Protect our Land, Ascend with Us!

Ascension is seeking a highly experienced Senior Human Resources Classification Specialist / Position Classification Specialist to provide specialized Human Resources classification support to U.S. Embassy and Consulate operations throughout the Department of State’s East Asia/Pacific region.

This is a highly specialized position requiring an HR classification professional who already understands the Department of State overseas HR environment and can independently perform position classification work at the full-performance level upon entry on duty.

The successful candidate must have previously served in at least one of the following capacities and must have gained qualifying Human Resources experience while supporting a U.S. Embassy or Consulate overseas:

• Former U.S. Civil Service employee;
• Former Foreign Service employee;
• Former Employed Family Member (EFM), including EPAP;
• Former Locally Employed (LE) Staff member.

Experience supporting an Embassy solely as a contractor does not satisfy this eligibility requirement.

The ideal candidate brings direct, hands-on experience conducting overseas position evaluations using MClass, analyzing position descriptions, conducting desk audits and fact-finding interviews, applying Department of State classification standards, completing JF-298 documentation, and advising supervisors and HR professionals regarding position classification and organizational structure.

Because the Government requires only one Classification Specialist to perform the work and does not permit personnel substitutions during contract performance, Ascension is seeking an individual who can provide sustained availability, continuity, sound professional judgment, and dependable performance throughout the engagement.

Summary of the Contractor Role

The Senior Human Resources Classification Specialist will provide end-to-end position classification support for Locally Employed Staff positions across U.S. Embassies and Consulates in the East Asia/Pacific region.

The specialist will review new and revised position descriptions, evaluate duties and responsibilities against applicable classification standards, conduct interviews with supervisors and incumbents, complete MClass evaluations, validate classification findings with Embassy personnel, complete JF-298 documentation, maintain classification records, update organizational information, prepare classification metrics, and advise management regarding organizational and position-management issues.

The role also requires the development and delivery of classification training, job aids, help sheets, Standard Operating Procedures, presentations, and other guidance materials for HR professionals, managers, supervisors, and Post Classification Advisors.

The selected professional should be analytical, detail-oriented, organized, responsive, and comfortable operating independently in a geographically dispersed environment. The individual must be able to work effectively across different Embassy operating hours and time zones while managing approximately 90 position evaluations annually across as many as 47 EAP posts.

The specialist will use Department of State systems and Government-Furnished Equipment to perform the work and must be comfortable managing sensitive personnel information, interpreting classification regulations and procedures, and explaining complex classification decisions to stakeholders with varying levels of HR expertise.

Primary Responsibilities and Anticipated Activities

• REVIEW new and revised position descriptions for completeness, accuracy, regulatory compliance, and conformity with Department of State classification standards.
• EVALUATE Locally Employed Staff positions using the Department of State MClass evaluation system.
• ANALYZE position functions, organizational relationships, reporting structures, workflows, duties, responsibilities, and classification factors.
• DISTRIBUTE AND REVIEW Job Discussion Help Sheets (JDHS) completed by jobholders and supervisors to identify areas requiring additional clarification.
• FORMULATE classification questions and identify additional information required to conduct complete and defensible position evaluations.
• CONDUCT desk audits, fact-finding sessions, and in-depth interviews with supervisors, managers, incumbents, HR personnel, and other appropriate stakeholders.
• COMPLETE MClass job evaluation questionnaires based on position descriptions, JDHS information, interview findings, organizational context, and applicable classification standards.
• VERIFY AND VALIDATE classification evaluations with Government personnel and provide MClass job reports for review and certification.
• REVISE MClass evaluations, when appropriate, in coordination with Embassy HR offices and other Government stakeholders.
• COMPLETE the JF-298 Interagency Post Employee Position Description Form, including official title, post title, occupational series code, and grade resulting from the MClass evaluation.
• ADVISE Embassy management, supervisors, and HR personnel regarding Locally Employed Staff position evaluation regulations, classification procedures, effective position descriptions, and sound organizational structures.
• ASSIST supervisors and HR staff in developing and improving position descriptions and identifying appropriate documentation necessary to support classification actions.
• ASSESS organizational structures and position requirements to identify potential position-management, organizational-design, or resource-allocation issues.
• PREPARE written justifications supporting additional resources, changed positions, or abolished positions, as required.
• MAINTAIN a master schedule for periodic position reviews and classification actions.
• MAINTAIN AND UPDATE position-description information within Department of State Locally Employed Staff personnel systems and classification files.
• PREPARE AND UPDATE computerized organizational charts and supporting organizational documentation.
• DEVELOP classification statistics, program metrics, trend analyses, discussion papers, ad hoc reports, and other management information.
• DEVELOP training presentations, course materials, agendas, manuals, help sheets, Standard Operating Procedures, and reference materials related to position classification.
• DELIVER individual and group training on classification topics such as Writing Effective Position Descriptions and Establishing Sound Organizational Structures at Posts.
• IDENTIFY emerging training requirements and coordinate with regional evaluators and HR personnel to address classification knowledge gaps.
• ASSESS the effectiveness and suitability of training courses and recommend improvements when appropriate.
• COORDINATE virtually with Embassy personnel using Microsoft Teams and other Department of State collaboration systems.
• SUPPORT approximately 90 anticipated position evaluations annually across Embassy and Consulate locations within the East Asia/Pacific region.
• TRAVEL to Bangkok, Thailand and/or other EAP locations when authorized to support training, certification, or onsite position-evaluation activities.
• PROTECT sensitive, personnel, proprietary, and Government information and comply with all applicable nondisclosure, privacy, Department of State, and U.S. Government requirements.