Human Resources Specialist (Employee Benefits)

Summary

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is ranked within the top 5 mid-size agencies as a "Best Place to Work" in the Federal government! This Human Resources Specialist (Employee Benefits) position is located in the Office of the Executive Director. For more information visit: Office of the Executive Director (OED) | Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

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Duties

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As a Human Resources Specialist (Employee Benefits), some of your typical work assignments may include:

• Process retirement service computation dates and a full range of retirement and benefits actions in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and reporting requirements using automated HR systems, including ORA, GRB, eOPF, and FPPS. Perform retirement annuity calculations and prepares detailed annuity estimates for employees under CSRS and FERS. Process civilian and military service deposit requests; adjudicates voluntary and disability retirement applications; and provides counseling and case management for death-in-service cases.

• Provide technical guidance and counseling on retirement and benefits regulations and procedures, clarifying eligibility requirements, explaining policies and procedures, and regulations requirements to agency employees.

• Administer the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program, including processing new enrollments, qualifying life event changes, cancellations, and Open Season elections in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and agency policy. Provide guidance to employees on FEHB eligibility, coverage options, premiums, and enrollment procedures. Plans, coordinates, and executes Open Season activities, including outreach communications and timely processing of enrollment changes.

• Develop and deliver retirement seminars, briefings, and new employee orientations, providing expert guidance on retirement eligibility, health benefits and related programs benefits options, and regulatory requirements. Plan and implement work-life programs and initiatives to support employee well-being and engagement.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• You must provide your SF-50 (See Required Documents Section).
• A one-year probationary period may be required.
• A background investigation is required.
• This is not a bargaining unit position.
• Generally, male applicants must be registered with the Selective Service.
• Relocation expenses will not be paid.
• If hired, you may be required to divest certain energy-related securities.

Qualifications

You must meet the qualification (experience and/or education) requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Time-in-grade requirements must be met within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement unless you are (1) eligible for a special hiring authority OR (2) reinstatement eligible.

To view the eligibility and qualification requirements of a Human Resources Specialist (Employee Benefits), GS-0201 -12/13 please visit: Human Resources Management, 0201 | Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Duties, responsibilities and qualification requirements vary in complexity among grade levels as noted below:

GS-12: You must have one full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS- 11 level. Specialized experience is defined as: Experience providing employee counseling in the following functions: (1) employee retirement (CSRS and FERS) and (2) federal employee benefits (such as FEHB, FEGLI, TSP, FSAFeds, Benefeds, Long Term Care).

GS-13: You must have one full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-12 level. Specialized experience is defined as: Experience independently administering employee counseling in the following functions: (1) employee retirement (CSRS and FERS) and (2) federal employee benefits (such as FEHB, FEGLI, TSP, FSAFeds, Benefeds, Long Term Care).

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). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills, and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including any volunteer experience.

Please do not cut and paste the position description, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume, as this will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

Education

There is no education requirement for this position; therefore, transcripts are not required.

Additional information

The duty location of this position is Washington, D.C.

If selected for this position, you will be required to:

• Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) to determine your suitability for Federal employment.
• Have your Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of your choice.
• Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S. FERC also participates in the USCIS Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). For more information about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit:
• Attend a mandatory ethics training. We are governed by the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) Standards of Conduct, the criminal conflict of interest statutes, and FERC's supplemental ethics regulation, which specifically prohibits FERC employees from holding certain energy-related securities. To comply with these regulations and statutes, divestiture of at least some energy securities is likely to be required after you begin employment. See 5 C.F.R. 2634-41; 18 U.S.C. 201-208; 5 C.F.R. 3401. If selected, you may also be required to file a financial disclosure statement within 30 days of appointment.
• Receive authorization from OPM on any job offer you receive, if you are or were (within the last 5 years) a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a one-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Your performance appraisal and incentive awards will be given due consideration in the selection process based on their relation to the duties of the position and the consistency with which they may be considered in evaluating you against other candidates.

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.

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.