About this role
Job SummaryThe USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service seeks a Human Resources Assistant (GS-0203) for the HR Operations Division. This role provides critical clerical support, processes personnel actions, and manages records. Depending on placement, you will either support staffing workflows by reviewing application packages or assist with benefits administration and enrollment processing. The ideal candidate has strong customer service skills to resolve diverse employee inquiries.
QualificationsApplicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. Time in Grade: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet the time in grade requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. Specialized 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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. GS-05: Experience performing basic office support, clerical, or data-entry tasks within a structured professional or human resources environment. Reviewing documents for administrative completeness against specific checklists. Inputting and retrieving simple database records into automated systems. Maintaining local files, logs, or tracker spreadsheets. Answering baseline customer inquiries by pulling information from pre-established reference materials. Following sequential, multi-step instructions provided directly by a supervisor or senior colleague. GS-06: Providing technical clerical assistance across routine human resources operations under established guidelines. Input or modify standard personnel actions (such as SF-52s, data entries, or benefits forms). Screening new-hire documentation to verify basic completeness. Identifying data entry errors and executing corrective updates within electronic records systems (Ex. Reviewing onboarding documents, requesting information, and applying changes). Providing information to employees regarding standard workplace procedures, benefits offerings, or onboarding steps by interpreting readily applicable instructions. GS-07: Experience independently processing a wide variety of interrelated, non-standard human resources support actions while interpreting regulatory guides. Evaluating, tracking, or auditing personnel actions (such as recruitments, mass realignments, or promotions) to verify regulatory compliance. Executing data-system actions across a broad spectrum of HR specialties like classification library management, recruitment tracking, or benefits administration. Resolving system transaction errors or technical discrepancies through collaboration with regional centers or external platforms. Providing technical guidance to internal managers or agency employees on the application of HR laws, rules, or local operating policies.
Major DutiesProvide guidance to employees on how to access Federal benefits information, explain eligibility requirements, application processes, and timelines.Receive, review and process enrollment forms.Determine benefits status and eligibility using programs, regulations and policies.Drafts and send letters and notifications related to life events, retirements and separations.Review submitted documentation for completeness and input data into appropriate databases.Develop reports, review data, and suspense files using approved methods.Participate in projects under the direction of a specialist or supervisor.Pay duties including research, verify, and resolve pay issues and personnel documents for employees.Participate in recruitment/examining activities for identified positions through databases.Respond directly to applicant inquiries, complete tasks for pre-employment processes.Assist with making job offers, preparing and coordinating Entry on Duty (EOD) dates, release dates, examining on-boarding documentation for completion.Ensure that personnel actions contain correct nature of action and legal authorities, employee data, pay data and remark codes.Review submitted documentation for completeness. Input data into appropriate databases.Responds to inquiries: Answers written and oral questions directly from job applicants.Issues job offers: Prepares and distributes tentative and official job offer correspondence to selected applicants.Validates onboarding forms: Reviews completed new-hire onboarding packets for accuracy and assigns new-hire tasks in automated HR systems.Reviews a variety of incoming personnel documentation for completeness and codes approved transactions in HR systems.Tracks SF-52s: Builds, reviews, monitors, and tracks federal personnel actions for assigned programs and districts.Verifies position data: Assesses personnel documents for accuracy regarding position data elements and required attachments.Manages system data: Uses human resources applications to input, modify, maintain, and inactivate official position data.