As a Paralegal Specialist at the GS-0950-12/13, you will be part of Retirement Services, Retirement Eligibility & Services, Appeals, Office of Personnel Management. If selected, you will be performing work involving cases, and matters of major significance and importance sensitivity, or complexity relating to retirement and/or insurance entitlement claims or overpayment assessments.

Duties

Review current and proposed regulations and policies in light of new laws, court decisions, and MSPB decisions to determine if current policies are legally sound and appropriate. Support or disapprove determinations made by the Disability Branch, Claims and other retirement operation organizations, provide feedback as to the reason for not supporting determinations made by other OPM retirement organizations. Identify, research, analyze and weight all questions of fact, evidence, and law involved in complex original and reconsideration decisions. Review and analyze MSPB Regional Office decisions to determine whether or not OPM should comply or should file a petition for review by the full Board. Advocate the agency's position during formal administrative proceedings, such as before the Merit Systems Protection Board. Review requests for privileged information or records related to Group cases and determining applicability of Freedom of Information and Privacy Acts.

Requirements

Qualifications

For the GS-12: You must have at least one year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the private or public sector) performing 3 of the 4 the following: 1) Performing work on cases relating to retirement and/or insurance entitlement claims or overpayment assessments; 2) Responding to inquiries from individuals or groups requesting privileged information or records; 3) Leading and directing work teams; and 4) Handling adversarial situations to support an agency or organizational position. Familiarity in preparing for and advocating an agency or organization's position during formal administrative proceedings, such as before the Merit System Protection Board and/or prior legal training is desired. Note: Your resume must fully support this experience. (Note: Your resume must fully support this experience. You must list beginning and end dates (month and year) and hours worked per week on your resume to receive credit for your experience.) For the GS-13: You must have at least one year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the private or public sector) performing 4 of the 5 following: 1) Reviewing regulations and policies governing retirement and/or insurance in light of new laws, court decisions and/or Merit System Protection Board decisions; 2) Identifying, researching, analyzing all questions of fact, evidence, and law involved in original and reconsideration retirement or insurance decisions; 3) Responding to subpoenas, interrogatories, or similar inquiries from individuals, their representatives, or legal officials; 4) Leading and directing work teams; and 5) Handling adversarial situations to support an agency or organizational position. Familiarity in preparing for and advocating an agency or organization's position during formal administrative proceedings, such as before the Merit System Protection Board and/or prior legal training is desired. Note: Your resume must fully support this experience. (Note: Your resume must fully support this experience. You must list beginning and end dates (month and year) and hours worked per week on your resume to receive credit for your experience.) Merit promotion applicants must meet time-in-grade requirement as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.: One year at the GS-11 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-12 level. One year at the GS-12 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-13 level. You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. 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

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Contacts

• Address Retirement Services/Retirement Operations 1900 E St., NW Washington, DC 20415 US
• Name: OPM Human Resources
• Phone: 202-606-9321
• Email: [email protected]