Benefits Specialist (Pathways Recent Graduates) Job in Washington, DC

Vacancy No. OBA-2025-0008 Department Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
Salary $55,924.00 to $72,703.00 Grade 07 to 07
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 12/10/2024 Close Date 12/24/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Washington, DC


Summary

This position is located in the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's Washington, DC Metropolitan area only.

More than one selection may be made from this vacancy announcement.

Learn more about this agency

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

Individuals who have graduated from an accredited educational institution or certificate program within the last 2 years or 6 years for veterans who were precluded from applying to the program during the two-year eligibility period due to military service obligations. All applicants may submit unofficial transcripts at the time of application to ensure we receive requested documents in a timely manner. Official transcripts will be requested at the time of the official offer.

Duties

The candidate selected for this position will:

1. Track and maintain the progress of corrective actions and/or remaining issues for remediation and closure.

2. Assist senior specialists in the review and assessment of benefits administration activities.

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • You must be a U.S. citizen
  • You may undergo a personnel security background investigation
  • Selective Service registration required for male applicants, unless exempt
  • Must meet suitability for Federal employment
  • You will be in a trial period throughout your entire Pathways appointment
  • If selected, you must;
  • Sign a Pathways Internship Program agreement and adhere to program requirements
  • Perform successfully the assigned duties listed in the position description
  • Adhere to all laws, rules, regulations and policies of PBGC
  • Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S.
  • Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

You may qualify for this position based on education, specialized experience, or a combination of both.

Specialized Experience: Applicants must have at least one year of specialized experience at the GS-5 grade level in the Federal service or equivalent to the GS-5 grade level in the private sector performing customer service-related activities, in government or private sector. Examples include: direct interaction with customers or analyzing customer data.

OR

Superior Academic Achievement: You possess a degree that is qualifying for this position that meets the criteria for eligibility under the Superior Academic Achievement provision through one of the following methods. No more than 10% of academic credit can be based on pass/fail or similar non-traditional grading systems.

* 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on the official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum

* 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.

(Grade-point averages will be rounded to one decimal place. For example, 2.95 will round to 3.0 and 2.94 will round to 2.9)

* Upper 1/3 ranking in graduating class (you must submit proof with your application)

* National Scholastic Honor Society. Membership in a freshman honor society cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision. (You must submit proof with your application)

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE RECENT GRADUATES PROGRAM? 

Any individual who completed all requirements for an associate, bachelors, masters, professional, or doctorate degree from a qualifying educational institution within the previous two years meets the basic requirement to apply for the Recent Graduates Program.

-OR-

Exceptions are made for veterans, as defined in 5 USC 2108, who, due to military service obligations, were precluded from applying to the Program during the two-year eligibility period described above. These individuals have a full two-year period of eligibility upon their release or discharge from active duty. In no event, however, may a veteran's eligibility period extend beyond six years from the date on which they completed their academic requirements.

-OR-

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation will accept and process applications for Recent Graduates positions up to 90 days prior to the actual graduation and conferring of an associate, bachelors, masters, or doctoral degree. Final offers will be contingent upon completion of all educational requirements. Final offers can only be made once the applicant’s degree is conferred, and a copy of the official transcript received.

Education

No additional education required. 

Additional information

PBGC encourages qualified applicants with disabilities to apply. If you are requiring reasonable accommodations, please contact PBGC’s Reasonable Accommodation Coordinator, Roderick Duncan, at (202) 286-7803 or Duncan.Roderick@pbgc.gov. If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

All Veterans are encouraged to visit CareerOne for resume writing tips and skill conversion terms.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Programs: These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 80 or above based on the competencies listed above (which is equivalent to PBGC’s “Silver” quality category); and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information visit: Interagency Career Transition Assistance Programs.

If you believe that you have been subjected to discrimination, you may contact the PBGC Office of Equal Employment Opportunity (OEEO):

OEEO Main Office Phone: 202-229-4363

Email: EEO@PBGC.gov

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Visit PBGC Benefits for information on our Agency Benefits offered.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Procedures for category rating are being used for this position. If you meet the basic qualification requirements, we will further evaluate your resume and transcripts to determine the quality and extent to which your background (experience, education, training, etc.) relates to the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:


1. ability to assess, evaluate and resolve issues

2. skill in working in a customer service environment

Based on that evaluation, we will place you in one of the following categories- 1) Gold; 2) Silver; 3) Bronze.

  • Gold- highly proficient regarding the knowledge, skills, and abilities(KSAs) related to the position.
  • Silver- competent regarding the knowledge, skills, and abilities(KSAs) related to the position.
  • Bronze- possessing only the minimum qualifications required for this position.

    If, after your application has been rated by the Subject Matter Expert, and you are found to meet none of the KSA's listed above, you will be placed in the Bronze category.  If your resume does not support the answers you gave on the assessment questionnaire, you may be rated NOT QUALIFIED or you may be placed in a lower category.

    This assessment method does not add veterans' preference points but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category.

    How veterans’ preference is applied- All applicants who are eligible for veterans’ preference (based on the documents submitted) will receive preference over non-veterans.  Preference eligibles who meet minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-9 grade level or higher. A selecting official may make selections from the highest quality category (Gold) provided no preference eligible in that category is passed over to select a non-preference eligible in that category unless the requirements of 5 U.S.C 3317(b) or 3318(b) are satisfied. 

You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Required Documents

RESUME: You must submit a resume. A copy of your official transcript must clearly show the discipline your degree was awarded. Your application package must indicate any skills and experience you possess that are related to the duties posted in the job announcement.

PLEASE DO NOT include photographs, hypertext/hyperlinks, or other inappropriate material or content. This information will not be used to make eligibility or qualification determinations

COVER LETTER (OPTIONAL): Your cover letter should state your interest in this position and the strengths that you feel will make you an asset to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. We will not use your cover letter to determine your qualifications; however, your cover letter will go to the Selecting Official along with your resume if you are referred.

TRANSCRIPT(S): SUBMIT A COPY OF YOUR CURRENT UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT (NO OTHER DOCUMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED AS PROOF).

Only degrees from an accredited college or university recognized by the Department of Education are acceptable to meet positive education requirements or to substitute education for experience. For additional information, please go to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and U.S. Department of Education websites at-http://www.opm.gov/qualifications and information, please go to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and U.S. Department of Education websites at-http://www.opm.gov/qualifications and http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

VETERANS PREFERENCE: If claiming veteran's preference, you should indicate the type of veteran's preference you are claiming on your resume. For veteran's preference, you must provide a copy of your DD-214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (Member 4 copy or Member 7 copy), official statement of service from your command if you are currently on active duty, or other official documentation (e.g., documentation of receipt of a campaign badge or expeditionary medal) that proves your military service was performed under honorable conditions. Your DD-214 must show the type of discharge and dates of active duty. If the appropriate copy of the DD-214 is not submitted and the discharge status is not confirmed, you will not receive credit for the claimed active-duty military service. To gain access to your DD-214 online, please visit: Request Military Service Records | National Archives. Information on Veterans Preference is available in the Vet's Guide that can be found at OPM's website: Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference

Veterans Opportunity to Work Act (VOW): If you are currently serving on active duty, you MUST submit a statement of service from your unit (on unit letterhead) identifying the branch of service, period(s) of service, campaign badges or expeditionary medals earned, type of discharge, character of service, and the date you will be separated or be on approved terminal leave. If you provide a statement of service at this stage, your preference/eligibility will be verified by a DD214 (Member 4 Copy) upon separation from the military.

All applicants may submit unofficial transcripts at the time of application to ensure we receive requested documents in a timely manner. Official transcripts will be requested at the time of the official offer.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Programs: CTAP and ICTAP candidates must submit documents showing eligibility for selection priority (e.g., RIF separation notice, Certificate of Expected Separation, or other proof of eligibility for priority selection); an SF-50 showing the current (or former) position, grade level, promotion potential, and duty location; and the most current performance appraisal including the performance rating.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

In order to be considered, submit all of the required information (including your supplemental documentation) before midnight EST on the closing date.

If you are not able to apply online or require reasonable accommodations, contact Cecilia Mendozaon (202) 229-3713or at mendoza.cecilia@pbgc.gov no later than 5:00 p.m. on the day before the closing date of this vacancy announcement. If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

Please complete all the steps in the online application process at USAJOBS (www.usajobs.gov). You may make updates to your information at any time prior to midnight EST on the closing date of this announcement.

  • Register with USAJOBS, which will store your information and resume. You will only need to complete this step once.
  • Locate and review the vacancy announcement on USAJOBS. Click the “Apply” link and then select a resume to submit with your application. If you do not have a resume to select, or you want to upload a new one, click “Add Resume” and upload your resume. You can also click “Edit” to edit an already-uploaded resume. Once you have selected a resume, click “Save and Continue.”
  • Add or remove your supporting documents.
  • Once you have attached your resume and supporting documents, review your application package to ensure that they have been attached, then check the box next to “I acknowledge that I have reviewed my resume and document(s).” Then Click “Save and Continue.”
  • Complete the “Include Personal Information” page and click “Save and Continue,”
  • On the “Continue Application with Agency” page, read the terms and certify by checking the box if you agree. Then click “Continue to Agency Site.” This will take you to the application for the position.
  • Click “Apply to this Vacancy.”
  • Complete or review the eligibility questions, which determine the types of positions you are eligible for.
  • Specify which series, grade(s), and location(s) you wish to be considered for.
  • Complete the online vacancy questions, then click "Finish". You will continue to the Vacancy Documents page.
  • Review your attached documents from USAJobs. If there are other documents that you need to attach, upload those here as well.
  • You will then see a summary of your application, including the documents that you submitted. You are strongly encouraged to save or print a copy of this page as proof of submission and receipt of your application and documents.
  • To finish, click "Submit Application."

Agency contact information

Cecilia Mendoza
Phone
202-229-3713
Fax
000-000-0000
Email
mendoza.cecilia@pbgc.gov
Address
PENSION BENEFIT GUARANTY CORPORATION
Human Resources Department
445 12th Street SW
Washington, District of Columbia 20024
United States
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

You are encouraged to complete your USAJOBS personal account completely to receive notifications at each point in the recruiting process. Utilizing this option allows you to review and track the status of your application and receive email notifications from the hiring office.

You may check the status of your applications by clicking on the My USAJOBS tab at the USAJOBS website.

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Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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