***This is not a Virtual Position*** Incumbent serves as a Human Resources (HR) Assistant performing a variety of HR program functions in Federal Workers' Compensation. Incumbent provides technical support and clerical assistance for the Federal Workers' Compensation Program. The incumbent serves as a liaison between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Labor's Office of Workers Compensation Programs (OWCP) District Offices.

Duties

Duties include, but are not limited to: All duties are performed with appropriate oversight: Supports technical review, analysis and collaboration among internal and external stakeholders to ensure accurate processing of WC claims. Provides guidance and counsel to facility and VISN employees, managers and supervisors regarding their rights, responsibilities and requirements under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA). Evaluates the disposition of each workers' compensation claim against the required elements and determines next steps including transmission of documents, written responses, and tracking. Assists Specialist with coordinating access to the work site when requested by the OWCP Field Nurse and/or the OWCP Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist to conduct a job site visit to determine the extent (if any) a job may need to be modified to accommodate work restrictions. Reviews and interprets medical portions of less complex claims and research medical terms, procedures, and protocol of medical treatment to effectively manage claims and to understand the impact of the injured employee's medical condition. Reviews the medical costs associated with a claim to ensure that medical procedures, treatment and prescriptions are related to the accepted work-related injury. Evaluates, authorizes, and approves requests for Continuation of Pay (COP), or annual and sick leave used. Monitors requests for appropriate payment on a biweekly basis. Monitors and evaluates leave related to FECA claims for accuracy of payment and resolves discrepancies. Develops and monitors light duty assignments for injured workers until they can return to their preinjury position. Identifies and coordinates permanent job offers when the injured employee cannot return to their pre-injury position because they are permanently partially disabled. Implements standardized VISN procedures and processes governing facility workers' compensation program activities. Reviews of VISN workers' compensation policies, operational processes, and work methods. Preparation of VISN WCP improvement reports. Assists in development of educational and training materials. Provides Specialist with draft responses to Congressional Inquiries, including but not limited to MSPB and civil litigation issues both orally and in writing by reviewing workers' compensation cases, performing fact finding, and advising and/or representing management officials as necessary. May act on behalf of the facility in responding to DOL correspondence concerning workers' compensation with appropriate oversight. Preparation of workers' compensation documents for fraud proceedings and prosecution as requested. Prepares a written statement of challenge with appropriate oversight to notify OWCP of the deficiencies when any of the five elements are not met with factual and objective. Monitors the medical progress and duty status of all injured workers by obtaining periodic medical reports to determine work capacity. Requires interpretation of medical evidence and terminology with appropriate oversight to analyze the medical component of a claim. Develops and monitors light duty assignments for injured workers until they can return to their pre-injury position. Performs day to day duties in the Workers Compensation file rooms as directed by management. 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: M-F 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Human Resources Assistant (Employee Benefits)/PD99960S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/23/2024. 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 the GS-05, candidates may be advanced to positions up to GS-5 if the position to be filled if they've held a GS-04 within the preceding 52 weeks under a non-temporary appointment. 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. To qualify at the GS-5 level: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-04 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of this specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Knowledge and application of standardized HR rules, regulations, procedures, and operations. Provides technical employee benefits support to HR Specialists. Communicates effectively with internal and external stakeholders over telephone, in person, in writing, and email. Prepares written statements and other documents to specialist for cases. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed a full four (4) year course of study, above high school, leading to a bachelor's degree (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED). OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. To qualify at the GS-6 level: Specialized Experience: 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: Knowledge and application of standardized HR rules, regulations, procedures, and operations. Provides technical workers compensation support to HR Specialists. Communicates effectively with internal and external stakeholders over telephone, in person, in writing, and email. Prepares written statements and other documents to specialist for cases. Evaluates and monitors Workers Compensation cases for accuracy, completion, submission, and tracking. Follows all laws, rules, regulations and procedures for management of all WC cases. To qualify at the GS-7 level: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-06 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: provides technical review, analysis and collaboration among internal and external stakeholders to ensure accurate processing of WC claims, provides counsel, guidance, and interpretation of Federal Employee's Compensation Act and Workers Compensation rules and regulations, communicates in-person, through telephone conversations, e-mail and written form variety of individuals from diverse backgrounds, provides advice that is legally, ethically, and morally sound based on regulations, policies, procedures, case law, and customer expectations, coordinates WC cases with a variety of departments including Human Resource, Occupational Health, and others. Knowledge of a wide range of workers' compensation laws, regulations, concepts, principles, practices, and methods sufficient to administer the workers' compensation program, develop and provide broad guidance to all stakeholders, conduct projects and studies, respond to less complex benefit inquiries, prepare sensitive correspondence on less complex OWCP cases for the organization. Preferred Experience: Please submit a writing sample. 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

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address VHA VISN 2 Human Resources 130 W. KINGSBRIDGE ROAD BRONX, NY 10468-3904 US
• Name: Rebekka Fandrey
• Phone: 818 514 5831
• Email: [email protected]