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Human Resources Specialist (Compensation)

$71,957

Santa Ana, CaliforniaFull-timePosted Oct 21, 2026

Against the Santa Ana typical range

Job description

View Common Definitions of terms found in this announcement. Organizational Location: This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Office Human Capial, in Santa Ana, California. This is a non-bargaining unit position.

As a Human Resources Specialist (Compensation), at the full performance level, you will perform the following duties: Providing advice and assistance to management, employees and union officials on a full range of pay, premium pay, leave administration and time and attendance. Applying a wide range of payroll and time and attendance concepts, laws, policies, practices and techniques to address complex, controversial or sensitive matters regarding payroll.

Researching and investigating facts involving payroll support problems or other projects. Researching and recommending solutions regarding pay, leave and time and attendance administration, and waivers for bills incurred by employees.

Limit your resume to no more than two pages. The USAJOBS database will not allow an applicant to submit an application that includes a resume over two pages. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

For GS-09: Must possess one of the following: Experience: One year of specialized experience at the GS-07 grade level or equivalent performing 2 out of 3 of the following duties: Reviewing compensation and payroll procedures to ensure they are consistent and are in compliance with policies and procedures; Researching and investigating facts involving payroll support problems and advising supervisors with minimal guidance from senior specialists; Monitoring pay and leave accuracy through source documents such as payroll reports, systems, and other inquiry techniques.

OR Education: A master's degree or equivalent graduate degree; or two years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; or LL.B. or J.D. if related. Graduate education must be from an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of successfully completed graduate education and experience maybe used to meet the total qualification requirements for the GS-09 position. Combinations are computed by first determining the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining the applicant's education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; and then adding the two percentages.

The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. Only graduate education beyond the first year may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grade GS-09 for the combination. Graduate education must be from an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

GS-11 : You qualify for the GS-11 grade level if you possess one of the following: Experience : One year of specialized experience at the GS-9 level grade level or equivalent performing 2 out of 3 of the following duties: Providing advice to employees on a full range of pay, premium pay, leave administration and time and attendance; Serving as a liaison on all payroll support systems issues; Initiating actions to correct or implement applications and recommending revisions of current compensation policies and practices to accommodate changes or updates, with limited supervision from senior specialists.

OR Education : A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or an LL.M., if related. Graduate education must be from an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

OR Combination of Education and Experience : A combination of successfully completed graduate education and experience maybe used to meet the total qualification requirements for the GS-11 position. Combinations are computed by first determining the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining the applicant's education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; and then adding the two percentages.

The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. Only graduate education beyond the second year may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grade GS-11 for the combination. Graduate education must be from an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

You qualify for the GS-12 grade level if you possess one of the following: Experience: One (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-11 grade level or equivalent performing 3 out of 4 of the following: Conducting studies to develop new or modified procedures for payroll support services; Identifying payroll system issues and raising them to management; Implementing compensation policies, directives and other issuance and advising management of possible impact on current regulations; Troubleshooting payroll issues or systems rejects and providing solutions.

Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification. National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience) : Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, Ameri.

Corps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR 315.707.

Veterans , Peace Corps , VISTA volunteers , and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

Description copied from ICE's careers page. Read the full posting before you apply.

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