Human Resources Specialist

Summary

The Library of Congress shares its vast collections of books, manuscripts, photographs, maps, audiovisual materials, and priceless artifacts to cultivate curiosity and spark imagination. We engage, inspire, and inform Congress and the American people with a universal and enduring source of knowledge and creativity.

We seek highly talented professionals to join a vibrant and collaborative community. Your work here will have lasting impact on the Library and its users well into the future.

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Duties

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This position is located in the Talent Services and Systems Division of the Human Capital Directorate. The incumbent is responsible for providing payroll administration and compensation activities involving the responsibility for the interpretation and application of rules, law, and policies. The incumbent will provide advice and guidance to managers related to compensation and payroll. Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with managers and personnel throughout the Library, other Federal, state, and local agencies and with the private sector.

As the Human Resources Specialist, you will:

• Provide orientation on the federal benefits and retirement programs. Information includes Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS), FERS-Revised Annuity Employees (FERSRAE), FERS-Further Revised Annuity Employee (FERS-FRAE), Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), Civil Service Retirement System-Offset (CS-Offset), the Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance Program (FEGLI), Federal Employees' Health Benefits Program (FEHB), Federal Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP), Federal Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAFEDS), Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) and the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), and Social Security, Beneficiary, etc.
• Provide one on one counseling on benefits and retirement options, calculate retirement and benefits estimates, advise on annuity options under CSRS and FERS. Process official retirement packages according with OPM guidelines. Review and audit Online Retirement Application (ORA) packages for accuracy before final OPM adjudication.
• Counsel retired military employees when it may be advisable to waive their military pension to permit the military time to be credited for civilian civil service annuity purposes. Provide advice to HR Specialists (Employee Relations) and supervisors of the advantages/disadvantages of retirement versus adverse action for employees who qualify for retirement. Provides counseling to those employees who may want to consider the retirement option.
• Counsel families/beneficiaries of deceased employees concerning benefits payable. Provide expert technical information and/or assistance in the completion of the required forms. Handle sensitive to difficult situations where the death of an employee occurs and family members require advice/counsel.
• Provide managers and employees with information and interpretation of the Library of Congress, and OPM relevant compensation and pay administration policies and procedures. Compiles, calculates or audits complex information or data, and prepares or maintains employment records related to events, such as hiring, termination, leaves, transfers, or promotions.
• Provide managers and employees with specific, directly applicable information on the organization's practices, procedures, and policies related to complex compensation and payroll issues and programs, such as basic pay, overtime, or leave entitlement questions or problems.
• Interpret complex data, and provide authoritative expertise and guidance on issues, such as pay administration and personnel processing. Monitor debt bills generated in the payroll provider reporting center and completes payment processing to ensure the agency and employee or former employee is notified and the bill is paid.
• Utilize various Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS) to process different types of personnel actions using the correct authority and nature of action codes, ensuring personnel actions comply with legal requirements and human resources policies, regulations and procedures.
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with managers at all levels providing advice and guidance concerning human resources related problems. Reviews new Library regulations and directives; Office of Personnel Management (OPM) regulations; and other relevant decisions, and rulings, related to compensation and payroll programs. Determines the degree of impact on existing compensation programs and provides advice and alternatives to managers and supervisors.
• Provide expert advisory services to managers in the functional areas of pay administration, including awards and other benefits.
• Research analyzes or troubleshoots problems that could prevent an employee from receiving the appropriate salary or within grade increase. Based on conditions and factors that relate to the issues, determines what information is required and independently corrects those issues.

Perform other duties as assigned.

The position description number for this position is 386217.

The salary range indicated reflects the locality pay adjustments for the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan area.

The incumbent of this position will work a Flexitime work schedule. This is a non-supervisory, non-bargaining unit position.

Relocation expenses will not be authorized for the person(s) selected under this vacancy announcement.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

Conditions of Employment

Library of Congress employees are prohibited from using illegal drugs, including marijuana. The Library is part of the Federal Government and abides by federal law, so regardless of individual state or District of Columbia laws, marijuana use is illegal, considered criminal activity, and can affect your employment at the Library. In addition, past or current drug use and activities (e.g., selling or distributing) may deem you ineligible for employment.

Qualifications

Applicants must have had progressively responsible experience and training sufficient in scope and quality to furnish them with an acceptable level of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the position without more than normal supervision.

Knowledge of the rules and regulations related to human resources compensation, personnel processing, benefits and leave in the Federal Service. **

Ability to research and analyze human resources rules and regulations to provide advice and assistance. **

Knowledge of automated personnel and payroll data systems.**

Knowledge of Federal retirement rules, regulations, processes, and related employee benefits. **

Ability to provide customer service.

Ability to communicate in writing.

Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.

Education

There are no educational requirements for position.

Additional information

Although it is the Library's policy to afford the maximum pay benefit to employees when setting rates of pay, a new appointee who has had no previous Federal service will generally be paid at step one of the grade.

The Library of Congress is an equal opportunity employer.

Applicants must submit a complete application package that is received by the closing date of this announcement.

Appointment/retention is subject to a favorable evaluation of an appropriate personnel security/suitability investigation. For more information, please see:Vetting Process

This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please email View email address on click.appcast.io. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Applicants with disabilities may be considered under special hiring procedures and must submit an appropriate certificate of eligibility when applying for this position. The proof or disability/certification may be issued by the State Vocational Rehabilitation Office, Disability Services or Career Services office of the applicant's college or university, or the Department of Veterans Affairs. The letter must verify that the applicant has a severe disability and must be dated within three years of the date of the application. Certification from health care providers are not accepted. For more information contact the Library's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity at View phone number on click.appcast.io or email View email address on click.appcast.io. FAILURE TO SUBMIT YOUR CERTIFICATION WILL CAUSE YOUR APPLICATION TO NOT BE CONSIDERED UNDER THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT PROGRAM.

The Library of Congress is the national library of the United States and is part of the Legislative Branch of the Federal government. As such, all positions are in the excepted service.

The Library reserves the right to fill a lesser or greater number of vacancies indicated during the life of this vacancy announcement.

Initial permanent appointments to the Library of Congress require completion of a one-year probationary period. Probationary periods served at other Federal agencies do not count toward this requirement.

The Library of Congress may offer repayment for all or part of federally insured student loans. However, not all service units within the Library of Congress participates in the repayment of federally insured student loans. Therefore, determination to repay a federally insured student loan is subject to approval by the appropriate service unit.

A "Not to Exceed" (NTE) status is used to identify an appointment with a specific ending date. However, the Library has the right to separate a NTE employee at any time due to either performance issues or budget constraints.

Are you a veteran? Please indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming in your application materials and/or applicant profile and provide the appropriate supporting documentation to validate your claim. Those applying for 5-point preference must submit Member Copy 4 of your DD 214. Those applying for 10-point preference must fill out an SF-15 (click here for the form) and provide the required documentation listed on the back of the form. If required supporting documentation is not attached, Veterans' Preference will not be considered in the application process.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.