Human Resources Specialist

JOB SUMMARY

This position is in the DC State Board of Education (State Board), under the Office of the Executive Director. The State Board is an independent agency. The mission of SBOE is to provide policy leadership, support, advocacy, and oversight of public education to ensure that every student is valued and learns the skills and knowledge necessary to become informed, competent, and contributing global citizens. The position also supports the two offices within the agency (The Office of the Ombudsman for Public Education and the Office of the Student Advocate).

The incumbent is responsible for performing extremely complex, highly confidential, sensitive, and diversified human resource management (HRM) and administrative activities and issues/matters requiring discretion and a high degree of responsibility. The work involves identifying and developing workforce strategies to attract and maintain a high-quality and diverse workforce that can accomplish the agency’s mission and goals, which substantially and considerably impact its operations.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Serves as the agency's Human Resources Advisor. They maintain continuous contact with all levels of DCHR staff personnel, district government agencies, state and local governments, and other government officials.

Monitors administrative aspects of the human resource program to ensure the flow of documents within the agency. Continue to evaluate the required documentation and modify it when appropriate. Consult and develop solutions to problems and issues. Coordinates and monitors special projects as assigned. Works closely with SBOE Office leads and DCHR to ensure the completion of projects is accomplished. Analyzes and evaluates new and existing programs to meet the agency’s human resource management needs and comply with legal and government requirements.

Prepares statistical and analytical reports. Responds in writing or verbally to written and oral requests for information from the Executive Director and office leads.

Performs special assignments requiring sensitive handling due to confidentiality or difficulty of subject matter and may require liaison with other District government agencies, necessitating considerable research and analysis. Identifies, analyzes, and evaluates problems to improve organizational structure and develops and presents recommendations and options to avoid or resolve problems.

Develops standard operating procedures, notices, and directives related to human resources. Researches, interprets, and applies various laws and standards, including District and Federal regulations and procedures about human resource management (HRM) matters and administrative issues/problems.

Provides a full range of technical assistance, guidance, and advisory services in developing Personnel Action Requests related to position descriptions, tours of duty, leave and pay administration, and other human resource matters. Collaborating with the Executive Director develops and maintains procedures encompassing the agency’s functional responsibilities.

Advises and counsels managers and staff on accomplishing organizational and operational goals and identifying and resolving human resource issues. Provides human resources policy guidance, technical expertise, and consultation to managers and staff within the agency. Recommends human resource policy or operations changes consistent with District human resource laws, rules, regulations, priorities, objectives, and any new mandates to the supervisor and monitors implementation when approved. Critiques and provides position management guidance to management officials. Provides advisory service in all aspects of realigning the agency, including developing and consolidating position descriptions, organizational charts, functional statements, crosswalks, training, and staff assessment.

Develops staffing plans and position descriptions and recruits and selects employees. Administers the employment application procedures for the staff; reviews applications; provides employment information; supports review panels and supervisors in their review process, interviewing and selecting applicants; and participates in the job offer and confirmation process.

Collaborates with the Executive Director, analyzes proposed realignments and reorganizations. Makes recommendations on staffing patterns, functional statements, and organizational charts. Makes recommendations on the proposal's impact on career patterns and grade alignments, proposed position structure, position descriptions, and similar issues. Analyzes complex or specialized problems, advises supervisors on proposed solutions, and adapts policies and guidelines to the organization's requirements.

Responsible for the end-user HR Information System through PeopleSoft and maintains a fully integrated personnel and payroll data and functions database. Resolves employee issues regarding personnel records, pay, benefits, etc., with the appropriate DCHR team.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EDUCATION

Mastery knowledge of the mission, policies, procedures, goals, objectives, and programs of the DC human resource management principles and practices to provide sound recommendations relative to policies, procedures, and practices.

Thorough and expert understanding of the personnel manuals, standards, and guides, i.e., District Personnel Manual (DPM), Position Classification Standards and Guides, and other policies and procedures pertaining to personnel administration. Thorough understanding of human resource interrelationships and functional responsibilities in public sector organizations.

Extensive knowledge of the fundamental human resource management principles, concepts, and methodology of human resources management, including, but not limited to, recruitment and staffing requirements, position management, organizational development, personnel administration, and administrative practices to evaluate and provide advisory services to the State Board.

Extensive knowledge of negotiating and conflict resolution techniques sufficient to effectively diffuse highly charged emotional situations.

Superior skill in effective customer service and customer relations practices and the capability to deliver high-quality services to internal and external customers.

Extensive knowledge of analytical research and evaluation methods and the skill to plan, organize, develop, and apply various techniques used to gather, analyze, and evaluate information concerning management and personnel processes, draw conclusions, and recommend appropriate action to complex issues. Applies a high degree of resourcefulness, ingenuity, and inventiveness to various investigations and assignments.

Superior written and oral communication skills are sufficient to prepare findings and recommendations and carry out specific actions, many of which are controversial, such as establishing and maintaining effective relationships with others. High level of computer systems and their application, e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook. Access and other related programs. Expert skill in the use of automated HRIS/PeopleSoft.