Workforce Development: Direct Hire Authority

WSMR Public Affairs

White Sands Missile Range held a workforce development session via TEAMS Feb. 17 on the topic of Direct Hire Authority.

DHA is for any and all positions NH-04/GS-15 and below, any series to include temporary, term or permanent positions.

It does not require public notice unless hosting a recruitment event. Recruitment options include: local job ad, name request, career fair, and traditional (USAJOBS) as a last resort.

There is no formal student program but recommend using Statement of Understanding or Participant Agreement.

For additional information go to: https://portal.atec.army.mil/sites/G1/DEHA/DHA%20MRTFB/Forms/AllItems.aspx

Some of the DHA Keys to Success include the following:

Have a solid strategic plan: Attrition trends/retirement eligibility, build the bench/level of experience required (journeyman, expert), history of recruitment efforts, understand all recruitment options available.

Ask experts for advice, keep an open mind and stay positive, use Yello platform for recruitment effort.

Yello integrates with USAJobs, but helps your agency do so much more on top of that. Find and hire the right people faster with a technology that tracks and automates every step of the hiring process, from job announcement to offer letter — while supporting OPM regulations.

Post vacancies on multiple social media platforms: Facebook, LinkedIn, Handshake, Local Community Pages.

Highlights of Yello platform include:

Allows for fair and open competition and G1 controls the recruitment process; engage with CHRSC after selection.

Leverage acquisition, recruitment, marketing and operations functionality in a single platform.

Simplified application process, instant candidate profile building with resume/transcript collection.

Instant candidate engagement (messaging) from a centralized system via email and text messaging.

User-friendly for both candidates and WSMR G-1

Can be used for DHA and non-competitive recruitment efforts (In-band reassignments, Details, Management Identification of Internal Candidates (MIIC for AcqDemo).

One-stop shop in meeting a casefile requirement.

Can be used to recruit for specific positions or at events such as career fairs.

Find the Yello job board links at www.atecciviliancareers.com

DHA Usage for FY21:

Total number of recruits/fills: 149 (including DHA and non-DHA)

Total number of DHA hires: 71 (48 percent)

DHA hires from current federal employees: 9 (13 percent) with 6 (67 percent) ATEC employees and 5 (56 percent) WSMR employees.

Tools used: Regulations, DoD, DA, CHRA Policies, ATEC Operational Guidance Matrix, DoD Hiring Authorities Decision Tool, Historical Recruitment Knowledge, Partnerships and Yello.

DHA Partners include: Hiring Manager, WSMR G-1, ATEC G-1, CHRSC, Educational Institutions, Professional Organizations.

Some reminders:

The intent behind the DHAs is to hire from outside the federal service, but are not prohibited from selecting current federal employees.

For widest dissemination, market your announcements on as many social media sites as possible: Facebook, LinkedIn, Indeed, Handshake, etc. (Be sure to keep copies of the social media blasts in your casefile).

Encourage the use of Yello and the atecciviliancareers.com job board for your DHA announcements.

DHAs are for competitive service only, not excepted service.

DHA Case File Checklist is mandatory for every DHA recruitment effort.

Manage your case file IAW ATEC DHA Operational Guidance, Appendix D – DHA Case File Checklist: https://portal.atec.army.mil/sites/G1/DEHA/DHA%20PPS%20RG/Forms/AllItems.aspx

Casefiles need to be submitted to CHRSC with your selection.

Additional information on al DHAs can be found on the ATEC SharePoint: https://portal.atec.army.mil/sites/G1/DEHA/SitePages/Home.aspx