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 For qualifications determinations, it is recommended that applicants include their months and hours worked per week for each employment listed on their resume. If a determination is not able to be made about the length of your creditable experience for qualification requirements, you will be removed from consideration. Read more about what should I include in my federal resume? at https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include/ This vacancy is a career ladder position; it may be filled at the GS-12 or GS-13 level. If selected at the lower grade level, noncompetitive promotion to the full performance level GS-13 is authorized without further competition when selectee is eligible & recommended by management. You may qualify at the GS-12 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector) that demonstrates your ability to: Serving as a primary Human Resources representative for death benefits, Federal Employees' Health Benefits (FEHB), Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI), Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), and/or flexible spending accounts; and Working closely with retiring employees to resolve problems arising in payroll and OPM in the processing of retirement actions, military and civilian service depositions. You may qualify at the GS-13 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector) that demonstrates your ability to: Providing advisory services to managers, supervisors and/or employees in the areas of employee benefits, such as: retirement, death benefits, Federal Employees' Health Benefits (FEHB), Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI), Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), etc.; Preparing Standard Operating Procedures pertaining to all areas of benefits; and Assisting employees on the post 1956 military service deposits. 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. ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS: The VOW Act Chapter 21 of Title 5, United States Code (U.S.C.), Section 2108a, requires Federal agencies treat active duty service member as veterans, disabled veterans, and preference eligible, when they submit, at the time they apply for a Federal job, a "certification" of active service in lieu of a DD-214, assuming the service member is otherwise eligible. A "certification" letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service. The service member's military service dates are necessary in order to determine whether he or she meets the definition of "veteran" under 5 U.S.C. 2108(1). The "certification" must reflect the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date of submission. The "certification" must be signed by, or by direction of, the adjutant, personnel officer, or commander of your unit or higher headquarters and must indicate when your terminal leave will begin (if applicable), your rank, dates of active duty service, the type of discharge and character of service (i.e. honorable). Further, under paragraph (h) of the rule, agencies are required to verify a qualifying separation from military service prior to appointment, through the DD-214 or other appropriate documentation. Your preference and/or appointment eligibility will be verified prior to appointment. Active duty members that fail to provide a valid "certification" of service with their initial application will be found "not eligible." Military members may be appointed before the effective date of their military retirement/separation if member is on terminal leave. Current or Former Political Appointees: 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. Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment: Position title; Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee); Agency; and, Beginning and ending dates of appointment. All qualifications, education, and time-in-grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume. Education Education cannot be substituted for experience. Additional Information Other priority consideration programs will continue under their current operating procedures. A tentative offer of employment will be rescinded if the selectee fails to meet the pre-employment requirements, including failure to report to any of the scheduled appointments. If you are unable to apply online, you must request an alternative application. Please view the following link for information on how to obtain an alternative application https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?%20title=Alternate\_Application\_Information Appointment Authorities: For more information on appointment authority eligibility requirements: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/individuals-with-disabilities/ https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/veterans/ https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/military-spouses/ Other Special Appointment Authorities https://www.usajobs.gov/ Interchange Agreements https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/competitive-hiring/#url=Types-of-Appointments Career Transition Assistance Programs: These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 85 or above; and, (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/ Employed Annuitants (Reemployed Annuitants): Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants. http://www.esd.whs.mil/DD/DoD-Issuances/140025/ Nepotism: Under the provisions of 5 USC 3110, an individual may not be appointed into a position if the position is under the supervisory chain of command of a relative. Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible: Military Spouse Preference applicants, must be selected and placed at the highest grade level for which they have applied and been determined best qualified up to and including the full performance level. You must include a completed copy of the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility for Military Spouse Preference. Click here to obtain a copy of the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist. Retained Grade PPP Eligible: Retained Grade PPP applicants, must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified. You must include a completed copy of the Retained Grade PPP Self-Certification Checklist to verify your eligibility for Retained Grade preference. Click here to obtain a copy of the Retained Grade PPP Self-Certification Checklist Additional vacancies may be filled by this announcement.