The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has adopted the HR Modernization and Shared Services Implementation, which is a new model of organizing and consolidating essential Human Resource (HR) functions and services to the Network level. This streamlined and focused approach moves VHA forward in its continuum of providing comprehensive, compassionate, and coordinated care to Veterans.

Duties

The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being. SLRP: This occupational series is eligible for the Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP). Participants must sign a service agreement and maintain an acceptable level of performance to remain eligible for this program. Duties: - The incumbent provides a wide range of general office support for the Strategic Business Office and Worklife Benefits Shared Service Unit including answering calls, welcoming visitors, responding to questions, complaints, problems or situations, and providing explanations of HR policy in WLB. The incumbent identifies relevant facts and issues, analyzes individual circumstances, interprets data to determine facts surrounding required actions, determines relevant guidance and procedures, prepares reports and recommends appropriate actions commensurate with assignment. The incumbent conducts regulatory research to provide a thorough response. Assists HR Specialists on special projects by gathering and organizing data, identifying issues and discrepancies, formatting material, and recommending improvements and solutions. Develops presentations, reports and analyses, as needed. - Answers questions and/or provides completed forms concerning personnel actions and processing. Provides advice on using TSP and My-Pay websites. Audits e-OPFs in accordance with regulation, to ensure the contents of the e-OPFs are valid. - The incumbent maintains and updates a variety of computerized databases, maintains statistical data necessary to comply with the reporting requirements of the Network/VACO, records and gathers data and prepares reports. - Provides support to current staff and prospective staff responsible for starting, stopping or changing employee benefits upon request. Incumbent supports the work-life programs within HR including; Compressed Work Schedules, Telework program, Disabled Veteran Leave, Child Care Subsidy and Transit Benefits. Responsible for reviewing and routing all requests for work/life benefits submitted to HR; serves as a point of contact for medical centers and other facilities and provides information regarding the work/life programs. -Attends health benefit carrier enrollment fairs to assist with open season. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level, GS-07, 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. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: HR Assistant Total Rewards Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm Compressed/Flexible: At supervisor's discretion. Telework: ADHOC-May be authorized (Employees who Telework on an occasional, episodic, or short-term, and have completed required telework training and telework agreement). This is not a virtual position. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Human Resources Assistant (Employee Relations/Employee Benefits)/PD99936S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): This occupation is currently approved for a Veterans Health Administration enterprise-wide Critical Skills Incentive through 10/7/2023. Candidates may be eligible for a lump sum CSI for a pro-rated amount if onboard prior to the CSI expiration date. Eligible candidates will be required to sign a service agreement agreeing to an obligated service period and failure to complete the obligated service period may result in a debt for the unearned portion of the CSI. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): 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, 09/25/2023. 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 a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-06. 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: GS-5 Experience/Education: At least one (1) year of specialized experience or 4 years of education above high school (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED). Specialized experience for this position is defined as having basic knowledge of, and skill in applying, basic principles and practices of the HR specializations sufficient to: perform structured, entry-level work designed to develop broader and more in-depth knowledge and skill to perform higher-level assignments. This specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-4 grade level in Federal Service. GS-6 Specialized Experience: At least one (1) year of specialized experience related to the duties of the Human Resources Assistant position. Specialized experience for this position is defined as having knowledge and application of Human resources policies, programs, and procedures. This specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-5 grade level in Federal service. GS-7 Specialized Experience: At least one (1) year of specialized experience related to the duties of the Human Resources Assistant position. Specialized experience for this position is defined as having comprehensive and thorough knowledge of laws, regulations, Executive Orders, agency HR policies and procedures, court decisions and issues as they pertain to the assigned areas or responsibilities. This specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-6 grade level in Federal service. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Analytical ThinkingCommunicationCustomer ServiceEmployee BenefitsProblem Solving Preferred Experience: Knowledge of Federal Employment Benefits. Knowledge of Federal Time and Attendance policies. Understands and utilizes a wide range of Federal benefits laws, regulations, policies, and precedents in order to provide expert advisory services on complex and wide-impacting employee benefits policies and procedures. Experience processing Federal Benefits. Experience with Federal Time and Attendance software. Demonstrated Customer Service Skills. Interprets and can explain policies, procedures, and laws to current employees and prepares written correspondence and develops other communication to provide on benefits information. 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 the GS-06 or GS-07 grade level.

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

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 VISN 23 VA Midwest Health Care Network 2805 DODD ROAD SUITE 250 EAGAN, MN 55121-2123 US
• Name: Nola Mattson
• Phone: 320-252-1670 X6621
• Email: [email protected]