Human Resources Specialist (Employee Benefits)

Summary

This position is located in the Department of Health and Human Services, Assistant Secretary for Administration, headquartered in Washington, District of Columbia.

This announcement will close at 11:59 PM, on the day that 50 applications have been received or the closing date of the announcement, whichever comes first.

The applicant is required to perform their duties on-site at a designated office location.

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Duties

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WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING DAY TO DAY

As a Human Resources Specialist (Employee Benefits), you will:

GS-12:

• Provide orientation on the Federal benefits and retirement programs. Information includes the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS), FERS-Revised Employees (FERS-RAE), 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 care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) and the Savings Plan (TSP), and Social Security, Beneficiary, etc.
• Calculate annuity estimates for employees to use as a basis in making the decision whether to retire.
• Provide advice to HR Specialists (Employee Relations, etc.) and supervisors of the advantages/disadvantages of retirement versus adverse action for employees who qualify for retirement.
• Handle sensitive to difficult situations where the death of an employee occurs and family members require advice/counseling.
• Monitor processed retirement cases through the various systems used for retirement processing within HR Ops Div and DFAS to assure compliance with timeframes of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) for case processing.

GS-13:

• Advise employees, retirees, supervisors, and beneficiaries on federal retirement systems (FERS, CSRS, etc.) and employee benefits programs, including FEHB, FEGLI, TSP, FEDVIP, FSAFEDS, and Social Security; Provide individualized counseling on retirement eligibility, benefit options, military service credit, survivor benefits, and complex retirement situations.
• Calculate retirement annuity estimates and service credit deposits, processe retirement and insurance actions, monitor retirement cases, resolve benefits discrepancies, and coordinate with OPM, DFAS, insurance carriers, and other federal agencies to ensure accurate and timely processing.
• Interpret federal laws, regulations, and agency policies governing retirement and benefits programs; develop operating procedures and policy recommendations; monitor legislative and regulatory changes; and advise management on their impact to agency programs.
• Design and deliver retirement and benefits training, including new employee orientations, pre-retirement seminars, and educational workshops; develop informational materials; and provide guidance and training to HR staff and other stakeholders on benefits programs and procedures.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship required
• Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service -
• Suitable for federal employment
• Meet time in grade restrictions by the closing date of the announcement
• Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. All information concerning qualifications is subject to investigation.
• Documentation that you present for purposes of completing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-Verify" System.
• All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choice.
• All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date.
• Financial disclosure statement may be required.
• Probationary (or trial) period may be required.

Qualifications

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

GS-12 Minimum Qualifications : You must have one year of specialized experience to perform successfully the duties of the position. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service performing ALL of the following:

• Participating in the development and conducting of federal benefits and retirement training sessions for employees;
• Performing retirement eligibility determinations, annuity computations, and retirement estimates;
• Providing technical guidance to employees, managers, and HR staff by interpreting retirement laws, regulations, and agency policies;
• Counseling employees on disability retirement, including eligibility, benefit elections, and continuation of FEHB and FEGLI coverage; and
• Reviewing retirement and benefits cases to resolve issues and ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies.

GS-13 Minimum Qualifications : You must have one year of specialized experience to perform successfully the duties of the position. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service performing ALL of the following:

• Administering complex Federal retirement and benefits programs, including FERS, CSRS, TSP, FEHB, FEGLI, disability retirement, and reemployed annuitant programs, in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, OPM guidance, and agency policies;
• Performing retirement eligibility determinations, annuity computations, retirement estimates, and retirement actions, while providing expert counseling on retirement options, survivor benefits, disability retirement, death-in-service benefits, health and life insurance continuation, and reemployed annuitant requirements;
• Serving as a senior technical advisor to employees, managers, and Human Resources staff by interpreting Federal retirement laws, regulations, and OPM guidance; resolving complex retirement and benefits issues; and coordinating with OPM and other Federal agencies to resolve retirement actions; and
• Providing technical leadership by reviewing complex retirement cases, recommending process improvements, developing operating guidance or training materials, and ensuring consistent application of retirement laws, regulations, and agency policies.

Documenting experience: IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Qualifications are based on breadth/level of experience. In addition to describing duties performed, applicants must provide the exact dates of each period of employment (from MM/YY to MM/YY) and the number of hours worked per week if part time. As qualification determinations cannot be made when resumes do not include the required information, failure to provide this information may result in disqualification. Applicants are encouraged to use the USAJOBS Resume Builder to develop their federal resume.

Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational application questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

In accordance with Office of Personnel Management policy, federal employees are assumed to have gained experience by performing duties and responsibilities appropriate for their official series and grade level as described in their position description. Experience that would not normally be part of the employee's position is creditable, however, when documented by satisfactory evidence, such as a signed memorandum from the employee's supervisor or an SF-50 or SF-52 documenting an official detail or other official assignment. The documentation must indicate whether the duties were performed full time or, if part time, the "percentage of times" the other duties were performed. It is expected that this documentation is included in the employee's official personnel record. In order to receive credit for experience in your resume that is not within the official series and grade level of your official position, you must provide a copy of the appropriate documentation of such experience as indicated above.

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; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to gain employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. If such experience is on a part-time basis, you must provide the average number of hours worked per week as well as the beginning and ending dates of the experience so it can be fully credited.

OPM Qualification General Policies Website

Education

Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that 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

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Incentives may be authorized; however, this is contingent upon multiple factors, including funds availability . If authorized, certain incentives may require you to sign a service agreement to remain in the Federal government for a period of up to 3 years. Note: This statement does not imply nor guarantee an incentive will be offered and paid. Incentives may include the following: moving expenses, recruitment or relocation incentive; student loan repayment, superior qualifications appointment, creditable service for annual leave for prior non-federal work experience or prior uniformed military service, etc.

Bargaining Unit Position: No

Research position: No

Drug Screening Required: No

Applicants selected for this position will be subject to reasonable suspicion and post-accident drug testing upon hiring.

Special Hiring Authorities for Veterans -

Special Hiring Authorities for Military Spouses -

People With Disabilities (Schedule A) -

Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP/ICTAP): For information on how to apply as an CTAP/ICTAP eligible see To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated at 85.0 or above on the rating criteria for this position.

Reemployment Priority List (RPL): To receive selection priority for this position, individuals on the RPL must meet the qualification requirements, complete all required assessments and be rated as qualified. RPL candidates are ranked using Category Rating procedures.

Beginning January 1, 2010, agencies must seek prior approval from OPM before they can appoint a current or recent political appointee to a competitive or non-political excepted service position at any level under the provisions of title 5, United States Code. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you MUST disclose that to the Human Resources Office.

Additional selections may be made for similar positions across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) within the local commuting area(s) of the location identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with any interested selecting official(s) at HHS. Clearance of CTAP/ICTAP will be applied for similar positions across HHS.

In accordance with Executive Order 12564 of September 14, 1986, The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is A Drug-Free Federal Workplace. The use of illegal drugs, on or off duty, by Federal employees is inconsistent not only with the law-abiding behavior expected of all citizens, but also with the special trust placed in such employees as servants of the public.

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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.