HR Specialist (Retirement & Employee Benefits)

Human Resources Division – Duty location will be based within the United States and its territories. The selectee of this position serves as a HR Specialist (Retirement & Employee Benefits). As a Senior HR Specialist, you will be responsible for administering the USMS retirement and benefits program which includes retirement, health and life insurance, and the Thrift Savings Plan programs.

Major duties
As a HR Specialist (Retirement & Employee Benefits) at the GS-0201-13 level, some of your typical work assignments may include: Provide consultation to employees, retirees, and eligible family members regarding retirement, health and life insurance, and the Thrift Savings Plan programs. Counsels' employees to ensure that they have the necessary information to make benefits/retirement-related decisions. Provides benefits counseling and assistance to employees and survivors of deceased employees; provides estimates of expected benefits. Develop and conduct retirement training. EEO Statement/Policy: The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. More information can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/jmd/media/1425556/dl?inline.

Qualifications
GS-13 TIME IN GRADE REQUIREMENTS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year at the GS-12 grade level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-13 grade level. (Must submit your SF-50 that shows Time-in-Grade eligibility and reflects your title, series, and grade. No award SF-50 will be accepted). You may qualify at the GS-0201-13 level, if you fulfill the following qualifications: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service that demonstrates your ability: Providing program management and assistance on federal benefits programs, including Federal Employees Health Benefit Program, Federal Employees Group Life Insurance Program, Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program, Flexible Spending Benefit Program, and Federal Long-Term Care Program. Providing counseling, developing and delivering effective communication materials, presentations, and training on benefits and retirement programs. Processing retirement applications and death cases, including calculating annuity estimates, and service credit. Recommending and assisting management with implementing process improvements, setting work priorities, creating and updating standard operating procedures, and making program reconciliations. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE CANNOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. 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; religious; 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.

How to apply
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments, and required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows: Click the Apply Online button. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date. If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice. Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. Set aside at least 3 hours to take the USA Hire assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link. Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused. For more general information, system requirements, reasonable accommodation information, and to request assistance regarding the USA Hire Assessments, review the following resources: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=USA_Hire_Assessments. To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To view the announcement status or your application status: Click on this: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application.