Human Resources Specialist

Human Resources Specialist Job Announcement

Salary: CL-26 ($55,205 - $89,702) through CL-28 ($72,693-$118,136). 

Posting Date: April 10, 2025.

Closing Date: Open until filled. Candidates will be reviewed, and interviews will be scheduled as applications are received.

Job Summary:

The Human Resources Specialist performs and coordinates administrative, technical, and professional work related to human resources, finance, and travel programs for the Eighth Circuit Clerk’s Office and Office of Staff Attorneys, supporting unit executives and employees. The HR Specialist ensures compliance with appropriate guidelines, policies, and approved internal controls related to human resources management. The HR Specialist makes recommendations to multiple court unit executives on staffing and budget impact, hiring practices, and human resource policies and matters affecting court administration and operations. This position works within the Clerk’s Office of the US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in St. Louis, Missouri.

Work is performed in an office setting. Typical work hours are 8:00am – 4:30pm or 8:30am – 5:00pm with work outside of normal business hours occasionally needed.

Representative Duties:

·       Formulate, implement, and administer the full range of human resources policies, procedures, and standards for the Eighth Circuit Clerk’s office and Office of Staff Attorneys, having varying needs and priorities.

·       Review, research, analyze, develop, and recommend human resources policies for the court units supported. 

·       Ensure adherence to the Guide to Judiciary Policy and Human Resources Manual regarding human resources practices and separation of duties.

·       Develop and analyze a variety of reports based on historical and current data and hiring trends and make recommendations to court unit executives. 

·       Project salary budgets using various personnel scenarios for each unit and conduct modeling based on those scenarios.

·       Coordinate with managers and unit executives for each unit on the assessment and evaluation of staff performance throughout the year and maintain a tracking system for employee evaluations and step increases.

·       Administer performance management systems, including assisting in the development of performance standards and rating criteria. 

·       Advise unit executives, managers, and employees on human resources matters, procedures, and practices. Provide advice on employee relations, disciplinary actions, performance management, staffing and cost projections, benefits, and related issues.

·       Advise unit executives and managers regarding leave administration and tracking matters to ensure adherence to judiciary leave policies and procedures. 

·       Perform duties related to benefits administration, recruitment, classification, staffing budget, payroll, workers compensation, personnel action processing, and records maintenance. Maintain local personnel files, including payroll, leave records, and other accountability documents for audit purposes. 

·       Administer and utilize automated systems for human resources activities including leave tracking, personnel projections, electronic records management, performance management. 

·       On a rotating basis with other financial clerks, perform daily reconciliation of cash drawers with cashiers. Prepare, reconcile, and process bank deposits. Reconcile pay.gov payments.

·       Ensure compliance with The Guide to Judiciary Policy on financial and accounting matters and comply with the internal controls procedures and policies established by the Clerk’s Office.

·       Other duties as assigned.

 Required Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in related field or equivalent experience.

Human Resources

• Extensive knowledge of human resources management, policies, processes, reports, and employment law. Broad knowledge of recruitment, compensation, benefits, performance management, adverse action procedures, and equal employment opportunity.


• Skill in making recommendations for solving human resources management issues and problems. 


• Knowledge of training resources, training policies, adult learning theories, career development theories, and needs assessment techniques. 


• Knowledge of staffing trends and impact on budget process. Skill in developing statistics and statistical reports relating to staffing projections and various staffing scenarios. 


• Skill in researching, analyzing, and developing human resources programs and local policies for multiple court units with varying needs and priorities. 


• Skill in evaluating and analyzing organizational structures, staffing needs, and recruiting qualified candidates for all jobs in the court units. 


• Skill in evaluating operational or administrative matters, developing recommendations, and addressing issues identified. 

Written and Oral Communication/Interaction

• Ability to communicate effectively (both orally and in writing) to individuals and groups to present explanations of complex human resources benefits, policies, and procedures.


• Ability to interact effectively and appropriately with others, provide customer service, and resolve difficulties while complying with regulations, procedures, and court confidentiality requirements. 


• Ability to interact tactfully with a wide variety of people. Skill in facilitating discussions with managers and employees regarding behavior and performance management. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of court operations, functions, and organizational structure of units supported.  Knowledge of court units’ work measurement methods. Knowledge of the Guide to Judiciary Policy, the Human Resources Manual, and internal controls guidelines and how they apply to each court unit.


• Skill in the use of a variety of automated equipment and applications, including word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications, the Human Resources Management Information System (HRMIS), Personnel Projection System (PPS), performance management systems, and other court applications. 

Total Rewards and Work/Life Balance

·         Benefits:

o   Vacation time accrues at the rate of 13 days per year for the first 3 years, increasing to 20 days after 3 years and 26 days after 15 years.

o   Sick time accrues at a rate of 13 days per year.

o   11 paid holidays per year.

o   Choice of a variety of employer-subsidized federal health plans and optional employer-subsidized Federal Employees Group Life Insurance.

o   Vision and Dental insurance programs are available.

o   Flexible Spending Programs – pre-tax contributions for out-of-pocket health, dependent care, and transportation expenses.

o   Eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).

o   Public transportation or parking subsidy (dependent on fiscal year funding).

o   Federal retirement includes an employer-sponsored pension plan (FERS) and a retirement contribution plan with employer match (TSP). Retirees are eligible for Social Security and carry health insurance plans into retirement while paying the same premiums as employees.

o   Creditable service with other federal agencies and/or the military will be used to compute employee benefits.

·         Amenities:

o   Onsite fitness center.

o   Onsite cafeteria.

o   Onsite, free health clinic is staffed with a nurse and M.D.

o   24-hour building security.

·         Work/Life:

o   Generous time off – paid Annual leave (vacation), Sick leave, and holidays.

o   Occasional telework may be allowed after the initial training period.

o   Nationwide leave sharing program.

Conditions of Employment

• Applicants must be a US citizen or a lawful permanent resident of the United States currently seeking citizenship or intending to become a citizen immediately following meeting eligibility.


• Selected applicants are hired provisionally pending the results of fingerprinting and a background investigation.


• Direct deposit of pay is required.


• Positions with the US Courts are “excepted service” positions and employees serve “at will.”


• Employees are subject to and must comply with The Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees.


• No relocation expenses are permitted.


• All applicant information is subject to verification. Providing false and/or misleading information may be grounds for removal from the application and selection process, as well as disciplinary action if discovered after hire.

How to Apply:

Submit a completed application for judicial branch employment (https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/forms/application-judicial-branch-federal-employment), a detailed resume, and a cover letter at https://ca852383.hire.trakstar.com/jobs/fk0pty1. All three documents are required. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

The United States Courts are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to equity and inclusion in the hiring process, and the Eighth Circuit values diversity in the workplace.