Summary For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorneys' Offices, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/. As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement. Responsibilities The position serves as Lead Benefits Consultant for a team responsible for federal employee benefits. Typical assignments include: -Lead the Benefits team by identifying, distributing and balancing workload and tasks among employees in accordance with established workflow, skill level and/or occupational specialization. -Report to the supervisor periodically on team and individual work accomplishments, problems, progress in mastering tasks and work processes, and individual and team training needs. -Provide technical and advisory support services to the team related to complex situations and issues involving Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) Program, Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), Federal Employees Dental and Vision Program (FEDVIP), long term care, flexible spending and other related programs. -Provide guidance, consultation and assistance to employees, managers, annuitants, eligible family members, former employees, survivors, and beneficiaries regarding a variety of benefits. These include federal retirement, group life insurance, health benefits, thrift savings plan, long-term care, flexible spending, and related programs. -Interpret rules and regulations as well as directives and standards promulgated by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and prepare informative material for employees on new, changed, and pending policy, identifying potential impacts on existing benefits program entitlements. -Develop complex calculations for retirement, disability retirement, deposits and re-deposits, and social security offsets and review a variety of computations, applications, claims, reports and other supporting documentation for accuracy, validity and compliance with law and regulations. -Counsel families/beneficiaries of deceased employees concerning benefits payable. -Develop and conduct internal training sessions and seminars. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications GS-13: Applicants must have at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in federal service providing advisory services to employees, managers, and other human resources staff members on a variety of Federal employee benefit programs such as federal retirement, group life insurance, health benefits, thrift savings plan, long term care, flexible spending, and related programs; calculating creditable Federal civilian service deposits/re-deposits; counseling employees on Federal employee health benefits; preparing annuity estimates; and providing training to others on Federal benefits programs. Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) - The ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in the announcement; and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and receive a score of 85 or better on established ranking criteria. You must provide proof of eligibility to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form. Additional information about ICTAP eligibility is at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) - The CTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the Department of Justice with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your Department of Justice component has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your CTAP eligibility, 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and receive a score of 85 or better on established ranking criteria. You must provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application. Additional information about CTAP eligibility is at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) - VEOA allows eligible veterans to apply and compete for positions announced under merit promotion procedures when the hiring agency is recruiting from outside its own workforce. To be eligible for a VEOA appointment, a veteran must be honorably separated and either a preference eligible or have substantially completed three (3) or more years of continuous active military service. If you are applying for a Merit Promotion announcement and wish to be considered under VEOA, you must submit a copy of the Member Copy 4 of your DD-214, in addition to any other required documents listed on this announcement. Special Employment Consideration - Persons with disabilities, veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more, certain other veterans, spouses of certain members of the armed forces, and returning Peace Corps volunteers are examples of individuals who are potentially eligible for non-competitive appointments. For further information, click on the links provided below . You must specify in your online questionnaire under what authority you wish to be considered and submit appropriate documentation to verify your eligibility. Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities Links: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/competitive-hiring/#url=Types-of-Appointments Education Cannot qualify based on education. Additional Information Payment of relocation expenses will not be authorized. The Department of Justice offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation; sick leave; holidays; telework; life insurance; health benefits; and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See http://www.sss.gov/. Reasonable Accommodation Statement: Federal Agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities, where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. EEO Statement: The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. Political Appointees (Current or Former): 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 or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service.
