Title: Senior Staffing & Recruitment Specialist
Location: Remote
Company Background
At APV, we’re more than a technology company — we’re a mission-driven powerhouse transforming organizations through advanced technology and human ingenuity. Our expertise spans AI/ML, data architecture, low-code/no-code development, Agile DevSecOps, and cloud services, delivering scalable and meaningful solutions.
In our Emerging Technology Lab, innovation drives progress. Our teams create intelligent chatbots, AI-powered assistants, robotic process automation (RPA), essay graders, and data analytics platforms. If you’re passionate about solving complex challenges and shaping the future, APV is the place for you.
Since 2007, we’ve partnered with federal and state agencies to deliver IT, training, and consulting solutions that achieve mission-critical outcomes. Built on accountability, integrity, and quality, we go beyond expectations.
With 70+ prime contracts and a proven record of client success, APV continues to grow — and we’re looking for exceptional talent to grow with us.
At APV, we Always Provide Value.
Role:
APV is seeking a Senior Staffing & Recruitment Specialist to provide advanced support to DHS on the full range of federal staffing, examining, and placement activities. The Senior Specialist independently handles complex examining cases, special hiring authority cases, veterans preference adjudication, and senior leader placement, and serves as a senior point of contact for hiring managers, OPM, OGC, and applicants.
This role requires deep working knowledge of federal staffing law, OPM guidance, and DHS policy. The Senior Specialist drafts JOAs, applies qualifications standards, issues certificates of eligibles, mentors journeyman specialists, drafts SOPs, and leads recruitment workstreams including hiring events, outreach, and direct hire authority initiatives.
Duties:
The Senior Staffing & Recruitment Specialist will:
Expert Examining, Qualifications & Special Authorities
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Serve as the senior authority on federal qualifications determinations under the OPM Qualifications Handbook (Operating Manual for Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions), including specialized experience, time-in-grade, and selective placement factors.
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Adjudicate complex examining cases, including assessment strategy under 5 CFR Part 300, category rating under 5 USC 3319 and 5 CFR Part 337, and rule of three vs. rule of many issues.
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Provide expert guidance on Direct Hire Authority (DHA) under 5 USC 3304(a)(3), special hiring authorities, expedited hiring, and OPM-delegated examining.
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Advise on Schedule A appointments for individuals with disabilities (5 CFR 213.3102(u)), Schedule B, Schedule C, and other excepted service authorities.
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Lead resolution of complex pathways cases (Pathways Programs under 5 CFR Part 362), VRA, and veterans-related appointing authorities.
Veterans Preference, Merit Principles & Compliance
- Serve as the senior authority on veterans preference under the Veterans' Preference Act of 1944 (5 USC 2108), the Veterans' Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA), and 30% or More Disabled Veterans hiring.
- Apply and enforce merit system principles (5 USC 2301), prohibited personnel practices (5 USC 2302), and equal employment opportunity requirements throughout the recruitment lifecycle.
- Lead resolution of veterans preference complaints, VEOA complaints, and OPM oversight inquiries.
- Coordinate with OGC and DHS Office of the Chief Diversity Officer on EEO considerations in recruitment and selection.
- Lead enterprise responses to GAO, OIG, IG, and OPM accountability findings related to staffing and recruitment.
Hiring Reform, Skills-Based Hiring & Modernization
- Lead implementation of federal hiring reform initiatives, including OPM and OMB skills-based hiring guidance, Subject Matter Expert Qualifying Assessment (SME-QA) methodology, Pooled Hiring, Hire to Mission, and Time-to-Hire reduction strategies.
- Advise on assessment strategy modernization, including resume-only assessments, structured interviews, work samples, and validated multiple-hurdle approaches.
- Lead enterprise standards for job analysis, competency identification, and assessment validation.
- Coordinate with USA Staffing and OPM on system enhancements, special authorities, and hiring innovation pilots.
- Advise on the staffing implications of new authorities, executive orders, and OPM guidance.
Policy Development, SOPs & Quality Assurance
- Draft, review, and update DHS staffing and recruitment policies, management directives, instructions, implementation guidance, SOPs, and examining desk references.
- Interpret 5 USC Chapters 31, 33, and 41; 5 CFR Parts 211, 213, 300, 302, 315, 316, 330, 332, 335, 337, 338, 339, 351, 362, and 720; OPM guidance; and DHS-specific authorities.
- Design and lead the enterprise QA program for staffing accuracy, including certificate audit, qualifications determination review, and veterans preference application.
- Establish enterprise standards for job opportunity announcement (JOA) quality, assessment validity, and case file completeness.
- Lead audit responses, IG inquiries, and program self-assessments related to staffing and examining.
Executive Briefing, Mentorship & Strategic Advisory
- Serve as the trusted senior advisor to OCHCO leadership, component CHROs, hiring managers, OGC, and APV leadership on staffing strategy and complex placement matters.
- Prepare executive-level decision papers, briefing memos, talking points, congressional response materials, and risk assessments.
- Represent DHS at OPM, the CHCO Council, the Hiring Excellence Working Group, and interagency forums on staffing matters.
- Mentor senior and journeyman specialists, lead case calibration sessions, and conduct quality reviews of complex recruitment work products.
- Build and maintain enterprise training and certification curricula for the DHS staffing and recruitment workforce.
Education:
- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Public Administration, Business Administration, or related field; Master's degree strongly preferred. Equivalent senior federal staffing experience may substitute based on contract terms.
Required Qualifications
- Active DHS Public Trust or favorably adjudicated investigation; ability to obtain and maintain required suitability/access throughout the period of performance.
- Minimum 12-15 years of progressive federal staffing and recruitment experience, including substantial time as a senior examiner, branch chief, or program lead.
- Demonstrated mastery of the OPM Qualifications Handbook; 5 USC Chapters 31 and 33; 5 CFR Parts 300, 302, 315, 316, 330, 332, 335, 337, 338, 339, and 362; veterans preference law; and merit system principles.
- Documented experience adjudicating complex examining cases, special hiring authority cases, veterans preference cases, and case file integrity issues.
- Demonstrated experience advising executives, OGC, and interagency partners on sensitive staffing matters.
- Hands-on expertise with USA Staffing and OPM examining systems.
- Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce defensible documentation and persuasive executive products.
- Demonstrated ability to operate independently in a fully remote environment with frequent senior-level coordination.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Prior service as a DHS, DoD, or other federal agency senior staffing advisor, branch chief, or division chief.
- Delegated Examining Certification (current or recent).
- USA Staffing Hiring Manager / HR User certification, USA Staffing Onboarding Manager, or comparable USA Staffing power user credentials.
- Experience leading skills-based hiring rollout, SME-QA, Pooled Hiring, or Hire to Mission activities.
- SHRM-SCP, IPMA-SCP, SPHR, or comparable senior HR certification.
- Experience supporting MSPB appeals or OPM oversight engagements related to staffing.
About APV
APV is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are considered without regard to race, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, or marital status.
