This position is part of the Power Marketing Administration HR Shared Service Center.. As a Benefits Specialist will be performing work that assists the DOE in delivering employee benefits administration service to management and employees in such areas as retirement, health insurance, life insurance, long-term care insurance, death benefits, flexible spending accounts, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), and others *This is not a remote position. You will be required to physically report into an office
Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. The experience need not have been in the federal government. To be qualified at the GS-9: Applicants must have one (1) year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at the GS-7 grade level or equivalent pay band in Federal Service. This experience includes: Provided administrative support in the coordination and delivery of employee services, including managing documentation and responding to inquiries related to benefits or similar programs. Assisted with interpreting and applying established guidelines or regulations to provide information and support to individuals regarding program eligibility and processes. Maintained and updated records, performed data entry, and conducted basic calculations to support financial or personnel administration functions. OR SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or a LL.B. or J.D., if related OR A combination of education and experience to successfully perform the duties of the position. Time-in-Grade: Current career or career-conditional GS employees of the Federal government, or former career or career-conditional GS employees, who have a break in service of less than one year, are required to meet the time-in-grade restriction of one year of Federal experience at the next lower grade, with few exceptions outlined in 5 CFR 300.603(b). Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to current career or career-conditional federal employees applying for a Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. Limit your resume to no more than two (2) pages. If more than two pages are submitted, only the first two pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility and qualifications.
As a Human Resources Specialist (Employee Benefits), you will: Provide employee benefits support, including functional and procedural guidance on benefit matters, to managers, supervisors, and senior HR specialists. Interpret rules and regulations to counsel and inform managers and employees on various federal benefits programs such as CSRS, FERS, FEGLI, TSP, LTC, FSA, and FEDVIP. Determine proper retirement coverage and creditable service, calculate annuity estimates, and advise employees on all aspects of retirement planning. Conduct audits of official personnel records to resolve discrepancies and determine the creditability of verified service for all Service Computation Dates using OPM regulations and DOE policies. Research legal and regulatory requirements to provide recommendations and assist with responses regarding human capital operational policies and procedures related to employee benefits. Assist in the planning and administration of benefits programs and processes, including providing information on enrollment, eligibility, and survivor benefits.