HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST (EMPLOYEE BENEFITS)

Summary This position is located in the Washington Headquarters Services (WHS), Human Resources Directorate (HRD), Benefits and Worklife Division (BWD). BWD is responsible for serving as a focal point to provide employee benefit and worklife services to specified organizations. Responsibilities Incumbent typical work assignments may include the following: Serve as a Human Resources Specialist in a planning and advisory role to managers, supervisors and employees in customer organizations in the area of employee benefits and related issues. Advise management on a wide variety of federal benefits programs such as Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS), Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) and alternative pension plans for a diverse work force to include employees such as judges, Presidential appointees, and those under Social Security. Identify business processes related to benefits administration for reengineering by serving as an expert in methods or improvements for employee benefit and other related personnel support operations. Develop program guidance and plans for programs: CSRS, FERS, TSP, FEHB and FEGLI. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Time in Grade: For entry at the GS-12 level, status applicants must have served 52 weeks as a GS-11 or higher grade in the Federal Service. For entry at the GS-13 level, status applicants must have served 52 weeks as a GS-12 or higher grade in the Federal Service. Specialized Experience for GS-12: Knowledge of the procedures governing management representation in third party hearings sufficient to provide technical advice and/or perform representational duties. Maintain effective relationships with and gain the cooperation of employees, supervisors, and managers on difficult issues. Specialized experience for GS-13: Identifies business processes related to benefits administration for reengineering. Develops program guidance and plans. Ensures employees receive retirement annuity computations and other advice on programs. Maintains close liaison with other divisions to ensure staff interchange and support to the team providing serviced organization. In addition to meeting the specialized experience requirements, qualified applicants must also possess the quality of experience as it relates to how closely or to what extent an applicant's background, recency of experience, education, and training are relevant to the duties and responsibilities of the announced position. Candidates must clearly demonstrate the possession of competencies necessary to successfully perform the work of the position at the appropriate level to be qualified for the position. Applicants must describe how their experience meets the competencies within the body of the resume. No separate statements addressing competencies are required. Competencies: Human Resource Concepts, Policies and Laws, Policy and Compliance, and Problem Solving Qualification and time-in-grade requirements must be met at the closing date of this announcement. Education There is no substitution of education for the qualifying experience at the GS-12 grade level. There is no substitution of education for the qualifying experience at the GS-13 grade level. Additional Information A one year probationary or trial period may be required. Individuals tentatively selected for drug testing designated positions will be required to submit to urinalysis for illegal drugs prior to appointment or placement. Management has the prerogative to select at either grade level. This recruitment provides promotion opportunity to target position without further competition when selectee is eligible and recommended by management. However promotion is not guaranteed and no promise of a promotion is implied. We may use this announcement to fill additional vacancies within 90 days of the closing date. Moving costs MAY be paid. Recruitment, relocation, or retention incentives MAY be authorized. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 makes certain reimbursements/payments taxable. For information on these changes and the Relocation Income Tax Allowance (RITA), for which some appointees are eligible, click here.. For more information on veterans' preference click here. Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (to verify your registration status click here). Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): For information on how to apply as an ICTAP eligible click here. To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated at 85 or above on the rating criteria for this position. The Department of Defense (DoD) policy on employment of annuitants issued March 18, 2004 will be used in determining eligibility of annuitants. This position is subject to the limitations imposed by the DOD Priority Placement Program. Priority Placement Program (PPP) Military Spouse Preference (MSP) eligible candidates will receive priority consideration at the highest grade level for which they have applied and been determined best qualified up to and including the full performance level. PPP Application Based Preference Eligibles (Military Reserve and National Guard technicians, Military Reserve and National Guard technicians receiving disability retirement, and Retained Grade employees) will receive priority consideration at the full performance level only. For grades below the full performance level, only MSP/PPP eligible candidates who currently occupy a formal training program position will be entitled to exercise their priority preference. For more information regarding qualifications requirements please click here.