Human Resources Assistant

POSITION: Human Resources Assistant
SALARY: CL 25/26 ($56,386 - $100,943 DOE)
Starting salary should be expected in low to middle portion of the range, based on qualifications and experience.
Promotion to CL 26 without further competition.
CLOSING DATE: Open until filled. Preference given to applications received by April 20, 2026.
LOCATION: San Diego, California
VACANCY NO.: 26-13

Position Overview:
The United States District Court for the Southern District of California is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Human Resources Assistant. This position is located in the Clerk's Office and reports to the Human Resources Supervisor. Under the direction of the HR Supervisor, the incumbent provides human resources services to Judges, Chambers Staff and the Clerk's Office.
Representative Duties:
•Assists with processing a variety of HR and payroll actions using the Human Resource Management Information System (HRMIS), such as appointments, promotions, separations, etc. Assists with maintaining HR records, to include payroll, leave and recruitment records.
•Assists with data collection for required reports as requested and needed by HR Supervisor.
•Assists with time and attendance reporting and maintains leave, timekeeping and telework records.
•Supports the recruitment process by assisting with the preparation and distribution of vacancy announcements.
•Supports the onboarding process by assisting with the criminal and credit background checks of selected candidates, including contractors.
•Supports the Court’s judicial extern program with background checks, scheduling onboarding meetings; enters data into Employee Setup Program (ESP); issues ID Cards; maintains associated records and spreadsheets for Extern program.
•Supports the performance management process by sending out performance appraisal due notices as requested. Assists with ensuring that performance appraisals are tracked and logged correctly.
•Assists with onboarding of Clerk's Office staff by scheduling background checks, scheduling orientation meetings, preparing orientation materials, and conducting onboarding meetings.
•Coordinates and conducts separation meetings with outgoing employees.
•Assists with benefits program coordination including maintaining and distributing benefits materials, processing forms, and addressing routine benefits questions and resolving benefits issues.
•Assist with training activities related to human resources matters within the court unit, such as maintaining training records, assisting with preparing materials and resources, and scheduling resources (e.g., meeting rooms, web-based resources, etc.) Offers suggestions when employee policies are reviewed for updating.
•Assists with the Court’s community outreach program and events as necessary.
•Other duties as assigned.

Qualification Requirements:
To be placed at CL 25, 1 year of specialized experience is required.
Specialized experience is defined as progressively responsible clerical or administrative experience that provided knowledge of the rules, regulations, procedures, and practices of human resources administration and involved the routine use of automated human resources systems or other computer-based systems such as word processing, spreadsheets, or database applications.
Additionally, this position requires the following:
•Ability to maintain strict confidentiality, demonstrate sound ethics and mature judgment, and handle sensitive material with a calm, professional, friendly, and patient demeanor.
•Ability to communicate information clearly and professionally with a variety of people, including judges, executives, court personnel, and candidates for employment.
Preferred Qualifications:
•Current or prior federal judiciary human resources experience.
•Bachelor’s degree preferred.

Required Clearances:
Please note that this position is not covered by the Fair Chance Act and requires that applicants provide criminal history information prior to receiving any conditional offer of employment. This means that on the AO-78 Application Form, you must complete the “Optional Background Information” section on Page 5.

Benefits:
Salary is just one component of the comprehensive compensation package offered by the Federal Court. Federal court employees are eligible for a full range of benefits that include 13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid holidays per year, a flexible work schedule, immediate matching Thrift Savings Plan, pre-tax programs (health, dependent care and transportation), and insurance plans (i.e., health, life, disability, and long-term care), car-pooling options and a transportation subsidy.
Employer benefit contributions equate to no less than 33% of an employee’s total compensation. Please see the chart below for an estimated total compensation based on a sample position and salary. Be advised that eligibility may vary by appointment type and length.
For more information about federal court benefits, please visit: www.uscourts.gov/careers/benefits.

How to Apply:
Qualified candidates must submit a cover letter, resume, a minimum of three references with contact information, and the AO-78 Application Form (available for download in the application portal). All application materials must be submitted at CASD HR Application Portal. More information on career opportunities may also be found at www.casd.uscourts.gov.
Preference will be given to applicants who submit application materials
before 4:30pm, Monday, April 20, 2026.

Information for Applicants
The Court reserves the right to modify the conditions of this job announcement, or to withdraw the announcement, any of which may occur without prior written or other notice. In the event that a position becomes vacant in a similar classification, within a reasonable time of the original announcement, the Clerk of Court may elect to select a candidate from the applicants who responded to the original announcement without posting the position.
Only qualified applicants will be considered for this position. Employees of the U.S. District Court serve under “Excepted Appointments” and are considered “at will” employees. Federal Civil Service classifications or regulations do not apply; however, court employees are entitled to substantially the same benefits as other Federal Government employees.
All information provided by applicants is subject to verification and background investigation. Applicants are advised that false statements or omission of information on any application materials or the inability to meet the following conditions may be grounds for non-selection, withdrawal of an offer of employment or dismissal after being employed.
Participation in the interview process will be at the applicant’s own expense and relocation expenses will not be provided.
The position is subject to the mandatory electronic fund transfer (EFT) participation for payment of net pay (i.e., Direct Deposit).
Non-citizens may be interviewed and considered for employment, but employment offers will only be made to individuals who qualify under one of the exceptions in 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3)(B). In most cases, this means that an offer of employment cannot be made unless the candidate is a lawful permanent resident who is seeking U.S. citizenship as explained below.
Under 8 U.S.C. §1324b(a)(3)(B), a lawful permanent resident seeking citizenship may not apply for citizenship until he or she has been a permanent resident for at least five years (three years if seeking naturalization as a spouse of a citizen), at which point he or she must apply for citizenship within six months of becoming eligible, and must complete the process within two years of applying (unless there is a delay caused by the processors of the application). Non-citizens who have not been permanent residents for five years will be required to execute an affidavit that they intend to apply for citizenship when they become eligible to do so.
If selected for first time appointment to a position, you may be required to complete an initial performance probationary period. Failure to successfully complete the probationary period may result in termination of employment.
THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER