Operations Support Specialist

Powering the Pacific Northwest: Be the Force Behind Our Federal Workforce! Step into a pivotal role at the heart of the Pacific Northwest's energy future. Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) is renowned for providing an abundant, efficient, and reliable power supply, all while championing environmental stewardship.

Our work powers millions of homes and businesses throughout the Pacific Northwest. To achieve this mission, we need a dedicated and talented workforce. As an Operations Support Specialist on one of our Human Resources teams, you will be a key player in hiring, developing, and supporting the incredible people who keep the lights on.

This is more than a job; it's a launchpad for your federal HR career. You will gain hands-on experience and develop a broad foundation of skills in a dynamic, supportive environment. Your work will directly impact the well-being of our employees and the success of our organization.

As part of a team, you will learn one of the core functions of federal human resources from the ground up. As an Operations Support Specialist, you will be the operational backbone of our HR team.

While all roles share core responsibilities in ensuring the accuracy and integrity of our employee data, you will be assigned to a specialized team where you can deepen your expertise.

Your specific duties will be focused within one of the following key HR functions: Core Responsibilities (All Teams): Be a Guardian of Data Integrity: Process a wide range of personnel actions with precision, interpreting federal guidelines to apply correct processing codes and legal justifications, ensuring every detail is accurate and every employee's record is secure.

Potential Areas of Specialization: Recruitment and Placement: Shape our workforce by playing a direct role in attracting top talent. You'll prepare recruitment packages, draft compelling job announcements for a variety of federal roles, and ensure a smooth and compliant hiring process.

Classification and Position Management: Master the art of organizational design by helping to determine appropriate job titles, series, and pay grades, ensuring fairness and equity across the agency.

Benefits: Guide employees through their most important career milestones by helping them navigate federal benefits and retirement options, ensuring they have the information needed to plan for their future.

Training and Development: Champion employee growth by helping to identify training needs, coordinating logistics for virtual and in-person courses, and providing direct support to our New Employee Orientation program.

Employee and Labor Relations: Build critical skills by researching and analyzing information, providing recommendations on employee matters, and gaining foundational experience in awards and recognition programs.

Compliance and Records Management: Sharpen your analytical skills by participating in HR program audits, helping to identify and resolve discrepancies to ensure our operations meet the highest federal standards.

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: GS-05: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least 3 years of progressively responsible experience, 1 year of which was equivalent to at least GS-4, that demonstrates the ability to: Analyze problems to identify significant factors, gather pertinent data, and recognize solutions; Plan and organize work; and Communicate effectively orally and in writing.

You may substitute education for specialized experience as follows: 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree or a bachelor's degree. GS-07: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-05) in the Federal service.

Specialized experience for this position is defined as: experience 1) applying organizational policies and procedures to process a range of personnel or administrative actions; AND 2) providing frontline support for a human resources function (e.g. staffing, benefits administration, employee records, employee/labor relations, etc.) and responding to routine inquiries from employees, managers, or customers.

You may substitute education for specialized experience as follows: One year of graduate-level education, or superior academic achievement (S.A.A.) gained in a bachelor degree curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled (based on class standing, grade-point average, or honor society membership).

See the following link for more information: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=app -OR- Combination of education and experience as described above. Less than one year of specialized experience may be combined with completed graduate education.

"Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations.

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.

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.