Human Resources Specialist

Summary

About the Position: The Army Fellows Program provides an exciting opportunity to embark on a developmental, accelerated career path as an Army Civilian including continued training/educational opportunities with no military obligation. Fellows may also receive paid training, certifications, and rotational assignments. Don't wait! Apply now to start your Civilian Army career today!

GS-05 - Salary $40736-$52957

GS-07- Salary $50460-$65599

GS-09 - Salary $61722-$80243

GS-11 - Salary $74678-$97087

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Duties

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• Explains basic provisions, eligibility requirements, and procedures for various federal employee benefits programs, including the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB), Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI), and the Thrift Savings Plan.
• Processes routine and recurring benefits actions, ensuring all election forms and supporting documents are complete, accurate, and properly coded in the automated Human Resources Information System (HRIS).
• Responds to routine inquiries from civilian employees and candidates regarding benefits enrollment periods, qualifying life events, and changes to existing elections.
• Assists higher-graded HR Specialists in gathering data and preparing documentation for more complex benefits scenarios, such as preliminary retirement estimates and service computations.
• Maintains employee benefits records and files, conducting periodic audits and reviews to ensure all documentation complies with Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and Department of the Army policies and regulations.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• Must sign an Army Fellows Participant Agreement if selected.
• Must sign a mobility agreement if selected.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
• A Personnel Security Investigation is required.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: To be eligible for consideration you must meet the definition of recent graduate as defined below:

Recent Graduate: a person who was awarded a degree by an institution of higher education not more than two years before the date of the appointment of the applicant. Exception: For a person who has completed a period of obligated service in a uniformed service of more than four years, the degree may be awarded by an institution of higher education not more than four years before the date of the appointment of the applicant.

In order to qualify, you must meet the requirements described below. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social).

In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social).You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant education and experience. Additional information about transcripts is in this document.

GS-05 Minimum Qualification Requirement

General Experience: Three years progressively responsible experience, 1 year of which was equivalent to at least the GS-04 grade level, which includes analyzing problems to identify significant factors, gather pertinent data, and recognize solutions; planning and organizing work; and communicating effectively orally and in writing. This definition of general experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-04).

OR

Education: Four year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 36. Then divide your total number of completed undergraduate semester hours (or equivalent) by 120. Add the two percentages.

GS-07 Minimum Qualification Requirement:

Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes assisting employees or customers with routine inquiries regarding personnel or benefits programs (e.g., health insurance, life insurance, or retirement options); or, reviewing personnel or benefits forms and documents for completeness and accuracy; or, entering and retrieving data using automated human resources or personnel management systems. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-05).

OR

Education: One full year of graduate level education in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: human resources management, human relations, industrial relations, public administration, political science, business (any business field including accounting, finance, etc.), psychology, sociology, labor relations, law, communication, data analytics/science, management science, information systems/technology/cyber, mathematics, operations research, economics, statistics, government, international affairs/relations, education, and administration/management of any sort (health care admin, etc.)

OR

Superior Academic Achievement: Successful completion of all the requirements for a bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement. In order to be creditable under this provision, Superior Academic Achievement must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled, such as that identified in Education above. Superior Academic Achievement is based on:(1) Class Standing - Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses; OR

(2) Grade-Point Average (G.P.A.) - Applicants must have a grade-point average of either (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on your official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or (b) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.; OR

(3) Honor Society Membership - Applicants may be considered eligible based on membership in one of the approved national scholastic honor societies listed by the Association of College Honor Societies (

NOTE : Grade point averages will be rounded to one decimal point. For example, 2.95 will round to 3.0, and 2.94 will round to 2.9.

NOTE : If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) was taken on a pass/fail or similar basis, your S.A.A. claim must be based on class standing or membership in an honor society and you must provide evidence of your class standing or honor society membership with your application.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) by 18. Add the two percentages.

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant education and experience.

Additional information about transcripts is in this document.

Education

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit:

Additional information

• This position is being filled under the Direct Hire Authority for Post-Secondary Students and Recent Graduates.
• You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.
• This position requires a 1 year probationary period during which the agency evaluates your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In making this determination, the agency may consider your performance and conduct; agency needs and interests; whether your continued employment supports organizational or Government goals; and whether it promotes the efficiency of the Federal service. Continued employment requires written certification that it advances the public interest.
• Direct Deposit of Pay is required.
• If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet.
• This is a Human Capital & Resource Management (HC/RM) Career Field position.
• Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
• Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
• When you perform a Civilian Permanent Change of Station (PCS) with the government, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers the majority of your entitlements to be taxable. Visit for more information.
• Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is authorized, subject to the provisions of the Joint Travel Regulations.
• Recent Graduates will be appointed to a permanent, career or career-conditional appointment in the competitive service.
• Non-competitive promotion potential to the target grade is based on time-in-grade requirements and demonstrated ability to perform the higher graded duties.
• If selected, official college or university transcripts must be submitted. However, unofficial transcripts must be submitted at the time of application.
• This recruitment provides promotion opportunity to the target grade of the position without further competition when selectee is eligible and recommended by management.
• Incumbent works under closer supervision and works in a developmental capacity performing assignments and completing training, both of which are aimed in preparing the incumbent to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to perform the duties outlined in the aforementioned job description. The incumbent receives progressively more responsible assignments as experience and training are received to the next higher level position.

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.