HR Specialist (Payroll/Compensation)

About the role

This position is located in the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Office of Human Capital, Talent Acquisition & Benefits Group, Division of Pay & Benefits, Payroll Operations Branch.

As a HR Specialist (Payroll/Compensation), GS-0201-13, you will serve as principal advisor on other HR issues impacting employee pay related to the voluntary leave transfer program, employee benefits and retirements, time and attendance, etc.

What you will do

• Serve as the principal advisor and first point of contact for payroll and compensation matters between CMS employees, timekeepers, ITAS coordinators, DFAS, and HHS.
• Analyze and resolve complex payroll discrepancies, including overpayments, underpayments, incorrect deductions, debt, garnishments, and time and attendance errors.
• Utilize automated payroll and inquiry systems (e.g., DFAS MyPay, EHCM) to submit, track, research, and ensure accurate resolution of payroll cases.
• Provide expert guidance on pay and leave entitlements, including advanced leave, LWOP, donated leave, continuation of pay, retirement deductions, and benefits impacts.
• Respond to audits, debts, estimates, and data calls, supporting internal and external reviews and ensuring payroll data integrity.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the results of the online assessments required for this position.

A Subject Matter Expert may assist in the resume review process to help determine whether you meet the minimum job qualifications. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Accountability Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Influencing/Negotiating Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process.

In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. The assessment includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies.

You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered.

You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

Documents you must provide

• To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes: 1.
• Resume showing relevant experience; cover letter optional.
• NOTE: As of September 27, 2025, federal agencies will only accept resumes that are two pages or less in length.
• Your resume must indicate your citizenship and whether you are registered with the Selective Service if you are a male born after December 31, 1959.
• Your resume must also list your work experience and education (if applicable), including the start and end dates (mm/yyyy) of each employment, along with the number of hours worked per week.
• For work in the Federal service, you must include the series and grade level for the position(s).
• For resume and application tips, visit: *** IN DESCRIBING YOUR WORK EXPERIENCE AND/OR EDUCATION, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE OR EDUCATION.
• We strongly encourage applicants to utilize the USAJOBS resume builder in the creation of resumes.
• Determining length of general or specialized experience is dependent on the below information and failure to provide ALL information WILL result in a finding of ineligible.
• Official Position Title (include series and grade if Federal job) Duties (be specific in describing your duties) Employer's name and address Supervisor name and phone number Start and end dates in the month and year format (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008) Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week) Salary 2.
• Most recent SF-50s (Notification of Personnel Actions), if you are a current or former Federal employee (including those applying under a non-competitive, special hiring authority, or ICTAP/CTAP eligibles).
• The SF-50s must show the effective date, position title, series, grade, salary, tenure, position occupied, full promotion potential, and the name of the agency.
• Multiple SF-50s may be needed to show all required information (e.g., promotion, within-grade increase, and separation SF-50s).
• Award SF-50s will not be accepted.
• Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application.
• Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency-Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to commencing the USA Hire Competency-Based Assessments.
• Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis.
• If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency-Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision.
• You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency-Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement.
• To determine if you need a RA, please click here to review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.
• Performance appraisal, if applicable.
• Most recent (i.e., usually within the last 18 months) final (not a mid-year review) official (i.e., signed by the rating official and in original format) annual performance appraisal must be submitted by reinstatement-eligible applicants applying to a position with a higher grade or more promotion potential than previously held and current or former Land Management employees.
• ICTAP/CTAP documentation, if applicable (e.g., reduction-in-force (RIF) separation notice, RIF separation SF-50 personnel action (ICTAP only, if available), most recent SF-50 (CTAP/ICTAP), certification of expected separation, etc.) In addition, submit a copy of your current or last performance rating of record which must be at least fully successful or equivalent and submit all required documents listed above that apply to you.

What to expect next

Based on your application and your responses to the application questionnaire, you may be presented with instructions on how to access the USA Hire system to complete the online assessments. The online assessments must be completed within 48 hours following the close of this announcement.

You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation for the assessment should you have a disability covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).Your assessment results will be kept on record for one year and used toward future positions for which you might apply that require the same assessments.

To be considered for the position, you must meet all qualifications, including meeting or exceeding the cut score on the required assessments. Within 30 business days of the closing date, 09/25/2026, you may check your status online by logging into your USAJOBS account (***).

We will update your status after each key stage in the application process has been completed.

Additional information

Bargaining Unit Position: No Tour of Duty: Flexible Recruitment Incentive: Not Authorized Relocation Incentive: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure: Not Required Workplace Flexibility at CMS: This position has a regular and recurring reporting requirement to the CMS office listed in this announcement.

CMS offers flexible working arrangements and allows employees the opportunity to participate in alternative work schedules at the manager's discretion. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced federal employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies.

To be qualified you must submit the required documentation and be rated well-qualified for this vacancy. Click here for a detailed description of the required supporting documents. A well-qualified applicant is one whose knowledge, skills and abilities clearly exceed the minimum qualification requirements of the position.

Additional information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at ***