Senior Advisor

Department of Labor

Employee Benefits Security Administration

Summary

This position is located in the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Employee Benefits Security Administration.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply. The Required Documents section of this announcement identifies all documents that must be uploaded in order to be considered a complete application package. Applicants that do not submit a complete application will not receive further consideration.

This job is open to

Federal employees - Competitive service

Current federal employees whose agencies follow the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's hiring rules and pay scales.

Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants.

Land and base management

Current or former employees of a base management agency.

Military spouses

Military spouses of active duty service members or whose spouse is 100 percent disabled or died on active duty.

Clarification from the agency

All qualified candidates may apply.

Duties

Provides expert-level assistance, judgment, and recommendations to EBSA executive leadership in directing and overseeing agency components, monitoring priorities, and evaluating program effectiveness.
Establishes and drives agency-wide goals and objectives to advance EBSA's mission, ensuring integration and implementation of regulatory, compliance, enforcement, outreach, and education strategies.
Independently gathers, synthesizes, and evaluates data from all EBSA components to propose new or revised agency policy and strategic direction, representing these recommendations internally and externally.
Plans and executes confidential, highly sensitive, and often controversial studies, investigations, and special projects, determining scope and methodology independently and coordinating across multiple federal entities.
Identifies deficiencies and improvement opportunities across agency programs, assesses impacts, develops actionable recommendations, and leads planning and implementation of new or modified programs and initiatives.
Provides high-level consultative services to internal and external stakeholders, initiates and leads discussions to resolve policy discrepancies, and represents agency and departmental views on sensitive issues, including acting on behalf of executive leadership as delegated.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

Must be a U.S. Citizen.
Subject to financial disclosure requirements.
Candidate required to obtain the necessary security/investigation level.
Must complete 1-year probationary period, if not previously completed.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all eligibility and qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.

Candidates must have at least one year of specialized experience related to this position. This experience must be at or above the GS-15 grade level or equivalent.

To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must show that you possess the Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQ) related to this position within your resume - NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES. Resumes must use a font size no smaller than 10-point, and margins no smaller than one inch. Resumes over the 2-page limit, will not be reviewed beyond page 2 or may be disqualified. Your resume should include examples of experience, education, and accomplishments applicable to the qualification(s). If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of these qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the position.

There is NO requirement to prepare a narrative statement specifically addressing the Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs).

TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs): Your resume should demonstrate accomplishments that would satisfy the technical qualifications.

Technical Qualification 1: Expert Knowledge of ERISA and Employee Benefits Policy
Demonstrated expert knowledge of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), related regulations, policies, precedents, and employee benefits industry practices, including retirement, health, and welfare benefit plans. This includes the ability to analyze complex legal, regulatory, compliance, enforcement, and policy issues; assess the impact of proposed or existing regulations, advisory opinions, guidance, or enforcement approaches; and provide authoritative advice and recommendations to senior agency leadership on matters affecting plan participants, beneficiaries, sponsors, service providers, and other stakeholders.

Technical Qualification 2: Senior-Level Policy Analysis, Strategic Advisory Experience, and Executive Communication
Demonstrated experience conducting high-level policy analysis, program evaluation, and strategic planning for complex, sensitive, or highly visible programs relevant to employee benefit plans. This includes the ability to gather and analyze data from multiple sources; evaluate program effectiveness; identify policy, regulatory, enforcement, compliance, or operational challenges; develop alternative recommendations; and advise senior executives on agency-wide strategies, priorities, regulatory initiatives, enforcement approaches, compliance assistance, outreach, and education programs. Also includes demonstrated ability to persuasively and authoritatively communicate complex technical, legal, regulatory, economic, or policy information to senior officials, congressional staff, oversight entities, federal agencies, industry representatives, and other internal and external stakeholders through executive-level briefings, reports, position papers, correspondence, testimony, regulatory analyses, recommendations, meetings, workgroups, negotiations, or interagency discussions.

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 positive education requirement for this position.

Additional information

DOL seeks to attract and retain a high-performing and diverse workforce in which employees' differences are respected and valued to better meet the varying needs of the diverse customers we serve. DOL fosters a diverse and inclusive work environment that promotes collaboration, flexibility, and fairness so that all individuals are able to participate and contribute to their full potential.

Refer to these links for more information: GENERAL INFORMATION, ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION, FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES

As a condition of employment, all personnel must undergo a background investigation for access to DOL facilities, systems, information and/or classified materials before they can enter on duty: BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION

Based on agency needs, additional positions may be filled using this vacancy.

The Fair Chance Act (FCA) prohibits Federal agencies from requesting an applicant's criminal history information before the agency makes a conditional offer of employment. If you believe a DOL employee has violated your rights under the FCA, you may file a complaint of the alleged violation following our agency's complaint process Guidelines for Reporting Violations of the Fair Chance Act.

Note: The FCA does not apply to some positions specified under the Act, such as law enforcement or national security positions.

All applicants tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit to screening for illegal drug use prior to the appointment.

All Department of Labor employees are subject to the provisions of the Drug-Free Workplace Program under Executive Order 12564 and Public Law 100-71.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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.

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.

Your application will be evaluated based on your 2-page resume and how well it demonstrates the required qualifications. Your resume must clearly substantiate the MTQs; if it does not, your application will be deemed ineligible. In addition to meeting the MTQs, you will be assessed on the following key competencies:

Civic-Mindedness
Technical Skill
Problem Solving
Innovation
Strategic Thinking

The information you provide on your resume may be verified by a review of your work experience, employment start/end dates/hours worked, and/or education, by checking references, and through other means (ex. interview). The Division of Executive Resources (DER) makes the final determination concerning applicant ratings. Your resume MUST provide sufficient information to substantiate your responses to the vacancy questions. If not, DER may amend your responses to more accurately reflect the level of competency indicated by the content of your resume. Your evaluation may also include a review by a Human Resources Specialist or panel and may include other assessments (ex. interview, panel review, written test, writing sample, etc.)

Required Documents

Thoroughly review the following list to determine the documentation you need to submit. Your application and ALL required supplemental documents MUST be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Time (ET) on the vacancy closing date to receive consideration. If you fail to submit the required documentation before the announcement closes, you will be rated ineligible.

A complete application includes items described below. Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, you may not be considered for this position (or may not receive the special consideration for which you may be eligible).

Please carefully review the following list to determine what documentation you need to submit. Some documents may not apply to all applicants.

Resumes: All applicants are required to submit a resume limited to two (2) pages (i.e., 1 page that is double-sided or 2 pages that are one-sided each) showing all relevant experience. To receive full consideration for relevant experience, please list the month, year, and number of work hours worked for the experience listed on your resume.
Veterans Documents (if applicable): To be considered as a 5-point preference eligible, you must submit a copy of your Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty, DD214. Your DD-214 must show the type of discharge and dates of active duty. To claim 10-point preference, you must submit a copy of your DD214; an Application for 10-point Veteran's Preference, SF15; and the proof of entitlement of this preference which is normally an official statement, dated 1991 or later, from the Department of Veterans Affairs certifying to the present existence of the service-connected disability and indicating the percentage of your disability. (For active-duty service members expecting honorable or general discharge or release within 120 days, click Active Duty). Without this documentation, you will not receive the veteran's preference. For more information, go to https://www.fedshirevets.gov

The following should be submitted only if applicable:

Most Recent SF-50: If applying as a status candidate with current or former Federal Service, please provide a copy of your last or most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action which shows your appointment eligibility for the position for which you are applying. *WARNING: An award SF-50 (ex. cash or time off award) may not indicate grade, step, and competitive status. For current DOL employees, an award SF-50 DOES NOT indicate grade and step.
Most recent performance appraisal/evaluation: Signed and dated within 18 months is requested by the agency, but will not disqualify candidates if not submitted. If not submitted during the application process, one may/will be requested at the time of the interview if the opportunity is extended. *In most cases, ICTAP/CTAP applicants must submit this document - please see ICTAP/CTAP links below for more details.
Displaced Employee Placement Documents: Only required if requesting priority consideration under CTAP or ICTAP eligibility.

Cover Letters are not mandatory and will not be used to verify experience but may be submitted.

Do not upload password-protected documents.

Applicants selected for employment who are not current DOL employees will be required to provide proof of citizenship, and the E-Verify system will be used to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1 year probationary period if you have not done so already, during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

- your performance and conduct;
- the needs and interests of the agency;
- whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
- whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.?

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 initial online application, including submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section.

Your application and ALL required supplemental documents MUST be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the vacancy closing date to receive consideration.

Paper applications and supplemental documents submitted in any other manner without prior approval from the vacancy contact will not be considered. Click here for information on Reasonable Accommodations.

Important - Save your information before the 30-minute system timeout! For help, go to USAJOBS Help Center.

STEP 1 - Create USAJOBS Account on www.usajobs.gov, including Resume and Saved Documents. Your resume must provide sufficient information to substantiate your responses to the self-assessment vacancy questions. If not, HR may amend your responses to more accurately reflect the competency indicated by resume content. For each employment period, include start/end month & year and note full-time or part-time (if part-time, include # of hours worked per week) otherwise, your application may be considered incomplete.

NOTE: In alignment with the Presidential Memorandum titled Merit Hiring Plan, dated May 29, 2025, applicants may only submit a resume limited to two (2) pages. Only the résumé uploaded under the 'Resume" document type in USAJOBS will be reviewed. If the resume submitted exceeds two (2) pages, the application will be deemed ineligible for further consideration.

STEP 2 - Complete the 1st part of the application process (USAJOBS). Once you have identified a job on USAJOBS that you wish to apply for, click on the job title and then click the Apply button. For questions about the vacancy, contact the Agency Contact at the bottom of the announcement. Proceed through the steps noted at the top of the USAJOBS page. You will be able to select a resume and documents from your USAJOBS Account that you can submit as a package as part of your DOL application. In the final step, once you have certified your application, click the Continue to agency site button.

STEP 3 - Complete the 2nd part of the application process (DOL). On the Department of Labor (DOL) page, create a DOL Account if you have not already and click Apply to this vacancy. Continue through the progress steps at the top of the DOL page. The 2nd progress step is where you answer the vacancy-specific questions. The 3rd progress step Documents is where you submit the required documents (only if applicable to you) specified in the Required Documents section of this vacancy.

STEP 4 - On the Review and Submit step, verify each section of your application is complete and correct. In order to submit your application, you must have a check mark next to each section listed. If there is an X, return to the appropriate section and follow the prompts. When it is ready for submission, certify your application and click the Submit Application button.

STEP 5 - Edit Application as needed by 11:59 pm Eastern Time of Closing Date by returning to USAJOBS, clicking the vacancy, thenUpdate Application.

NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.

For more detailed information on applying for positions with DOL click here to view the U.S. Department of Labor, How to Apply website.

Agency contact information

DER Recruitment

Email: DERrecruitment@dol.gov

Address: Employee Benefits Security Administration
200 Constitution Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20210
US

Next steps

Once your complete application is received, the Division of Executive Resources will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and refer candidates for selection consideration. A Subject Matter Expert may be consulted in the review of applications. Candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. You will be notified of the outcome. A selection is expected to be made within 30 calendar days from the issuance date of the certificate.

For instructions on how to check the status of your application, go to: USAJOBS Help Guide.

USAJOBS will no longer send status alert email notifications. You can check your application status by logging into USAJOBS and in the Applicant Dashboard, click the hiring agency Talent Acquisition System (TAS). If the TAS does not provide application tracking information, contact the agency's point of contact on the job announcement.

Senior Advisor Job in Washington, DC