Post-Secondary Students are TERM appointments NTE 4 yrs in the competitive service. Students may be non-competitively converted to a career or career-conditional appointment upon successful completion of an academic program; complete 640 hrs of continuous employment; meet OPM qualifications for the position converted to; and meet time-in-grade requirements.

Duties

Major duties include but are not limited to: Provides information, guidance, and assistance to plan administrators, plan service providers, participants, beneficiaries, the general public and other government agencies concerning provisions of ERISA and other related statutes, regulations, and Department published guidance, with supervisory/senior advisor assistance. Assists participants and beneficiaries in obtaining benefits to which they are entitled but which they have not been able to secure from plan officials. Develops recoveries and referrals per EBSA's standard operating procedures. Explains the law, regulations or other guidance and works with employers to informally resolve benefit issues; with supervisory/senior advisor assistance. Conducts research, fact-finding, analyzes data, and prepares and presents information about particular situations. Identifies and develops responses to inquiries. Reviews eligibility or entitlement to benefits, including obtaining and examining multiple types of records; with supervisory/senior advisor assistance. Educates individuals on their rights and responsibilities under ERISA and other related laws enforced by EBSA. Assists with planning and conducting outreach events; disseminates information related to ERISA employee benefits plan protections and retirement savings education; with supervisory/senior advisor assistance. Gathers information so that agencies can determine how well programs and activities are meeting established needs and goals. Maintains agency databases and systems with information that is used to generate reports supporting both policy and budget decisions; with supervisory/senior advisor assistance. Performs other duties as assigned. Benefits Advisor (Bilingual) regularly use Spanish language translation skills in performing duties listed above and on an as needed basis to assist other office staff; receives assignments involving people who may communicate in native Spanish language and unable to communicate effectively using English language.

Requirements

• Must be at least 16 years old and a U.S. Citizen.
• Candidate required to obtain the necessary security/investigation level.
• Must be currently enrolled or accepted for enrollment pursuing a baccalaureate or graduate degree at least half-time.
• For bilingual position, must be able to speak/read/write English and Spanish language.
• The entire duration of the Post-Secondary Student appointment constitutes a trial period.
• Upon completion of requirements for graduation and successful completion of the PSS program requirements, you may be eligible for non-competitive conversion, at the agency's discretion, to a career or career-conditional appointment.

Qualifications

For the bilingual vacancies, applicants will be required to self-certify proficiency in Spanish by responding to a Spanish language question which will be used to determine initial language proficiency and also meet the specialized experience or education listed below. Applicants who are otherwise qualified and referred must satisfactorily complete an interview to demonstrate their Spanish language proficiency in order to be considered for appointment to Bilingual Benefits Advisor (Post-Secondary Student). Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-5) in the Federal Service or meet the education requirement or have an equivalent combination of education and experience. Specialized Experience is the experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform the duties of the position successfully, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-5). Qualifying specialized experience for GS-07 includes: Experience working in a customer service environment that demonstrates both written and oral communication skills. Experience that demonstrates the ability to provide educational information or outreach activities. Experience that provided knowledge of laws, policies, regulations, and precedents. Experience in research principles and techniques and the ability to gather and compile data. OR 1 full year of graduate level education in a related field of study that demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. OR Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.); information regarding S.A.A. can be found in OPM's General Schedule Qualification Policies: General Schedule Qualification Policies (opm.gov) S.A.A. is based on a qualifying Bachelor's Degree and one of the following: 1) Class standing - you must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university or major subdivision based on completed courses; or 2) Grade Point Average (GPA) - you must have a cumulative GPA of 2.95 or higher (out of a possible 4.0) based on 4 years of education or based on courses completed during the final 2 years or a 3.45 GPA or higher based on average of required courses in the major field or required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or 3) Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society. OR A combination of education and experience.

Education

Any applicant falsely claiming an academic degree from an accredited school will be subject to actions ranging from disqualification from federal employment to removal from federal service.

If your education was completed at a foreign college or university, you must show comparability to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States and comparability to applicable minimum coursework requirements for this position. Click Evaluation of Foreign Education for more information.

Contacts

• Address Employee Benefits Security Administration, Regional Offices 200 Constitution Avenue NW Washington, DC 20210 US
• Name: Regina Paruszkiewicz
• Phone: 415-625-2387
• Email: [email protected]