Human Resources Specialist (Benefits)
Job Location:
Washington, DC - USA
Yearly Salary:
Posted:
Application Deadline:
Vacancies:
Job Summary
By law this Office of Inspector General has continued oversight responsibility for United States funded foreign assistance activities across multiple agencies to include the Millennium Challenge Corporation the Inter-American Foundation the US African Development Foundation USAID and the Department of State. Responsibilities may additionally include oversight of and/or oversight coordination for foreign assistance programs with other interagency partners throughout the US Government.
As a Human Resources Specialist (Benefits) at the full performance level you will;
- Serve as the Office of Inspector Generals principal technical authority responsible for administering and overseeing the agencys comprehensive employee benefits program for Civil Service and Foreign Service employees located domestically and overseas.
- Serve as the agencys principal functional administrator and technical authority for the Office of Personnel Managements Online Retirement Application (ORA) ensuring retirement applications are initiated validated adjudicated routed and completed in accordance with OPM requirements agency procedures and payroll provider processing standards.
- Plan develop administer evaluate and continually improve agency-wide employee benefits programs to ensure compliance with statutory regulatory and policy requirements.
- Administer and provide authoritative guidance and liaise with internal and external entities concerning: Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) CSRS Offset Foreign Service Pension System (FSPS) Foreign Service Retirement and Disability System (FSRDS) Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAFEDS) Federal Long-Term Care Insurance (when applicable) Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) Leave administration Workers Compensation (OWCP/FECA) Survivor benefits Military service credit Deposits and redeposits Retirement service computation Employee entitlement programs and Post-retirement benefits.
- Plan and coordinate annual and recurring employee benefits events including Benefits Open Season campaigns retirement seminars benefits expos and informational sessions in collaboration with OPM FEHB carriers FEGLI providers occupational health providers Employee Assistance Program (EAP) representatives and other Federal and private-sector benefits partners.
- Establish internal operating procedures standard operating procedures (SOPs) desk guides workflow documentation quality assurance procedures and internal controls governing employee benefits administration.
- Provide comprehensive retirement counseling to employees throughout every stage of Federal employment from initial appointment through retirement and post-retirement.
- Prepare and certify highly complex retirement estimates involving Mixed retirement systems Foreign Service conversion Intermittent service Temporary service Military retirement Law enforcement retirement Dual retirement eligibility Breaks in service and Service computation adjustments.
- Research and resolve disputed retirement determinations requiring extensive legal and regulatory interpretation.
- Serve as the principal advisor regarding Foreign Service (FS) employee benefits and retirement administration in collaboration with the Foreign Service team.
- Advise FS employees and management concerning Time-in-Class Expirations (TIC) retirement and Foreign Service pension calculations in collaboration with the Foreign Service team.
- Develop agency implementing guidance ensuring compliance while supporting mission requirements. Ensure agency policy remain aligned with Government-wide requirements and recognized human capital best practices.
- Perform internal control reviews to identify organizational risks affecting employee benefits administration.
- United States Citizenship is required.
- Must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret clearance.
- Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with the Selective Service.
- You may be required to serve a one-year probationary/2 years trial period.
- Completion of Financial Disclosure may be required.
- Designated and/or random drug testing required
To qualify for the GS-13 grade level you must have one year of specialized experience at the GS-12 level in the Federal service or equivalent. Specialized experience is defined as:
- Manage 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; and
- Serving as technical advisor to civil service and/or foreign service 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.
Time in Grade Requirement: Time-in-grade requirements must be met by the closing date. This means that you must have served at least 52 weeks at the next grade level (or equivalent) below the grade advertised on this vacancy announcement.
ICTAP/CTAP: If you are requesting special employment consideration under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) or CTAP you must provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP or CTAP consideration you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP or CTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy.
To be well-qualified you must meet the following: OPM qualification requirements for the position all selective factors where applicable; special OPM approved qualifying conditions for the position; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and receives a rating of at least well-qualified on the questionnaire. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP or CTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form. Additional information regarding ICTAP or CTAP eligibility is available from Career Transition ().
This position does not have a positive education requirement.
These are Testing Designated Positions (TDPs) under the Agencys approved Drug-Free Workplace Program. All applicants selected for this position will be subject to random drug testing once they begin working for the Agency.
As condition of employment for accepting this position New federal employees (and in some cases reinstated or transferred employees) in the competitive or excepted service will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public 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 or trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.
SELECTIVE SERVICE: Policy Statement: Accommodation Policy Statement: Information:
Disability: Appointment Authorities: The following links contain information on the eligibility requirements to be considered under a noncompetitive appointing authority: are made on the basis of merit without regard to race ethnicity color religion sex (including pregnancy and gender identity) national origin age disability sexual orientation genetic information or any other non-merit-based factor.
If needed additional selections will be made from this announcement.
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.
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.
Required Experience:
IC
