Title:                    Senior HR Specialist 

Location:            Washington, D.C. metro area

Summary

Rios Partners is a mission-driven consulting firm creating positive change by delivering value for our clients, investing in our employees, and solving tough problems that benefit our local and global communities. We ground our approach in empathy, enabling our team members to better hear our customers’ challenges and work together to develop effective solutions. As a team, we know what it takes to move organizations forward with measurable, sustainable results.  

Our primary consideration when evaluating candidates is alignment with our Mission and Values, which can be found at  http://www.riospartners.com/mission-and-values/. 

Job Description

We are seeking an experienced and knowledgeable HR Specialist to provide expertise in managing and supporting HR programs requiring a deep understanding of federal HR terminology, operations, procedures, and requirements. This role involves performing tasks across various HR functions, including position development, with a focus on delivering high-quality work efficiently and with minimal supervision.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate exceptional proficiency in federal HR practices, strong organizational and analytical skills. Success in this role requires a proactive approach to problem-solving, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Position Management: Coordinate all actions related to position creation and classification for federal employees, including developing and modifying position descriptions and functional statements.
• Establishment Requests: Request the establishment of positions and route documents through the organization for approval.
• Data Entry: Enter data into required portals and ensure accuracy throughout the process.
• Stakeholder Follow-Up: Follow up with stakeholders to ensure timely completion of position-related actions.
• Annual Position Actions: Complete follow-up actions for five positions per year to maintain effective position management.
• Process Automation: Advise on the automation of processes related to position management to enhance efficiency.
• HR Program Expertise: Provide expert-level support for HR programs, ensuring compliance with federal HR terminology, operations, procedures, and requirements.
• HR Functions: Perform tasks across multiple areas of HR, including policy development, recruitment, employee relations, benefits, and compliance.
• Quality Assurance: Deliver high-quality work under minimal supervision while meeting deadlines and organizational objectives.
• Issue Analysis: Analyze HR issues, propose solutions, and implement improvements to enhance HR operations and processes.
• Team Leadership: Serve as a Team Lead when required, providing guidance and mentorship to junior team members and overseeing their contributions.
• Collaboration: Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure HR strategies align with organizational goals and federal requirements.
• Knowledge Maintenance: Maintain up-to-date knowledge of federal HR policies, regulations, and best practices.
• Reporting: Prepare reports, documents, and presentations to support HR initiatives and decision-making.

Required Education, Skills, and Experience

• High school degree or GED is required.
• A minimum of 6 years of federal HR experience with progressively increasing responsibility, including at least 4 years of specialized experience in the relevant area of work.
• Previous direct experience working with a federal government client.

Preferred Education, Skills, and Experience

• College degree is preferred.
• Strong preference for candidates with previous experience within the Department of Veterans Affairs.
• Advanced knowledge of federal HR operations, policies, and procedures.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a detail-oriented approach.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and deliver results under minimal supervision.

Additional information 

• U.S. work authorization required
• Workplace Type: Hybrid
• Employment Type: Part-Time/Hourly
• Travel: Limited travel may be required based on project needs.
• Security Clearance: Must be able to obtain a Federal ID Card and Public Trust.

Benefits Information:

Profit-sharing/Performance Bonus: Rios Partners is committed to ensuring the success of the organization benefits the entire team. As such, a portion of profits is paid out to employees. The total amount of Profit-Sharing/Performance Bonus distributed to the team may vary year to year and will depend on numerous factors, including market conditions, company performance, and individual performance.

Retirement plan: Rios Partners offers a 401(k) and contributes an amount equivalent to 3% of the employee’s base salary each month to the designated fund. Employees may choose to contribute additional money into the 401(k) from their paycheck each month.

Health and Vision insurance: Rios Partners covers 90% of the premium for both the employee and their dependents for Platinum plans health coverage through United Healthcare; this includes coverage for both medical and vision insurance.

Dental insurance: Rios Partners covers 90% of the premium for both the employee and their dependents for a dental insurance plan through Delta Dental.

Disability insurance: Rios Partners will pay 100% of the premium for both short-term and long-term disability insurance provided through Guardian.

Paid Time Off (PTO) and holidays: You will be eligible for three weeks of PTO (15 days) and 12 paid holidays each year. In additional accrued PTO, Rios Partners provides additional time off for both expected and unexpected events (e.g., Bereavement Leave, Jury Duty, Voting).

Maternity, Paternity, and Adoption Leave: Rios Partners celebrates employees’ choice to become parents. We are also aware that pregnancy and caring for an infant or a newly adopted child may cause additional life complexities. As such, we provide employees twelve (12) weeks of paid leave in association with the birth of an employee’s own child or the placement of a child with the employee in connection with adoption or foster care. To be eligible for Maternity/Paternity/Adoption Leave Program, team members must: 1) Have worked at Rios Partners full-time for a minimum of 12 continuous months. 2) Be in good employment standing with Rios Partners (i.e., not on probation). 3) Request leave a minimum of 30 days in advance if possible. If this is not possible, please place your request as soon as possible once you become aware of it. Regardless of eligibility for the Rios Partners Maternity/Paternity/Adoption Leave Program, all Rios Partners employees are eligible for the Department of Labor’s Family and Medical Leave Act entitlements as well as Rios Partners Short Term Disability plan.

Employee Assistance Program: Rios Partners cares about the mental health of our employees. Through our employee assistance program, ComPsych, we offer 5 EAP sessions to address personal issues such as relationship struggles, substance abuse, parenting challenges and grief. ComPsych, if you decide to utilize the service, also provides FinancialConnect, LegalConnect and FamilySource to provide support and resources for every eligible employee.

Training and Development: Rios Partners is committed to helping you achieve your highest potential. Our personal view is that this is best accomplished through a combination of client engagements, opportunities to take on new roles within the team, and internal (team) / external (expert) training.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Rios Partners is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Rios Partners is an E-Verify Employer. Click here for more information on E-Verify.

Seniority Level: Mid-Senior Level  

Functions: Administrative, Customer Service, Human Resource, Recruitment

Workplace Type: Hybrid 

Job Type: Part-time; Contractor