Federal Human Resources Subject Matter Expert / Instructor (Part-Time)
Is This You?
Graduate School USA is seeking experienced federal human resources practitioners — position classifiers, staffing and placement specialists, employee and labor relations specialists, HR processing and personnel-action specialists, benefits and retirement counselors, pay-setting specialists, and HR managers (typically GS-12/13 and above, or equivalent agency, DoD, or uniformed-service experience) — who want to share their expertise with the next generation of federal HR professionals.
This is not a traditional faculty position. We are looking for practitioners first: people who have classified GS or Federal Wage System positions, run merit-promotion and examining actions, advised management on conduct and performance, processed SF-50s and SF-52s, counseled employees on CSRS/FERS and TSP, or set pay under complex OPM rules — and who can bring that lived experience into the classroom. If you have spent your career advising agency leadership, briefing stakeholders, or mentoring junior HR staff, you already have the foundation we need. Formal teaching experience is highly preferred but not required; GSUSA provides instructional onboarding, established curriculum, and course materials.
Company Overview
Graduate School USA (GSUSA) is a distinguished training provider dedicated to delivering workforce development solutions exclusively to the federal government and public service professionals. With a proud legacy dating to 1921 — more than a century of service — GSUSA specializes in high-quality, practical training programs that enhance the skills and effectiveness of government employees through innovative learning experiences. GSUSA has partnered with more than 125 federal agencies and trained over one million federal employees.
Position Overview
GSUSA instructors teach predominantly live virtual courses, with occasional in-person sessions, within our Federal Human Resources curriculum. Courses are taught to predefined GSUSA learning objectives with established materials — your job is to bring the subject matter to life with depth, currency, and real-world federal experience.
Curriculum Areas — Deep Expertise Required in One or More
Our Federal HR curriculum spans the full HR specialist lifecycle. We welcome instructors with deep expertise in one or more of the following tracks:
• Classification & Position Management: General Schedule (GS) and Federal Wage System (FWS) classification; classification standards and the Factor Evaluation System (FES); writing position descriptions; desk audits; position management; and Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) exemption determinations.
• Staffing, Recruitment & Placement: Federal staffing and placement law and process; merit promotion and in-service placement; qualifications analysis and OPM qualification standards; job analysis and assessment; category rating and selection; veterans’ preference adjudication; and service computation dates (SCDs).
• Employee & Labor Relations: Federal employee relations; conduct- and performance-based actions, including adverse actions; federal labor relations and collective bargaining; negotiating labor agreements; grievances, unfair labor practices, and management advisory support.
• HR Processing & Personnel Actions: The Guide to Processing Personnel Actions (GPPA); preparing and documenting the SF-52 and SF-50; Nature of Action codes, legal authorities, and remarks; and personnel recordkeeping (OPF/eOPF and EMF).
• Benefits & Retirement: CSRS, CSRS Offset, and FERS; the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP); FEHB, FEGLI, FEDVIP, FSAFEDS, and FLTCIP; Social Security and Medicare coordination; OWCP and disability retirement; and pre-retirement and mid-career counseling.
• Pay Setting & Compensation: Pay setting and administration for GS and FWS positions; within-grade increases; recruitment, relocation, and retention incentives; grade and pay retention; and movement between pay systems.
• Performance Management: Federal performance management systems; setting and communicating performance measures; and tracking and improving employee performance in alignment with agency requirements.
• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO): EEO laws affecting federal employment; the federal EEO complaint process; harassment prevention; and the Merit System Principles (MSPs) and Prohibited Personnel Practices (PPPs).
• Federal HR Management & Strategy: Federal human resources management overview; strategic human capital management and workforce analysis and planning; using and presenting HR data; the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act; personnel security and suitability adjudication; and internal HR consulting.
Minimum Qualifications - Read before Applying
• A minimum of 7 years of hands-on federal human resources experience — in position classification, staffing/recruitment/placement, employee or labor relations, HR processing and personnel actions, benefits and retirement administration, pay setting, or a related federal HR specialty — gained within a federal agency, the uniformed services, or in direct, sustained support of federal HR clients.
• Experience in state, municipal, nonprofit, K-12/higher education, or general corporate human resources does not substitute for federal HR experience. Candidates without direct federal HR experience will not be considered for this curriculum.
• Demonstrated experience leading, training, briefing, advising, or mentoring professionals — for example, advising management or agency leadership, supervising and developing HR staff, leading working groups, or conducting on-the-job or staff training.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher.
Preferred Experience/Certifications
• A federal HR or HR professional credential, such as IPMA-HR (IPMA-CP or IPMA-SCP), SHRM (SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP), or HRCI (PHR or SPHR).
• Completion of, or eligibility for, GSUSA’s Certified Federal HR Practitioner (cFHRP), Certified Federal HR Advisor (cFHRA), or Certified Federal HR Business Partner (cFHRBP) program, or a comparable federal HR certificate.
• Direct experience applying OPM laws, regulations, and operating guidance, with current knowledge of evolving federal HR policy and agency practice.
• Prior formal instruction experience with adult professional learners, in classroom or live virtual settings (e.g., agency HR training programs, OPM/agency-sponsored courses, professional association courses, or adjunct teaching of federal HR content).
• Experience delivering training via Zoom or Microsoft Teams.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
• Deliver engaging instruction on federal human resources topics to adult learners in live virtual and occasional in-person formats, aligned with GSUSA curriculum learning objectives.
• Support instruction with provided materials (slides, handouts, references) and recommend updates based on regulatory and policy developments.
• Draw on current federal HR practice to connect course content to learners’ real-world agency challenges.
• Respond promptly and professionally to student questions during and outside of class sessions.
• Collaborate with GSUSA curriculum staff to keep course content accurate and current.
• Comply with GSUSA policies, procedures, and quality standards, and participate in instructional onboarding and ongoing professional development.
Technology & System Requirements (Virtual Instruction)
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365; comfort with Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and digital communication tools (training provided on GSUSA-specific platforms).
• Windows 10 or macOS 10.9 or later; large or dual monitors; HD webcam; microphone and speakers; reliable broadband internet connection.
Compensation & Total Rewards
GSUSA offers a competitive, market-based total rewards program. Instructor roles fall under two designations based on skills and experience; those selected for an Instructor designation can expect an hourly pay range of $40.00 to $60.00, with individual compensation determined by relevant experience, skills, geographic location, and level of role. This range is subject to change.
All GSUSA employees, including part-time instructors, are eligible to participate in our 401(k) retirement plan, administered through Empower. Employees are automatically enrolled at a 5% pre-tax contribution rate and may change their contribution rate or opt out at any time. Part-time instructors also accrue paid sick leave in accordance with applicable state and local law and have access to our learning management system and individual development planning resources.
Scheduling is intermittent and flexible — many of our instructors teach alongside full-time federal careers or in retirement.
Equal Opportunity
Graduate School USA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or protected veteran status.
Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application or interview process may contact lisa.ciferni@graduateschool.edu.
Join us to make a meaningful impact on the federal HR workforce while advancing your career in a vibrant, supportive environment. We value innovation, dedication, and a passion for public service!
Benefits
• 401(k)
• Flexible schedule
• Paid time off
Compensation: $40.00 to $60.00 per hour, depending on experience, skills, and location.