The VHA has adopted the HR Modernization and Shared Services Implementation, which is a new model of organizing and consolidating essential HR functions and services to the VISN level. This improvement to HR service delivery will best support the needs of the VISN's diverse workforce and the expectations of management.

Duties

Major Duties Include but are not limited to: Performs a variety of duties in connection with the processing of personnel actions for employees under different personnel systems, including Title 5, Title 38, and Hybrid Title 38 employees in the excepted and competitive service, maintaining electronic official personnel folders (e-OPF) and generating and maintaining records and reports. Initiates all personnel action requests related to benefits, leave, and records (such as name changes, education changes, FEHB enrollment, FEGLI changes, Military Status, SCD changes, changes in veteran's preference, leave journalizing, and TSP changes). Responsible for using the DFAS Remedy system to initiate corrections relating to the duties of the section. Follows up with the Technical Reviewer or HR Specialist on requests for corrections and/or DFAS remedy. Provides support to current staff and prospective staff responsible for starting, stopping or changing employee benefits upon request. Assists HR Specialists on special projects by gathering and organizing data, identifying issues and discrepancies, formatting material, and recommending improvements and solutions. Prepares correspondence, reports, forms, and other documents required to complete actions. Assists the Specialist with the preparation of Reasonable Accommodation offers and Equal Employment Opportunity document requests and hearing files. Incumbent may perform the same tasks for Administrative Investigative Boards, fact-findings, etc. Maintains and presents up-to-date benefits information for including FEHB, FEGLI, TSP, Leave Programs and retirement. Screens questions or complaints to accurately determine the nature or scope of the problem, resolving issues that can be satisfied by an explanation of HR policies. Guides supervisors to the appropriate HR Specialist for advice regarding compliance with bargaining unit agreements and VA Handbooks. Performs other duties as assigned. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility 3+ days per pay period. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Human Resources Assistant (Employee Relations/Employee Benefits)/PD99936S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/31/2023. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. For the GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-06 grade level. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Grade Requirements GS-06: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Preparing and maintaining records on all actions associated with Employee Benefits, including correcting missing or inaccurate data and coding actions in HR processing systems; controlling and responding to incoming and outgoing correspondence by determining priority, establishing suspense dates as required, referring to a supervisor or appropriate co- worker, and following-up to ensure suspense dates are met. Grade Requirements GS-7: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-6 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to: Providing technical guidance, information, and assistance for a variety of Employee Benefits programs such as Health Benefits, Life Insurance, Leave Programs appeals, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) , and Military Leave. Knowledge of forms, authorities, action codes, regulatory authorities or additional pay systems, and coding actions in HR processing systems. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Analytical ReasoningClericalCommunicationTechnical Competence 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; religions; 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: No special physical exertion is required. The work is primarily performed while sitting, although some work may require periods of standing. The regular and recurring work of the position involves sitting at a desk, conferences, meetings, etc., and occasional visits to activity work sites. Occasional use of automobile and public conveyances may be required. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address VHA VISN 6 Human Resources 3518 WESTGATE DRIVE DURHAM, NC 27707 US
• Name: Samantha Schmidt
• Email: [email protected]