Summary
This HR SPEC (EMPLOYEE BENEFITS) is located in the Human Resources Office (HRO)and is part of the CA JFHQ J1 HRO.
This job is open to
Clarification from the agency
U.S. Citizens.
Duties
THIS IS A T5 EXCEPTED SERVICE, PERMANENT POSITION
The primary purpose of the HR SPEC (EMPLOYEE BENEFITS), GS-0201-9, is to provide technical, procedural and evaluative assistance in the area of employee benefits for both Army and Air National Guard organizations. Accomplishes work through the use of an automated personnel system.
- Provides technical guidance and procedural assistance to managers, supervisors, and employees in executing a variety of employee benefits programs, which may include USERRA, retirement, health and life benefits, Thrift Savings Program (TSP), etc. Provides technical guidance and assistance to management and employees on benefit programs such as Federal Employee Health Benefits, Federal Employees Group Life Insurance, and various leave programs.
- Serve as a member of a team, able to clearly communicate, and get along with others. Articulate sensitive information to customers and deescalate customer complaints or concerns. Serve as a self starter, actively participating in training and able to prioritize and manage workload. Work toward creating an environment of trust and productivity. Counsels and advises employees throughout their employment concerning benefits and leave administration and USERRA entitlements. Relate well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations and exhibit empathy when trying to resolve customer concerns within the confounds of governing regulations.
- Reviews requests for personnel actions (RPA) to determine if all required information is present. Research to rectify discrepancies or obtain missing information. Accurately code RPAs in personnel system for approval by senior specialist. Obtains facts to reconcile apparent conflicts regarding periods of Absent-US and Return to Duty and orders dates. Advises on non-controversial issues, such as regulatory and procedural authorities relating to benefits administration, leave programs and USERRA. Track and suspense open items and frequently communicate with customers to obtain required response.
- Provides counseling to management, employees, and beneficiaries regarding program coverage, options, variances in coverage, and advantages and disadvantages of benefits. Conduct benefits trainings advising the field on numerous aspects of the technician benefits administration. Advises individuals' taking AGR tours of their restoration rights during out-processing.
The position resides within the infrastructure and support functions of the state National Guard; the incumbent is not subject to mobilization, nor is the work described part of the military mission; and the incumbent does not perform a key advisory or essential administrative role that is inherently military. In addition, the position must meet one of the following: It does not have a comparable military function; the position is required in full-time (civilian) role when the organization, or similar military position, is mobilized to perform continuing post-mobilization functions; or the position requires a skill or competency that necessitates technical expertise or professional qualifications that cannot be readily found in the military structure of the state military force.
May make additional selections within 90 days of eligible(s) issuance.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
Recruitment/Relocation
Recruitment/Relocation Incentive IS NOT authorized.
PCS
Relocation Costs IS NOT authorized based on determination that Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move is not in the Government best interest.
- Participation in direct deposit is mandatory.
- May be required to successfully complete a probationary period.
- U.S. citizenship is required.
- Federal employment suitability as determined by a background investigation.
- Must maintain proper security clearance.
Security Clearance: at a minimum a National Agency Check is required prior to position assignment.
Qualifications
HR SPEC (EMPLOYEE BENEFITS), GS-0201-9: Must have at least one year of specialized experience, equivalent to at least the GS-07 level, or equivalent pay band in other pay systems in the Federal government. This experience may also have been obtained in the private sector, but must demonstrate that it is comparable to the GS grade indicated. Specialized experience may have been demonstrated by performing duties such as: Experience providing technical guidance and procedural assistance to managers, supervisors, and employees in executing a variety of employee benefits programs, which may include workers' compensation, retirement, health and life benefits, Thrift Savings Program (TSP), etc; Experience developing and carrying out specific projects to accomplish the technical support mission of the Human Resources Office; Experience advising supervisors and employees on regulatory requirements of the programs and develops instructions; Experience reviewing and interprets policies, directives, and other issuances by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), National Guard (NGB), Department of Labor (DOL), and outside control agencies for applicability to activities serviced.
Your resume must have complete information: Please ensure your resume accurately reflects the duties and responsibilities under each position you have held with each employer. In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. It is your responsibility to make sure your resume states complete information for each job entry (beginning and ending dates of employment stated as MM/YYYY; and total hours worked per week). If your resume does not provide enough information regarding your work history for us to make a creditable qualification determination, your application package may be rendered disqualified and you will no longer be considered for this position.
Part-time or unpaid experience: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid work on the same basis as for paid experience. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. To receive credit for such experience you must indicate clearly the nature of the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the number of hours per week spent in such employment.
Qualifications must be met by the closing date: You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by 07/15/2024
Education
Substitution of Education for Specialized Experience: Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree
Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.
Must upload transcripts
When there is a positive education or certification requirement, or you are using education to qualify as a substitution for experience, copies of transcripts (unofficial) and/or certificates are required at the time of application to verify that you meet the educational/certification requirement or substitution. Failure to provide transcripts and/or certificates at the time of application will result in automatic disqualification.
Only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education may be credited. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: 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. For further information, visit: www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.
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.
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.
Category Rating: Your application will be evaluated and rated under Category Rating selection procedures. Once the application process is complete, a review of your qualifications will be conducted to determine if you are qualified for this job. Qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The quality categories are:
1. Highly Qualified: Candidates in this category possess exceptional skills and experience to exceed well above the minimum requirements for this position.
2. Well Qualified: Candidates in this category possess good skills and experience above the minimum requirements for this position.
3. Qualified: Candidates in this category meet the minimum education and/or experience requirements for this position.
Your rating will be based on both your entire application package as well as the responses to the assessment questionnaire. Please note that if, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your category rating can and will be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.
All applicants' qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, and abilities):
Attention to Detail, Benefits and Work Life Programs, Interpersonal Skills, and Oral Communication
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Please note that if, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating can and will be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may lose consideration for this position.
If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview.
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:
1. Your resume showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed.
2. Schedule A Eligibility Letter and the SF 256 (SF 256 is optional) if you are applying as an individual with a disability under the Schedule A special hiring authority.
3. Your SF-15 or supporting documentation (if applicable).
4. Other supporting documents: applicable documents required for qualification, education, or certification as stated above.
Veterans Information: Veterans' preference must be validated by formal submissions including all necessary supporting documentation. You must provide acceptable documentation of your preference or appointment eligibility. Acceptable documentation may be:
- A copy of your DD-214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," which shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions
- A "certification" or memorandum that is a written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification or memorandum is signed.
- A letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs reflecting your level of disability for preference eligibility (You can request this by visiting a VA Regional Office, contacting a VA call center, or online.)
NOTE: Failure to provide supporting documentations for veteran's preference claims will result in automatic ineligibility to receive preference.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
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
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above.
A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. No changes to the application may be made after the close date of the announcement.
To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.
If you do not receive an email that your application has been received, make sure the application was correctly submitted.
False Statements - If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work; or you may be subject to fine, imprisonment, or other disciplinary action.
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