This position is established in VHA Workforce Management and Consulting's HR Operations Office (HROO). HROO is the exclusive operational HR service provider for VHA's Central Office (VHACO). This position uniquely specializes in the retirement services discipline and is located within HROO's Retirement Shared Services Office (RSSO).

Duties

This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed represent the full performance level of GS-12. At the lower grade levels, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher-level work, and availability of funds. Promotion is not guaranteed, and no promise of promotion is implied. Provides direct counseling to management, employees, retirees, and family members on the Federal retirement benefit program entitlement/options and on interpretations of law, regulation, and policies. Advises on Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB), Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI), Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), Office of Workers Compensation (OWCP), Federal Employee Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) and Federal Long-Term Care Insurance Program (FEDVIP) as they relate to retirement. Provides complex retirement coverage determinations for all returning federal employees throughout the VHA. Provide death-in-service counseling to beneficiaries and stakeholders. Assists current and recently separated employees retiring with completion of the disability retirement application forms and reviews them to ensure completeness. Prepare civilian deposit reports and assist customers with the preparation of the application and submission to the Office of Personnel Management for processing. Reviews and/or drafts standard operating procedures (SOPs) and other written documents based on subject matter expertise, knowledge of existing internal procedures, and awareness of current regulatory requirements. Reviews new or amended HR retirement policies, procedures, and guidelines and provides feedback regarding possible impact on current practices. 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; 40 hours per week; Tour of duty to be set based on organizational need. Compressed/Flexible: This position may be authorized for a compressed/flexible work schedule. 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 will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This position may be filled virtually. However, the selectee will be required to report to either a VA Facility, Agency/VA approved leased space, or any Federal building designated by VA. Remote job: Not authorized. This is NOT a remote position. Position Description/PD#: Human Resources Specialist (Employ Benefits)/PD77848A and PD39498A Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary with long periods of sitting at a desk, working with computers daily. Some work may require walking in offices and similar areas for meetings. Work may also require walking and standing in conjunction with travel to and attendance at meetings and conferences away from the worksite. The work does not require any special physical effort.

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/16/2024. 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. 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. GS-07: For a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05 GS-09: For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07 In order to meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet 3/5 of the following examples of specialized experience. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-07 Specialized Experience: Do you possess at least one (1) full 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 included, but are not limited to: 1) Provides direct counseling to management, employees, retirees, and family members on the Federal retirement benefit program entitlement/options and on interpretations of law, regulation, and policies. 2) Assists current and recently separated employees retiring with completion of the disability retirement application forms and reviews them to ensure completeness. 3) Maintains various filing systems, including appropriately documenting Official Personnel Files and internal filing systems to ensure retention of records. 4) Maintaining a thorough record of inquiries, responses, and actions. 5) Conducting fact-finding to support initial decisions and create the basis for conclusions. OR GS-07 Substitution of Education for Experience: Do you possess 1 full year of graduate level education or Superior Academic Achievement (SAA)* at the baccalaureate level. Note: Due to text limits in the Qualifications section, please see SAA details in the Education section below. OR GS-07 Combination of Education and Experience : Do you possess Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate education and specialized experience directly related to the work of the Human Resources Specialist (Employee Benefits) position, which may be substituted to meet the experience requirements for GS-07 position? GS-09 Specialized Experience: Do you possess at least one (1) full year of specialized experience, equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-07 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience include: 1) Provides direct counseling to management, employees, retirees, and family members on the Federal retirement benefit program entitlement/options and on interpretations of law, regulation, and policies. 2) Assists current and recently separated employees retiring with completion of the disability retirement application forms and reviews them to ensure completeness. 3) Maintains various filing systems, including appropriately documenting Official Personnel Files and internal filing systems to ensure retention of records. 4) Provides complex retirement coverage determinations for all returning federal employees throughout the VHA. 5) Makes timely follow-up on pending items to ensure timely resolution of cases and code the action in our personnel system to separate customers. OR GS-09: Substitution of Education for Experience: Do you possess a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related to the position. OR GS-09: Combination of Education and Experience: Do you possess Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate education and specialized experience directly related to the work of the Human Resources Specialist (Employee Benefits) position, which may be substituted to meet the experience requirements for GS-09 position?

Education

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

*Superior Academic Achievement: (SAA) recognizes students who have achieved superior academic standing as evidenced by one of the three methods described below. In order to be creditable under this provision, superior academic achievement must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled. Applicants who wish to apply under this provision must submit proof from their educational institution that they meet one of the criteria listed below. To qualify for SAA, applicants must have completed all the requirements for a bachelor's degree in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled and meet one of the following:

1. Rank in the upper one-third of your class in the college, university, or major subdivision.
2. A grade-point average of at least "B" (a GPA of 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all completed undergraduate courses, or those completed in the last two years of undergraduate study.
3. A grade point average of at least "B+" (a GPA of 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0) average of required courses completed in the major field of study or required courses in your major completed in the last two years of undergraduate study.
4. Membership in a national honor society. Membership in a freshman honor society cannot be used. Honor societies recognized by Association of College Honor Societies. For a list of recognized honor societies please visit https://www.achshonor.org/.
For more information regarding SAA please visit https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=General-Policies.

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 Central Office - Human Capital Management 810 Vermont Avenue NW Washington, DC 20420 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]