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Human Resources Specialist (GS-12)

Defense Contract Audit Agency

Lowell, MA · $97k–$133k a year · Posted November 2, 2026

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This listing pays about $115,225 a year. Across 79 open human resources specialist listings that state pay, the middle half runs $74,000 to $125,000 and the median is $94,000. That is inside the middle half of those listings, 23% above the median.

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About the job

Summary

Reemployed annuitant: This vacancy does not meet the criteria for appointment of annuitants. This job announcement uses the USA Hire Assessment to evaluate applicants. For more information, visit USA Hire Assessment.

Duties

Provides comprehensive advisory services for Federal civilian recruitment, selection, and placement. Manages the hiring process from job offer to onboarding, including guidance on merit promotion, Delegated Examining, and the DoD PPP. Utilizes and promotes use of human resources information technology data systems to enter and analyzes personnel data, produce reports, ensure data integrity, and improve work efficiency and effectiveness. Prepares and compiles reports and metrics. Applies relevant laws, regulations, and procedures to align Human Resources management with the needs of the organization and the requirements of OPM, DoD, and the agency. Cultivates strategic partnerships with hiring managers and senior leaders, and collaborates across organizational boundaries to achieve shared hiring and retention objectives. Applies a full range of staffing and recruiting principles to identify, attract, and select candidates for placement into positions throughout the organization.

Qualifications

You may qualify for consideration if meeting time-in grade, specialized experience, education requirement, 90 days after competitive appointment requirement, and all other qualification requirements within 30 calendar days after the closing date of the announcement, unless otherwise indicated on the announcement. You must meet the minimum qualification requirements as stated in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Operating Manual, Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, www.opm.gov/qualifications/Standards/group-stds/gs-prof.asp Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience at the GS-11 or equivalent level. Specialized experience must be documented in your resume. Specialized experience is defined as: providing comprehensive management advisory services on Federal civilian recruitment, examination, selection, and placement; OR developing and presenting recommendations and alternatives to senior management officials to resolve complex Federal civilian human resources management issues and problems; OR administering Federal civilian human resources operating programs and completing special projects and utilizing Federal civilian human resources data system(s) and applications to enter and analyzes personnel data, produce reports, ensure data integrity, and improve work efficiency and effectiveness. Definition of Well Qualified: providing full lifecycle recruitment, examination, selection, and staffing advisory services to executive leadership, division directors, and hiring managers across multiple sub-agencies and operational directorates. Interpreted and applied Title 5, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards, Delegated Examining Operations Handbook (DEOH), and internal merit promotion policies. Formulated innovative talent acquisition strategies, resolved non-standard and highly complex federal personnel issues, led cross-functional HR modernization initiatives, and managed personnel actions utilizing enterprise HR information systems. Volunteer Experience: 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 to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Requirements

Must be a U.S Citizen as verified through E-Verify Program Drug Testing: If you are given access to classified information, you will be subject to random drug testing. If you are selected for a special sensitive position, you will be placed in a drug testing designated position. You must pass a drug test before your assignment to such a position and you will be subject to random drug testing subsequent to your assignment. Background Investigation: All selectees will be subject to a personnel security investigation which must be favorably adjudicated for occupancy of a sensitive position and/or access to classified information. If you are selected for a critical/special sensitive position, you will be subject to a Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI). For a critical sensitive position, you must be able to obtain and maintain security clearance eligibility at the Top Secret level. For a special sensitive position, you must be able to obtain and maintain security clearance eligibility at the Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) level AND you will be subject to a random counterintelligence scope polygraph.

Education

Substitution of Education for Specialized Experience: There is no substitution of education for experience at this grade level.

How you will be evaluated

Your application will initially be reviewed to determine whether you meet the minimum eligibility and qualifications requirements. If you are qualified, you will then receive a numeric score based on the degree to which your background matches the knowledge, skills and abilities for the position listed below. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications, you will be assigned a rating commensurate with your background. Your final score will be used to determine if you are among the best qualified candidates. Competencies: Communication Customer Service (Clerical/Technical) Human Resource Concepts, Policies, and Laws Partnering Staffing and Recruiting Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. https://appsupport-usastaffing.opm.gov/hc/en-us/sections/45063131363475-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information Criminal History Inquiries- If you apply to this position and are selected, we will not ask about your criminal history before you receive a conditional job offer. If you believe you were asked about your criminal history improperly, contact the agency @ dcaa.belvoir.hq.mbx.ask-lmer@mail.mil

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 about two (2) hours to 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://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/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.

Other information

DCAA has a comprehensive benefits package that includes retirement, social security and thrift savings; health, life and long term care insurance; paid vacation, sick leave and holidays. DCAA employees enjoy our business-casual dress code, flexible work schedules, and transit subsidies. Selective Service: Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see www.sss.gov). Initial Probationary Period: 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. Additional Vacancies: This announcement may be used to fill additional positions within 120 days of the certificate issuance date. Performance Appraisal: If you are a current Federal employee, you must be rated fully successful or higher on your current performance rating to be eligible for promotion. You may be asked to provide a copy of your performance appraisal during the evaluation and selection process. Telework: This position may be eligible for situational telework. Telework approval will be determined by your immediate supervisor or manager following the agency's telework policy and guidance. If participating in the telework program, you will be required to sign a telework agreement detailing agency telework policy requirements, working conditions, and expectations for the position. Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): You must meet the definition of highly qualified for the position to receive special selection priority under the ICTAP. A qualified ICTAP eligible achieving a score of 90 or above will be considered well qualified. You must submit a Separation-Reduction in Force (RIF) SF-50; a RIF Notice showing separation within the past year (or declining a management directed reassignment outside the commuting area, or a Termination of Disability Notice from OPM) and most recent performance appraisal. For more information, go to: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp#ictap. Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA): Veterans who are preference eligibles or who have been separated from the Armed Forces under honorable conditions after substantially completing an initial 3-year term (not less than 2 years and 11 months) may apply regardless of their current geographical location. Veterans must submit their DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, to be considered under this authority. All applicants are encouraged to apply electronically. If you are unable to apply on-line, you may contact 317-212-0454 for assistance. This position is not covered by a bargaining unit. Are you looking for an employee-friendly work environment, challenging assignments, specialized training and generous benefits? At DCAA you'll find all this in a progressive organization dedicated to continuous improvement. DCAA is ranked in the top third of the "Best Places to Work in the Federal Government." Join the elite cadre of professionals who have made DCAA their employer of choice. You will be providing a unique service to your country and making a difference in the lives of Americans everywhere!