Employee Benefits Investigator

Summary

EBSA plays a vital role in protecting the retirement health and other job-based benefits of Americas workers retirees and their families. We issue effective regulations offer comprehensive education and assistance to workers plan sponsors fiduciaries and service providers and rigorously enforce the law. We serve workers families and the broader employee benefits community by protecting the security and integrity of the nations benefit systems.

Duties

The Investigator supports senior investigators and management by conducting policy program and case-related research and by gathering and analyzing data relevant to assigned matters. The role is responsible for planning directing and administering an enforcement program designed to ensure compliance with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and applicable criminal provisions of the United States Code as they relate to employee benefit plans.

Major duties for this position include but are not limited to:

• Plan lead and conduct technical civil and criminal investigations involving employee benefit plans service providers fiduciaries financial institutions and related entities to assess compliance with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and related laws.
• Determine investigative scope objectives strategies evidence needs applicable statutory provisions records to review interviews to conduct and whether subpoenas or other investigative tools are needed.
• Review and analyze plan operations financial controls transactions investments records and fiduciary conduct to identify violations assess impact on plan participants and determine appropriate enforcement actions.
• Prepare comprehensive investigative reports work papers findings legal/regulatory analyses and recommendations for voluntary compliance civil litigation criminal prosecution penalties settlement or case closure.

For a specific office address please see EBSA Offices. The advertised salary reflects the minimum and maximum pay for the listed locations. Upon selection the salary will be set in accordance with the selectees assigned duty location.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• Must be at least 16 years old.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Candidate required to obtain and maintain the necessary security/investigation level.
• Requires a probationary period if the requirement has not been met.

Qualifications

You must meet the Specialized Experience to qualify for the Employee Benefits Investigator position as described below.

Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level GS-12 in the Federal Service.

Specialized Experience is the experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge skills and abilities (KSAs) to perform the duties of the position successfully and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level.

Qualifying specialized experience for this GS-13 position includes (applicants must meet three out of the five statements) :

• Experience planning leading and conducting civil and/or criminal investigations involving employee benefit plans fiduciaries service providers financial institutions or related entities.
• Experience applying and interpreting ERISA and related federal or state civil/criminal laws regulations advisory opinions exemptions court decisions and rules of evidence.
• Experience reviewing and analyzing plan operations financial records accounting systems transactions investments reporting/disclosure documents and internal controls to identify violations or fiduciary breaches.
• Experience preparing well-documented investigative reports work papers evidentiary materials analyses findings and recommendations for corrective action litigation prosecution penalties settlement or case closure.
• Experience coordinating investigations with attorneys prosecutors law enforcement or regulatory agencies and negotiating with plan officials fiduciaries attorneys or other representatives to obtain compliance or remedial action.

Education

There is no substitution of education for the required specialized experience for this position at the GS-13 level.

Additional information

The mission of the Department of Labor (DOL) is to protect the welfare of workers and job seekers improve working conditions expand high-quality employment opportunities and assure work-related benefits and rights for all workers.

Refer to these links for more information: GENERAL INFORMATION REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES

As a condition of employment all personnel must undergo a background investigation for access to DOL facilities systems information and/or classified materials before they can enter on duty: BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION

This position is inside the bargaining unit. If the duty location is within the Washington D.C. metropolitan area the position will be included in the Local 12 AFGE bargaining unit. If the duty location is outside the Washington D.C. metropolitan area the position will be included in the NCFLL bargaining unit.

For more information click Telework Position Information. This is not a remote work position. The selectee will report to an assigned DOL office location on a regular basis and is eligible for participation in telework as determined by management in accordance with DOL policy.

Based on agency needs additional positions may be filled using this vacancy.

The Department of Labor may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities currently offered by the Federal government to attract highly qualified candidates. Click here for Additional Information.

The Fair Chance Act (FCA) prohibits Federal agencies from requesting an applicants criminal history information before the agency makes a conditional offer of employment. If you believe a DOL employee has violated your rights under the FCA you may file a complaint of the alleged violation following our agencys complaint process Guidelines for Reporting Violations of the Fair Chance Act. Note: The FCA does not apply to some positions specified under the Act such as law enforcement or national security positions.

All Department of Labor employees are subject to the provisions of the Drug-Free Workplace Program under Executive Order 12564 and Public Law 100-71.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e. physical or mental) covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position after notification of the adjudication of your request you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

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.