Human Resources Advisory Office

The Human Resources Advisory Office (HRAO) staff is the local HR presence and includes HR Business Partners (HRBPs) who work in a consultative capacity to provide strategic human capital advice and guidance to all levels of management and other designated local and remote customers in analyzing workforce issues and proposing solutions to HR matters. The Science and Energy (S&E) Shared Service Center (SSC) located in Oak Ridge, TN, will provide operational support and assistance to the HRAOs and work in partnership with onsite HRBPs to ensure consistent and seamless HR operational support.. The SSC will provide transactional HR services, including staffing and recruitment, classification, benefits administration, personnel action processing and records management, and learning transactions, to the HRBPs, management officials, and employees.

The HRBPs serve as the primary HR point of contact for all HR related matters. They provide expert-level recommendations of innovative methods and strategies to resolve problems. The HRBPs have full technical responsibility for independently carrying out complex studies and projects involving human capital program development for their serviced population(s). They work in partnership with the appropriate SSC HR Specialists and Assistants to deliver seamless HR operations.

The HRAO’s primary functions include:

• Providing guidance to managers in developing and aligning local human capital/workforce management plans with their organizational goals and objectives.
• Developing and implementing appropriate workforce management strategies in collaboration with Program leadership to recruit, develop and retain a highly skilled, diverse workforce capable of supporting the Program’s mission.
• Supporting Managers through the end-to-end hiring process including collaborating to develop the position description and job analysis of the vacancy, ensuring the vacancy announcement and candidate qualification process is completed accurately and timely by the SSC, assisting during the interview and selection process, advising on the compensation package associated with the job offer, monitoring the status of the job offer from the SSC to the candidate, coordinating onboarding paperwork between the new employee and the SSC, and advising on orientation of new employees to the workplace.
• Providing advice and quality assurance on the performance management program, including rewards and recognition, to leaders, supervisors, and employees.
• Advisory services for key HR functions like Learning and Development and the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Providing guidance and consultation to management on the full range of labor relations matters.
• Overseeing the processing of informal and formal negotiated grievances, including providing advice and guidance, early resolution efforts, and negotiating settlements.
• Providing guidance to employees and supervisors in resolving employee relations issues.