Classification Specialist

AvantGarde, LLC’s Human Resources Specialist (Classification) provides advanced Federal HR classification and position management support to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of the Secretary, HR Operations. This is a hybrid position requiring two days of onsite support and permitting three days of approved remote work from home each week. The role partners with managers, supervisors, and HR staff to develop and classify position descriptions, conduct desk audits, maintain the electronic position description library, support organizational restructurings and realignments, and ensure classification actions comply with applicable Federal laws, regulations, policies, standards, and internal procedures. The successful candidate brings strong technical classification expertise, sound judgment, exceptional customer service, and a collaborative approach to complex HR matters.

The WORK

• Partners with managers, supervisors, and HR staff to develop new position descriptions and revise existing position descriptions so duties, responsibilities, organizational relationships, and position-level factors are accurately reflected.
• Writes, edits, and reviews position descriptions and integrates position management principles, including updates to organizational charts as requested.
• Classifies General Schedule positions using applicable Office of Personnel Management (OPM) classification standards and guides.
• Determines and documents Fair Labor Standards Act status, position sensitivity designations, and other classification-related requirements, including completion of Optional Form 8 and related documentation.
• Develops classification evaluation statements and recommendations regarding occupational series, title, grade, competitive level, bargaining unit status, financial disclosure requirements, FLSA status, and position sensitivity.
• Conducts desk audits and classification reviews in accordance with established guidelines, standard operating procedures, and program requirements.
• Establishes occupational series career ladders and advises management on complex, controversial, or difficult classification and position management issues.
• Supports implementation and updates to competitive level coding for OST organizations, including OST, OST-R, Volpe, and TSI, as requested.
• Tracks classification requests, activities, completed actions, and outstanding issues through designated logs, spreadsheets, and other tracking methods.
• Assists program offices in implementing standardized classification processes, SOPs, and standardized position descriptions to improve timeliness, consistency, and efficiency, coordinating with the Classification Center of Excellence as required.
• Maintains, catalogs, organizes, and cleans the OST electronic position description library, ensuring version control, standardized naming conventions, and timely document retrieval.
• Audits the position description library to identify duplicate, outdated, or obsolete files and develops standardized position description packages for recurring operational roles.
• Provides classification and position management support during major organizational restructurings, consolidations, and realignments across OST organizations.
• Develops crosswalk and mapping tables, assesses mixed-series and mixed-grade implications, updates high-volume organizational charts, and adjusts competitive level codes for affected populations.
• Performs expedited classification reviews and desk audits for positions affected by organizational realignments to minimize administrative delays.
• Ensures all work products and recommendations are complete, accurate, well documented, and ready for Federal employee review and approval.

The REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field preferred; additional relevant Federal HR classification experience may be considered in lieu of education, depending on program requirements.
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible Federal human resources experience, with substantial experience in position classification and position management.
• Advanced knowledge of Federal HR principles, practices, classification standards, and position management requirements.
• Demonstrated experience developing, reviewing, and classifying clerical, administrative, technical, and professional position descriptions.
• Experience conducting desk audits and evaluating complex classification issues, including mixed-series, mixed-grade, interdisciplinary, impact-of-the-person, and broader organizational considerations.
• Demonstrated experience supporting large-scale organizational restructurings, consolidations, realignments, and position crosswalk or mapping activities.
• Experience managing electronic document repositories or centralized position description libraries, including version control and standardized document organization.
• Knowledge of FLSA determinations, bargaining unit status, position sensitivity designations, competitive levels, financial disclosure requirements, OF-8 completion, and related Federal classification documentation.
• Strong consultative, advisory, analytical, written, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to develop practical solutions to complex or contentious classification and organizational issues.
• Ability to establish productive working relationships, manage multiple integrated HR processes, meet deadlines, and exercise independent judgment within established Federal HR requirements.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, and SharePoint, as well as electronic records and tracking systems.
• Commitment to responsive customer service, accuracy, accountability, teamwork, and delivery of timely, defensible work products subject to Federal review and approval.