Human Resources Specialist (Employee Benefits)

For the GS-12: You must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience includes experience: Applying federal laws, regulations, and agency policies to administer federal employee benefits programs, including retirement (FERS/CSRS), FEHB, FEGLI, leave, TSP, and service credit determinations. Researching and resolving routine benefits issues by interpreting federal personnel laws and OPM guidance; provide technical counseling on retirement options, survivor benefits, disability retirement, death-in-service benefits, TSP requirements, and reemployed annuitant rules. Calculating and processing retirement actions, including service computation dates, leave accrual, deposits/redeposits, and preparing complete retirement packages while ensuring regulatory accuracy and coordinating routine submissions with OPM. Providing benefits customer service and technical assistance by responding to inquiries, preparing correspondence, and communicating benefits information to employees, managers, payroll offices, and other stakeholders. Merit promotion applicants must meet time-in-grade requirement as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. One year at the GS-11 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-12 level. For the GS-13: You must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience includes experience: Providing expert-level interpretation and guidance on federal employee benefits programs, including retirement (FERS/CSRS), FEHB, FEGLI, TSP, leave programs, and related laws, regulations, and policies. Researching, interpreting, and resolving benefits issues involving retirement, insurance, service credit, and other benefits entitlements, and recommending appropriate actions to employees and management. Delivering advanced counseling, training, and technical assistance to employees, managers, HR staff, payroll offices, and external stakeholders; developing written guidance and presentations on complex benefits topics. Reviewing and validating high-complexity retirement packages and determinations, serving as the escalation point for GS-12 specialists, and advising senior leadership on policy interpretation and improvements to benefits administration processes. Merit promotion applicants must meet time-in-grade requirement as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. One year at the GS-12 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-13 level. Applicants must meet all eligibility requirements (e.g., time-in-grade and qualification requirements) within 30 days of the closing date specified in the vacancy announcement. 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.