[Material Transmitted]{.underline}:

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Instruction 511-1,
Position Classification, dated May 9, 2008.

[Material Superseded]{.underline}:

This Instruction supersedes HHS Instruction 511-1, Position
Classification Program, issued May 16, 1996.

[Background]{.underline}:

The Instruction was updated as a response to the effects of the 2003
reorganization that assigned classification responsibility to the
Operating Human Resources Organizations (OHROs) (i.e., Atlanta Human
Resources Center, Baltimore Human Resources Center, Indian Health
Service Human Resources Center, National Institute of Health Office of
Human Resources, Rockville Human Resources Center).

Specifically, this Instruction:

1.  Details the revised requirements of the Office of Personnel
    Management classification standards implementation process;

2.  Lists the unique requirements when classifying Attorney, Public
    Affairs, Criminal Investigator, and Administrative Law Judge
    positions;

3.  Enumerates positions excluded from coverage; and

4.  Addresses OHRO position classification processing and appeals
    responsibilities.

This issuance is effective immediately. Implementation under this
issuance must be carried out in accordance with applicable laws,
regulations, bargaining agreements, and Departmental policy.

Antonia T. Harris

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Human Resources

INSTRUCTION 511-1

**SUBJECT: POSITION CLASSIFICATION**

511-1-00 Purpose

511-1-10 References

511-1-20 Coverage and Exclusions

511-1-30 Responsibilities

511-1-40 Classification of Special Series

511-1-50 Implementing OPM-Mandated Classification Standards

511-1-60 Classification Appeals

**511-1-00 PURPOSE**

This Instruction outlines the policies, requirements, and
responsibilities for administration of the Department's position
classification program. It also clarifies the responsibility of the
Operating Human Resources Organizations (OHROs) to establish
classification appeals procedures in accordance with the Office of
Personnel Management (OPM) guidelines.

**511-1-10 REFERENCES**

A. 5 CFR § 511, Classification under the General Schedule

B. 5 CFR § 532, Subparts F and G, Job Grading System and Job Grading
Reviews and Appeals

**511-1-20 COVERAGE AND EXCLUSIONS**

A. Coverage

> This Instruction covers the classification of positions under the
> General Schedule and Federal Wage Systems.

B. Exclusions

The following positions are excluded from coverage under this
Instruction:

1.  Senior Executive Service (SES)

2.  Scientific and Professional (ST)

3.  Senior-Level (SL)

4.  Administratively Determined (AD)

5.  U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps

**511-1-30 RESPONSIBILITIES**

A. The Office of Human Resources (OHR) is responsible for developing,
administering, and evaluating position classification policies and
programs, and shall provide overall management and oversight of the
Department\'s classification program by:

1.  issuing Department-wide classification policies and guidance;

2.  coordinating Departmental response to OPM guidance;

3.  coordinating the Department's response to OPM\'s standards
    development activities;

4.  reviewing all classification appeals cases initiated by OHROs; and

5.  conducting periodic reviews of OHROs regarding administration of the
    position classification program.

B. Operating Human Resources Organizations (OHROs) (i.e., Atlanta Human
Resources Center, Baltimore Human Resources Center, Indian Health
Service Human Resources Center, National Institute of Health Office of
Human Resources, Rockville Human Resources Center) are responsible for
ensuring classification programs within their serviced Operating
Divisions (OPDIVs) are carried out consistently with the law,
regulations, policies, requirements, delegated authorities, and OPM
classification standards by:

1.  providing advice and support to OPDIVS to ensure compliance with
    classification policies and programs;

2.  delivering sound position classification and position management
    services;

3.  establishing procedures for reviewing and deciding classification
    appeals;

4.  conducting position audits when employees appeal classification
    determinations;

5.  issuing classification appeal decisions through the Classification
    Appeals Adjudicating Officer, i.e., the Director of the Human
    Resources function of an OHRO; and

6.  forwarding classification appeal cases to OPM when requested by
    employees.

C. Managers and supervisors are responsible for ensuring every position
in their organization has an accurate and certified position description
(PD) which provides a clear and definitive description of the primary
duties of each position under their scope of responsibility.

**511-1-40 CLASSIFICATION OF SPECIAL SERIES**

A. GS-905 Attorney Positions

1.  When classifying GS-905 attorney positions in the Office of the
    General Counsel (OGC), officials with classification authority will
    accept a certification from OGC concerning the type of cases and the
    level of independence at which the attorney is operating.
    Classifications will be based on this certification.

2.  Attorney positions may not be established outside of OGC without the
    concurrence of OGC.

3.  OGC shall respond to requests for concurrence to establish attorney
    positions within 30 days of the request, in compliance with
    established classification performance and accountability metrics.

B. GS-1035 Public Affairs Positions

1.  Public Affairs positions at the GS-1035-14 level and above may not
    be established outside of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for
    Public Affairs (ASPA) without the concurrence of ASPA.

2.  ASPA shall respond to requests for concurrence to establish Public
    Affairs positions within 30 days of the request, in compliance with
    established classification performance and accountability metrics.

C. GS-1811 Criminal Investigator Positions

1.  Criminal Investigator GS-1811 positions may not be established
    outside of the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) without the
    concurrence of OIG.

2.  OIG shall respond to requests for concurrence to establish Criminal
    Investigator positions within 30 days of the request, in compliance
    with established classification performance and accountability
    metrics.

D. GS-935 Administrative Law Judge Position

> The Office of Personnel Management retains the authority to establish
> all GS-935 Administrative Law Judge positions.

**511-1-50 IMPLEMENTING OPM-MANDATED CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS**

A. New or updated classification standards and/or classification guides
must be applied to covered positions within 12 months of OPM's issuance
date.

B. The following strategies may be considered when implementing new
classification standards:

1.  Apply standards first to new positions and positions under
    classification appeal.

2.  Apply standards to vacant positions prior to initiating recruitment.

3.  Apply standards to positions where a grade change is expected.

4.  Process mass changes, as appropriate, rather than individual
    personnel actions.

5.  Make pen-and-ink changes for minor revisions with no grade impact.

**511-1-60 CLASSIFICATION APPEALS**

A.  Each OHRO will establish Classification Appeals application, review,
    and approval procedures.

B.  OHRO Directors will serve as the Classification Appeals Adjudicating
    Officers for their respective OPDIVs. Each Classification Appeals
    Adjudicating Officer will receive incoming employee classification
    appeal requests and will issue appeal decisions.

C. General Schedule employees may appeal, at any time, the
classification of their positions either within their OHRO or directly
to OPM. However, simultaneous appeals to the OHRO and OPM are not
permitted. Initial appeals through the OHRO are recommended in order to
preserve subsequent OPM appeal rights. General Schedule employees may
choose to appeal to OPM through the OHRO. The Classification Appeals
Adjudicating Officer must act on the appeal within 60 days or forward it
to OPM for action.

D. Wage grade employees must appeal first to their OHRO. If dissatisfied
with the result, they may then appeal to OPM. An appeal to OPM must be
filed within 15 calendar days after receipt of the OHRO appeal decision.
OPM may extend the time limit for filing if circumstances beyond the
appellant's control prevented them from filing within 15 days, or if the
appellant was not aware of the 15-day time limit.

E. If an employee, in a position covered by a new/revised classification
standard, files an appeal prior to the implementation of the new OPM
standard, the OHRO must immediately apply the new standard in order to
properly adjudicate.

F. When an OHRO disagrees with a decision rendered by OPM on a
classification appeal, a reconsideration of the decision may be
requested. Such requests are to be forwarded to the Deputy Assistant
Secretary for Human Resources for review and concurrence prior to
submission to OPM.

MEMORANDUM

To: Director, Atlanta Human Resources Center

Director, Baltimore Human Resources Center

Director, Rockville Human Resources Center

Director, Human Capital Group, National Institutes of Health

Director, Human Resource Center, Indian Health Service

From: Antonia T. Harris

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Human Resources

Subject: Position Classification

I hereby delegate the following to:

[Operating Human Resources Organizations (OHROs)]{.underline}:

-   Authority to classify all General Schedule and Federal Wage System
    positions.

The following delegation exclusions apply:

-   Written concurrence must be obtained from the Office of General
    Counsel (OGC) prior to classifying Attorney positions outside of
    OGC.

-   Written concurrence must be obtained from the Office of the
    Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs (ASPA) prior to classifying
    Public Affairs positions.

-   Written concurrence must be obtained from the Office of the
    Inspector General prior to classifying Criminal Investigator,
    GS-1811 positions.

-   The Office of Personnel Management retains the authority to
    establish all GS-935 Administrative Law Judge positions.

[Effective Date]{.underline}: This delegation is effective immediately.