Human Resources Specialist (Employee Benefits)

Summary

This position is located in the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, Office of Human Resources, Compensation and Benefits Division, Benefits and Work-Life Branch. The purpose of the position is to perform a range of difficult work related to the administration of a variety of employee benefits programs including retirement, life insurance, health benefits, and the Thrift Savings Plan.

Duties

The physical worksite for this position is located in Alexandria, Virginia. Presence at the Alexandria, VA campus is required for this role, as it includes on site functions that must be performed in person. Position may be eligible for situational telework in accordance with agency policy/business unit discretion. The agency currently allows for 52 hours of telework per leave year. This role is the ideal next career step for you if: You enjoy advising on policy, directives, and guidelines on a full range of matters. You are eager to interpret regulations and provides regulatory interpretation to managers, employees and other staff within the Office of Human Resources. You are committed to providing presentations and preparing written products that foster understanding of various aspects of the employee benefits program. You thrive at performing a wide variety of employee benefits assignments requiring the application of a range of retirement, benefits entitlements, health and life insurance, and Thrift Savings Plan concepts, practices, laws, regulations, policies, and legislative changes, and counseling techniques to explain and discuss entitlements.

Qualifications

You must meet the United States Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) qualification requirements (including specialized experience and/or educational requirements) for the advertised position. You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement. OPM Qualifications Standards are available at Administrative and Management Positions. Specialized Experience is experience that has equipped applicants with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience for this position includes: GS-9: For this position, the next lower grade level is a GS-7. Experience applying fundamental principles, concepts, regulations, and procedures related to employee benefits and retirement programs; Experience assisting employees with routine questions concerning programs such as FEHB, FEGLI, TSP, retirement, and other employee benefits programs; Experience reviewing and processing benefits forms and supporting documentation for completeness and accuracy; Experience researching benefits policies, regulations, procedures, or guidance to assist in responding to employee inquiries; AND Experience entering, reviewing, or updating benefits-related information using automated human resources systems. OR A master's or equivalent graduate degree. OR 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree. OR LL.B. or J.D., if related. OR Equivalent combination of qualifying graduate education and experience. GS-11: For this position, the next lower grade level is a GS-9. Experience independently researching, analyzing, and resolving complex or escalated employee benefits and retirement issues; Experience counseling and providing technical guidance to employees, managers, HR staff, or other stakeholders on federal benefits programs, such as FEHB, FEGLI, TSP, retirement, and related benefit programs; Experience reviewing, processing, and auditing benefits and retirement forms and supporting documentation for accuracy, eligibility, and regulatory compliance; Experience identifying and coding personnel and benefits actions, such as changes in Service Computation Dates (SCD), FEHB, FEGLI, retirement coverage, and other benefits-related actions, using automated human resources systems; AND Experience researching, analyzing, and interpreting Federal benefits laws, regulations, policies, and procedures to provide guidance and resolve employee cases. OR Education: A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; OR 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; OR an LL.M., if related such as human resources, organizational psychology, public administration, or other administrative and management fields. OR Equivalent combination of qualifying graduate education. 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 volunteer experience.

Education

If this position requires proof of higher education, or you are substituting education for experience, you must submit an unofficial transcript or a list of courses that includes the following information: name of accredited institution, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. Please refer to General Schedule Qualification Policies for more information. You are not required to submit official documents at this time; copies are sufficient. Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. A listing of these accredited organizations can be found on the Department of Education's website - US Department of Education. Another listing of services that can perform this evaluation is available at the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) website. You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration. NOTE: Only education and experience acquired before the filing deadline will be considered. Report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.