from a position description, vacancy announcement or other reference material constitutes plagiarism and may result in disqualification and losing consideration for the job.

NASA prohibits the use of artificial intelligence (AI) or AI-assisted tool in drafting application and assessment responses. Please visit https://www.nasa.gov/careers/how-to-apply/#Artificial-Intelligence to review NASA's guidance on the use of AI tools during the application process.

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Evaluation

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated for this position based on how well you meet the qualifications and eligibility requirements outlined in this vacancy announcement. Your resume and supporting documentation will be reviewed in conjunction with your responses to the assessment questionnaire. As part of the assessment, your responses to the Written Interview prompts will be scored and used to place you into one of three quality groups. These scores, along with your qualifications and supporting materials, will determine your referral status. Please ensure your application materials and responses accurately reflect your experience and competencies, as misrepresentation may result in removal from consideration.

Assessment preview link:https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12912941

These competencies will be assessed using technical assessments. They may also be evaluated during a structured interview:

  • Human Capital Management
  • Oral Communication
  • Personnel and Human Resources
  • Policy Management
  • Technical Competence

NASA considers 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.

Under NASA's quality grouping process, applicants will be assessed on the position competencies and placed in one of three groups identified and defined below:
  • Best Qualified Group - Applicants who demonstrate a superior level of all evaluation criteria.
  • Highly Qualified Group - Applicants who demonstrate a satisfactory level of the evaluation criteria.
  • Qualified Group - Applicants who demonstrate the basic qualifications, with general knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Candidates eligible for ICTAP/CTAP, reemployment priority or priority consideration will be referred before other candidates, as necessary. If no such candidates apply or are eligible to be referred, the following candidates will be sent to the hiring official for employment consideration:
  • Best Qualified merit promotion candidates. Highly Qualified merit promotion candidates may also be referred, if additional candidates are needed.
  • Qualified candidates eligible for consideration under Schedule A or VRA in accordance with veterans' preference rules, as applicable.
  • Qualified candidates that are eligible for special hiring authorities or non-competitive hiring authorities.
NASA will not ask you to disclose criminal history record information during the application process or before we make a conditional/tentative offer of employment. If you apply for this position and are selected, NASA will conduct a suitability/security background investigation after you accept a tentative job offer. If you feel you are asked to disclose your criminal history before you accept a tentative offer and wish to file a complaint within 30 days, please contact: [email protected].

Required Documents

All submitted resumes must not exceed two (2) pages in length. Resumes longer than two pages will be rejected by USAJOBS. Applicants are strongly encouraged to prioritize including experience and relevant qualifications that directly align with the position advertised. All work experience and accomplishments must be associated with dates (month/year) to allow for accurate qualification assessment.

A complete application package includes a resume, required documents and completion of the vacancy announcement questionnaire. Please see this guidance: . Your resume should describe your specialized experience and support your answers to the vacancy announcement questionnaire.

Please note: if any of the following types of information are included on your resume, your application package will be disqualified:

  • Classified or government sensitive information.
  • Social Security Number (SSN)
  • Photos of yourself
  • Personal information, such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc.
  • Encrypted and digitally signed documents.
If your resume contains any of the above information, you must redact that information prior to the submission of your application.

The following documents are required:
  • Resume
  • SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action


There may be other supporting documents (Notification of Personnel Action SF-50, licenses, certification, veterans preference, etc.), depending on your answers to the questionnaire and job announcement description, that you may have to submit, please verify your application. Do not submit an OF-306 with your application.

If you are a surplus or displaced employee (CTAP and ICTAP), submit proof that you meet the requirements for CTAP/ICTAP. This includes copies of your agency notice, most recent Performance Rating and most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) noting current position, grade level, and duty location.

If you are a veteran and you are claiming veterans' preference, you must submit a DD214, Certificate of Release from Active Duty, which shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions. For more information on veterans' preference and possible other supporting documents that you may have to submit, please visit FedshireVets. Official documents are required at the time of appointment for verification of eligibility and qualifications.

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Job Details

Department
Mechanical
Category
People & HR
Employment Type
Full Time
Location
Multiple Locations
Posted
Mar 17, 2026, 08:00 PM
Listed
Mar 18, 2026, 12:15 AM
Compensation
$106,437 - $172,980 per year

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