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Human Resources Specialist (Employee Benefits)

Department of Homeland Security
Office of the Inspector General
Office of Management
This job announcement has closed

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Summary

Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidance, and U.S. Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change.

View the Common Definitions of terms found in this announcement.

Overview

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Job canceled
Open & closing dates
01/08/2021 to 06/01/2021
This job will close when we have received 100 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$87,198 to - $113,362 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Washington, DC
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
OIG-21-MP-11004498-BW
Control number
588824500

Duties

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This position is located in the Human Resources Management Division (HRMD), Office of Management (OM) Office of Inspector General (OIG), Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This Division, at a headquarters level, has full delegation authority and is responsible for: functioning as a strategic partner and advisor to top management in workforce planning and development and management programs; interacting with and overseeing OIG's contractual services that provide various HR operational services/functions; formulating, developing, administering, and implementing the over-all human resources management programs, policy, practices and procedures for nationwide application throughout the OIG headquarters and field offices; and providing a broad range of personnel management services for all OIG staff.

Being a Human Resources Specialist (Employee Benefits) makes you a valuable member of the Human Resources Management Division (HRMD), Office of Management (OM) Office of Inspector General (OIG). You will provide an array of technical guidance, advisory services and program support in the benefits, retirements, and payroll area. The incumbent represents the OIG in a professional and collaborative manner, and provides expert, state-of-the art consultative support services to OIG employees, former employees, annuitants, survivors, and eligible family members regarding retirement, insurance, health benefits, and injury compensation. Typical assignments include:

  • Identifying, analyzing and proposing solutions to problems and issues in the area of benefits. Problems and issues are characterized by their breath, importance, and severity and for which previous studies and established techniques are frequently inadequate.
  • Conducting briefings or training for employees, supervisors, managers, and senior management officials regarding payroll, benefits, retirement, work/life, and leave programs. Conducting orientation and training sessions for employees. Identifying the need for training personnel, preparing, and presenting course materials. Collecting, tracking, and analyzing information obtained from course participants.
  • Serving as an advisor for HR entitlement programs such as benefits, work life, payroll and/or retirement in order to determine the appropriate entitlements of the employee. Coordinating estimates of annuities and responding to retirement, work life, payroll, and/or benefits inquiries. Preparing and completing personnel and payroll action requests/forms. Calculating and making determinations for creditable service for leave, TSP, RIF, and retirement purposes.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position
  • You must successfully pass a background investigation
  • You must be able to obtain Secret security clearance
  • Financial disclosure is required
  • Selective Service registration required
  • Completion of one year Probationary may be required.

Qualifications

You qualify for the GS-12 grade level (starting salary $86,335) if you possess one year of specialized experience at the GS-11 grade level performing duties such as: Providing advisory services to employees on Federal civilian employee benefit programs such as federal retirement, group life insurance, health benefits, thrift savings plan, long-term care and flexible spending; experienceinterpreting Federal Benefits and Retirement rules, regulations and policies; conducting new employee orientation; coding and processing a variety of benefit-related personnel actions; calculating creditable service deposits; preparing annuity estimates and retirement packages; preparing and conducting employee benefits and retirement training sessions.

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.

The qualification requirements listed above must be met by the closing date 01/18/2021of this announcement.

Current federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade level or equivalent grade band in the federal service. The time-in-grade requirement must be met by the closing date 01/18/2021of this announcement.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Additional information

DHS offers competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package, including: health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care insurance; retirement plan; Thrift Savings Plan [similar to a 401(k)]; Flexible Spending Account; Employee Assistance Program; personal leave days; and paid federal holidays. Other benefits may include: flexible work schedules; telework; tuition reimbursement; transportation subsidies; uniform allowance; health and wellness programs; and fitness centers. DHS is committed to employee development and offers a variety of employee training and developmental opportunities. For more information, go to the DHS Careers website and select Benefits. Disabled veteran leave will be available to any Federal employee hired on or after November 5, 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30 percent or more.

If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.

Background Investigation: To ensure the accomplishment of our mission, DHS requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully pass a background investigation for Secret clearance as a condition of placement into this position.

DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR § 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR § 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

How you will be evaluated

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

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your experience, education, and training will be rated using a job questionnaire that is based on the following competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform this job:

  • Customer Service
  • Oral Communication
  • Personnel and Human Resources
  • Problem Solving


If you are best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview. Preview the job questionnaire https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11004498.

Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment, the veterans must 1) be a preference eligible; or 2) be a veteran separated after 3 or more years of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement. (Note: Veteran's preference does not apply under
Merit Promotion procedures. View VEOA information on Feds Hire Vets.)

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not ICTAP eligible. View information about ICTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered well qualified under ICTAP, you must be rated at a minimum score of 85 for this position. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement.

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