Human Resources Specialist (Recruitment and Placement) (P) (DIRECT HIRE)

📍 Kings Point, New York · 🏛 Maritime Administration · 💰 $88,005–$137,128 per year · 🎓 GS 11–12 · 🧭 Human Resources Management (0201) · ⏳ Closes Dec 7, 2026 · 26 days left · 🗓 Posted Oct 7, 2026
Browse: More Maritime Administration jobs · More Human Resources Management jobs · Federal jobs in New York

About this job

This position is established to provide the full range of human resources management services in the areas of recruitment, placement, merit promotion, employee development, and a variety of employee services functions for all Academy divisions, departments, and offices.

Duties

The Human Resources Specialist: Performs full-cycle recruitment and placement for competitive and excepted service positions (GS, WG, and Administratively Determined), including conducting job analyses, developing assessment tools, preparing job opportunity announcements, applying qualification standards, issuing certificates, setting pay, and extending job offers in accordance with federal regulations. Provides expert advisory services to management officials on recruitment strategies, hiring authorities, merit promotion procedures, veterans' preference, and complex staffing issues to ensure legally sound and mission-aligned hiring decisions. Interprets and applies federal civilian personnel laws, OPM regulations, and agency policies to review and process personnel actions such as promotions, reassignments, within-grade increases, pay adjustments, and data element changes, ensuring proper coding and compliance. Researches and resolves complex staffing and compensation issues, collaborating with HR leadership and stakeholders to develop recommendations and ensure consistency in policy interpretation and application. Monitors recruitment metrics and workforce trends, identifies staffing gaps, and recommends process improvements and strategic recruitment solutions to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and overall program performance. The ideal candidate for this position is a knowledgeable Human Resources professional with experience independently managing full-cycle federal recruitment and placement actions for competitive and excepted service positions, including GS, WG, and Administratively Determined positions. They possess demonstrated expertise in conducting job analyses, developing assessments, applying qualification standards, adjudicating veterans' preference, setting pay, and ensuring compliance with merit system principles, OPM regulations, and agency policy. The candidate provides sound advisory services to managers on recruitment strategies and complex staffing issues, exercises strong analytical judgment in reviewing personnel actions for legal sufficiency and proper coding, and delivers timely, customer-focused HR support aligned with organizational mission needs.

Qualifications

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must (1) meet the Education Requirement for the series, (2) provide a copy of transcripts for verification, AND (3) meet either the education or experience qualifications for the grade at which you are requesting consideration. To qualify for the GS-11 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-09 it must include: Experience applying staffing and placement concepts, laws, and regulatory flexibilities to execute merit promotion procedures, conduct job analyses, and develop assessment criteria. Experience reviewing, processing, and auditing civilian personnel actions (e.g., promotions, reassignments, within-grade increases, and pay adjustments) to ensure legal authority coding and compliance with federal pay/benefit laws. Experience drafting, evaluating, and recommending organizational HR policy guidance, staff papers, and procedural directives for management review; planning, implementing, and evaluating employee training programs across workforce categories, analyzing position management and turnover trends to support short- and long-range staffing plans, and advising employees and supervisors on performance management, awards, leave, and benefit programs. To qualify for the GS-11 on Education alone, you must have: 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. You can also qualify based on a combination of higher level graduate education and experience. This must be fully supported by your resume and transcripts, provided with your application. To qualify for the GS-12 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-11 it must include: Experience conducting full-cycle recruitment and placement for competitive and excepted service positions including performing job analyses, developing assessment criteria, preparing job opportunity announcements, applying qualification standards, issuing certificates, adjudicating veterans' preference, setting pay, and extending job offers in compliance with merit system principles and regulations. Experience providing advisory services to selecting officials and management on recruitment strategies, hiring authorities, and staffing issues; interpreted and applied civilian personnel laws, OPM regulations, and agency policies to ensure legally sufficient and procedurally sound hiring actions. Experience reviewing and processing personnel actions (e.g., promotions, reassignments, within-grade increases, pay adjustments, and data element changes), ensuring proper legal authority coding and regulatory compliance; researched and resolved staffing and pay issues to support mission requirements. You cannot qualify on education at the GS-12 level; you must have experience. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: Technical Knowledge: Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the-job experience to perform one's job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues. Program Knowledge: Knowledge of the organization's mission, function, workforce structure, and internal policies sufficient to support program goals. Oral and Written Communication: Makes clear and convincing oral presentations listening effectively and clarifies information as needed. Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience. For all types of consideration, 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 For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/frequently-asked-questions/employment-faq/federal-hiring/how-do-i-apply-for-federal-jobs/ Students enrolled in a qualifying degree program can apply if the anticipated graduation date is within six months of closing date of the announcement. Graduation transcript must be received before start date. Other applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Requirements

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: 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 the 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. SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service. BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: A background security investigation is required for all selected individuals. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of the security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to meet these requirements will be grounds for termination. PROBATIONARY PERIOD: Applicants may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).

Evaluations

DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE: Please be clear and specific when describing your experience, as HR evaluates applications strictly on the facts provided and will not make assumptions. To receive full credit, your narrative responses must be written in paragraph format and explicitly match your resume. Begin each response by listing the exact position title, organization, employment dates (MM/YYYY–MM/YYYY), full- or part-time status, average weekly hours, and federal series/grade (if applicable). Within the body of the paragraph, clearly describe your specific duties, actions taken, tools used, and measurable outcomes. HR will cross-check these details against your resume; if your resume does not fully support every claim and timeframe, the experience will not be considered for credit, which may result in an ineligible determination. All applicants: Your application will be reviewed in two phases determine how you move forward in the hiring process. Phase I: Your resume will be reviewed to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience. ONLY two (2) pages of your resume will be reviewed. Additional information beyond your resume (e.g., cover letter, links embedded in your resume) will not be reviewed. Applicants passing “Phase I” will move on to the “Phase II” of the assessment process where your application will be reviewed and rated based on the KSAs/Competencies listed in the vacancy announcement by a Subject Matter Expert (SME). You may preview questions for this vacancy.

How to apply

To be considered, you must submit all required resume details and applicable documents no later than 11:59 (EST) by the closing date of the announcement. Note: Uploading documents to USAJobs does not automatically attach them to this application. You must review and verify that all files are successfully transferred to our system before final submission. Late or incomplete applications will be disqualified. To begin, click the "Apply Online" button on the job announcement posting. Follow the directions to register, submit all required documents and complete the assessment questionnaire. You may review your saved application(s) at https://help.usajobs.gov/ If you are having difficulty applying online, please contact the DOT Automated Staffing Office via email at: Transjobs@dot.gov

Applications are handled only on the official announcement. This page is a readable copy of the public announcement data — the official version controls if anything differs.

Apply on USAJobs (official) ↗

Required documents

RESUME: In accordance with the OPM memorandum titled Merit Hiring Plan, dated May 29, 2025, resumes with a maximum of two (2) pages in length will be accepted as part of your application. These should be legible and in a readable font size. A determination of your eligibility and/or qualifications will be based only on those two (2) pages. Your resume MUST contain specific information that can be used to make a qualification determination, including employment beginning and ending dates for each position, whether employment is Full-time or Part-time (e.g., Program Analyst, GS-343-11 | January 2009–Present | 40 Hours/Week) and position titles. If the position is/was in the Federal government, you will need to provide the position series and grade level. The resume should show relevant experience and education, as well as support the required specialized experience. For assistance with the resume builder, please visit: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to DISPLACED EMPLOYEES: If requesting consideration under the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency CTAP program (ICTAP), you must meet the standards for this vacancy and provide all of the following documents: your most recent performance appraisal, the proof of eligibility letter from the Agency, and your most current SF-50, displaying current series and grade. Qualified CTAP/ICTAP candidates receive priority and will be referred to the hiring manager. For more information, please review the OPM Employee's Guide to Career Transition. SPECIAL ATTENTION: To be considered, you must submit all required resume details and applicable documents by the closing date of the announcement. Note: You must review and verify that all files are successfully transferred to our system before final submission.

What to expect next

You may check your application status by logging into USAJobs.com (Select "My USAJobs" and click "Applications". Within two weeks of the closing date, a Human Resources Specialist may evaluate your application. If evaluated, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager. If you are selected for an interview, the hiring agency will contact you directly. Once the position is filled, we will notify all applicants of their final status.

Other information

The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Transportation and its Operating Administrations from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to the Department of Transportation by email at, FairChanceAct@dot.gov. To learn more, please visit our page at: The Fair Chance to Compete Act | US Department of Transportation CURRENT OR FORMER FEDERAL APPLICANTS: You must submit SF-50(s) that verify your highest competitive grade, full performance level, and federal applicant eligibility. To prove you meet the 52-week time-in-grade requirement for the highest grade level requested, you must submit SF-50 documentation showing a sequential 52-week period. Box 4 of the SF-50 must show an effective date at least 52 weeks prior to the job announcement closing date. Do not submit an award SF-50 or a current-year pay adjustment SF-50, as these generally do not verify grade, eligibility, or the full 52-week requirement. To ensure your application passes HR validation, you are highly encouraged to combine and upload the following required SF-50 documents into a single PDF: • The SF-50 showing when you were originally appointed or promoted to your qualifying grade level (establishing the start of your 52-week timeline) OR subsequent SF-50 (such as a Within-Grade Increase, promotion, or award) dated at least 52 weeks later. Warning on Incomplete Documentation: Submitting only an annual general pay adjustment SF-50 or an award SF-50 by itself is insufficient, as these individual documents do not track or prove your original entry date into that grade. If your documentation fails to conclusively prove a full 52-week history at the next lower grade, you will be rated Ineligible for that tier. This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

Frequently asked questions

How much does this Human Resources Specialist (Recruitment and Placement) (P) (DIRECT HIRE) job pay?

The announcement lists a salary of $88,005–$137,128 per year (GS 11–12).

When is the last day to apply?

Applications close on Dec 7, 2026 — 26 days from today.

Where is this job located?

This position is located in Kings Point, New York with the Maritime Administration.

How do I apply?

Applications are submitted through the official announcement on USAJobs. Use the Apply button on this page to go to the official posting — this site never takes applications itself.

More jobs at Maritime Administration

All Maritime Administration jobs →

More Human Resources Management jobs

All Human Resources Management jobs →

Data: USAJobs (U.S. Office of Personnel Management), retrieved 2026-11-11 · Announcement MARAD.MMA-2027-0001 · Official announcement. FederalJobs is unofficial and is not affiliated with OPM or the agency.
Human Resources Specialist (Recruitment and Placement) (P) (DIRECT HIRE)
Dec 7, 2026 deadlineApply