Human Resources Specialist (Emp Benefits) Job

Vacancy No. DE-12591618-25-hCMO Department Federal Trade Commission
Salary $99,200.00 to $128,956.00 Grade 12 to 12
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 11/1/2024 Close Date 11/15/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Washington, DCLocation Negotiable After Selection


Summary

This position is located in the Office of the Executive Director, Human Capital Management Office (HCMO), Human Capital Operations (HCO). The incumbent reports to the Director of HC Operations. HC Operations is responsible for the administration and management of human resources programs, operations, policies and services for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The HCMO also provides a wide range of technical advice and guidance to managers, supervisors, employees and customers of the FTC.

Duties

If you are selected for this position, you will perform the following duties:

  • The incumbent serves as the Benefits Specialist and guides the agency's benefits, retirement, work/life, workplace flexibilities, voluntary leave and leave bank programs. This position provides the full array of technical guidance, advisory services, and program support in those areas of responsibility. The incumbent provides consultative support services to employees (current and former), annuitants, survivors, and eligible family members regarding retirement, insurance, health benefits, injury compensation, workplace flexibilities (including remote work and telework) and employee wellness. The incumbent provides a high level of customer service; handles telephone calls and in-person contacts tactfully and professionally; and ensures the image of HCMO and the service provided are upheld and/or strengthened as a result of the positive nature of the contact.
Retirement and Employee Benefits:
  • Provides counseling to employees regarding federal retirement benefits, including special retirement situations such as disability retirements, early-out retirement, and discontinued service retirement.
  • Provides counseling to management, employees, and beneficiaries regarding benefits program coverage, options, variances in coverage, and advantages and disadvantages of benefits.
  • Advises employees on all facets of TSP, such as loan provisions, calculation of benefits and contributions, withdrawal of contributions, transfer of fund contributions to qualified pension plans.
  • Provides advisory services for open season benefits including Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) and associated programs including FEDVIP and FSA; TSP, and Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI); and oversees the management of the agencies' annual benefits fair.
  • Provides counseling to aid employees placed in the wrong retirement code and covered by the Federal Erroneous Retirement Coverage Correction Act (FERCCA) in making election decisions, assisting with completing the necessary paperwork, and serving as the liaison with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) in monitoring the status.
  • Develops, modifies, and conducts presentations of basic and/or refresher training in employee retirement, benefit, and work life programs.
  • Completes the processing and completion of benefits related personnel actions in the Federal Personnel and Payroll System (FPPS), the Workforce Transformation and Tracking System (WTTS) and the Entry on Duty System (EODS).
  • Conducts counseling for employee off-boarding. Ensures employees are notified of what happens to their benefits upon separation from the agency.
Worker's Compensation Program
  • Provides assistance with monitoring the Office of Worker's Compensation (OWCP) Program and develops programs and processes to reduce OWCP costs by coordinating with employees, DOL, medical professionals, and supervisors to return employees to work as soon as medically possible. Serves as system administrator and Agency Maintenance User to maintain administrative function of the system.
Agency Work life Programs
  • Assists supervisors in planning and carrying out Work-life projects to inform employees regarding a range of available Work-life programs regarding childcare, emergency back-up dependent care, employee assistance, health and wellness promotion, flexible work schedules, workplace flexibilities, caring for dependents and elderly relatives, financial support, recreation, stress and health management, and related programs.
  • Meets with employees to explain work-life programs; provides counseling for employees regarding the benefits of any of the available work-life programs.
  • Plans and carries out efforts to initiate, streamline, or modify Work-life programs to optimize their usefulness in meeting employee needs.
Leave Programs
  • Provides expert technical guidance/advisory services to FTC human resources staff, supervisors, and senior staff.
  • Ensures processing of leave recipient and leave donor requests, to include required updates in the agency's personnel/payroll system.
  • Assists team lead in managing the agency's Leave Bank Program, including the processing of leave bank applications.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • U.S. citizenship requirement must be met by the closing date of this vacancy.
  • Position is subject to a background investigation.
  • Males born after December 31, 1959 must register with Selective Service.
  • You may serve a one-year probationary period under this appointment.
  • Résumé and supporting documents (See How To Apply).
  • This position is not in the bargaining unit.

Qualifications

To qualify for a Benefits Specialist at the GS-12 level, you must meet the following requirements: You must demonstrate in your resume at least one (1) year of qualifying experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, that includes experience:
  • Providing expert technical guidance/advisory services to FTC managers and staff. Responsible program areas include, but are not limited to the Telework Program, Open Season, Voluntary Leave Transfer Program (VLTP), Voluntary Leave Bank Program, Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI), Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), Federal Long Term Care Insurance (FLTCI), Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and Life Care.
  • Providing retirement counseling and processing retirements including voluntary early retirements and voluntary separation incentives
  • Calculating service computation dates
  • Providing authoritative advisory service and/or interpretations of HR legal and regulatory principles, concepts, practices as it relates to Federal benefits and retirement
  • Calculating annuity estimates
  • Providing informational training or sessions on benefits and retirement
  • Providing advice on various wellness programs including, but not limited to, Employee Assistance, Remote Work, Telework, Workers' Compensation, and other health and wellness programs and activities.
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.

Education

There is no education substitute at this level.

Additional information

If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and are claiming 5-points veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must also submit an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form. For more information on veterans' preference visit: VETERANS GUIDE

Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see SELECTIVE SERVICE).

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 87 or above; and, (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information visit: CAREER TRANSITION.

Non-competitive Appointment Authorities:

For more information on non-competitive appointment authority eligibility requirements:
- Persons with Disabilities-Schedule A
- Special Hiring Authorities for Veterans
- Special Hiring Authority for Certain Military Spouses
- Other Special Appointment Authorities

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.

Once the announcement has closed, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

All qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category.

Best-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate high proficiency in all of the critical competencies.

Well-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrates acceptable proficiency in all of the critical competencies.

Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate basic proficiency in most of the critical competencies.

Veterans: Qualified veterans who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10% are listed in the best-qualified category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level, or higher. Other 10-point preference eligibles and veterans with 5-point preference who meet the eligibility and qualification requirements are placed above non-preference eligibles within the category in which they qualify. View information on veterans' preference.

The category assignment is a measure of the degree in which your background matches the competencies required for this position. Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):
Employee Benefits, Leadership, Oral Communication, Planning and Evaluating, Reasoning, Technical Competence, and Writing

  • Employee Benefits
  • Leadership
  • Oral Communication
  • Planning and Evaluating
  • Reasoning
  • Technical Competence
  • Writing


To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12591618.

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. Other supporting documents:
- Cover Letter, optional
- College Transcript(s), if qualifying based on education
- Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g., DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service, SF-15 Form and related documentation, VA letter, etc.)
- Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program documentation, if applicable (e.g., Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.)

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.

  • 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/.

Agency contact information

Corrie Brown
Address
Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Suite H-723
Washington, DC 20580
US
Learn more about this agency

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.


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


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