Summary You will serve as a Benefits Specialist for the Small Business Administration (SBA), Office of Capital Access (OCA), People Operations Disaster Division (PODD). The employee serves as a Human Resources Specialist providing HR advisory in all areas of benefits administration to a Center or equivalent Center level office or to subdivisions of a Center. Responsibilities As a Benefits Specialist at the GS-0201-11/12, some of your typical work assignments may include: Provides information and advice on all aspects of retirement benefits and coverage under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS, FERS-RAE, and FERS-FRAE) and the Civilian Service Retirement System (CSRS) and CSRS Offset for employees, survivors, and eligible family members. Responsible for the delivery of information and services involving the retirement program. Calculates retirement SCDs, retirement estimates, redeposits for service, and military buy-back/deposits. Develops and delivers training on FERS and CSRS to employees in new employee orientation and pre-retirement and retirement seminars. Stays abreast of latest issues affecting Federal employee benefits and prepares informational materials. Note: The duties listed above are for both grade levels. At the lower grade level, closer oversight from the Team Lead or supervisor may be provided. The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of entrepreneurship. As the federal government's leading advocate for small businesses, we empower job creators with the essential resources and support they need to start, grow, and expand their businesses or recover from a declared disaster. Our services reach communities nationwide through a robust network of SBA field offices and partnerships with both public and private organizations. If you're seeking more than just a job - if you desire purpose, impact, and the chance to contribute to something truly meaningful - this is your opportunity. Small businesses are our nation's backbone, driving innovation, creating jobs, and fueling prosperity. At the SBA, you'll directly help empower these vital businesses and ignite economic growth under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump and Administrator Kelly Loeffler. For over 70 years, the SBA has fueled America's small business success by providing crucial access to capital, federal contracts, and expert guidance. Beyond our critical disaster recovery efforts, where we deploy aid and expertise to help communities rebuild, your role will directly contribute to the start, growth, and expansion of businesses nationwide, creating jobs and strengthening the economic fabric of our communities. Find your WHY working for the People Operations Disaster Division (PODD), Human Resources Office. As a member of the HR team, the work you accomplish supports SBA's disaster work in the following: Rapid Relief: When disasters strike, the SBA mobilizes quickly to provide low-interest, long-term disaster loans to businesses, homeowners, renters, and nonprofits. These funds help repair damage, recover lost revenue, and preserve local jobs. Rebuilding with Resilience: We don't just rebuild-we help communities prepare for the next crisis. SBA disaster loans often include additional funds for mitigation improvements, such as storm proofing or elevating key infrastructure, to strengthen long-term recovery. Supporting America's Backbone: Whether it's a family-owned bakery in Texas or a childcare provider in Florida, SBA's mission is to empower those who power our economy, especially during their greatest time of need. Innovative & Adaptive: We're modernizing how we deliver assistance-embracing new technology, streamlining loan processing, and ensuring more access to every disaster survivor who needs us. Collaborative Culture: SBA works together with local and state governments, other federal partners, and community-based organizations to deliver coordinated recovery assistance when it matters most. What You'll Gain: Impactful Leadership: Influence organizational structures and ensure the efficiency of SBA's disaster assistance programs. Professional Growth: Join a forward-thinking HR team that values innovation and continuous improvement. Mission-Driven Work: Your role will directly contribute to helping Americans recover and rebuild their businesses, homes, and communities after disasters. Field-to-Headquarters Impact: SBA deploys employees to support communities on the ground and manages national operations from its Washington, D.C., headquarters, and regional centers. Wherever you serve, your work matters. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications For GS-11 - Applicants must meet one of the following to qualify for the GS-11 level: One year of specialized experience in or directly related to this position that equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position. To be creditable, the required specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-09 level in the Federal service. This specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Providing advisory guidance and assistance to employees to execute a variety of employee benefits programs to include health and life benefits and insurance programs, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) program, health benefits open season, flexible spending accounts, temporary continuation of health insurance (TCC), etc.; and Responding to a variety of benefits and retirement related inquiries from internal and external customers; and Researching, interpreting, and applying Federal laws, regulations, policies and guidelines on federal benefits and retirement programs/systems. OR applicants may substitute successful completion of 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education OR Ph.D. OR equivalent graduate degree such as an LL.M, in a field directly related to the position). Examples of relevant fields include: Human Resource Management, Organizational Management, and Industrial and Organizational Psychology. Education must be in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position. OR a combination experience as described in "A" and graduate level education as described in "B", when combined, are equivalent to 100% of the qualification requirement. Only graduate level education in excess of two full years (36 semester hours) may be used in this calculation. To compute, first determine the total number of graduate level hours that exceed 36 semester hours, and then divide that number by 18 to arrive at a percentage. Then, divide the total number of months of qualifying experience by 12 to arrive at a second percentage. Add the two percentages together. The sum of the percentages must equal at least 100% to qualify. For GS-12 - Applicants must meet one of the following to qualify for the GS-11 level: One year of specialized experience in or directly related to this position that equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position. To be creditable, the required specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal service. This specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Providing advisory guidance and assistance to employees to execute a variety of employee benefits programs to include health and life benefits and insurance programs, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) program, health benefits open season, flexible spending accounts, temporary continuation of health insurance (TCC), etc.; and Providing advice and counsel on all aspects of retirement coverage under the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS, FERS-RAE and FERS-FRAE) and Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) for employees, survivors, and eligible families to include computation of estimated benefits and retirement SCD calculations; and Responding to a variety of benefits and retirement related inquiries from internal and external customers; and Researching, presenting findings and delivering briefings related to a variety of employee benefit programs; and Researching, interpreting, and applying Federal laws, regulations, policies and guidelines on federal benefits and retirement programs/systems. Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review on OPM's Qualifications web site: Human Resources Management Series 0201 (opm.gov) 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. TIME-IN-GRADE: If you are a current career or career-conditional federal employee applying for promotion under Merit Promotion you must have completed a minimum of 52 weeks in positions at the next level lower than the position being filled All qualification requirements must be met by 11:59 pm (Eastern Time) on 10/10/2025. Education If you are qualifying as a whole or in part based on education, you MUST provide complete transcripts (unofficial copies are acceptable) with this application. See the qualifications section above for specific details on when education can be used. APPLICANTS PLEASE NOTE: 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 (particularly positions with a positive education requirement.) Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Verify School accreditation. All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. ** For further information, click on: Foreign Education. When applying for this position, if you are using education to qualify, you will need to provide an unofficial copy of your transcript. Should you be selected, you will be required to submit an official copy when instructed during the selection process. Additional Information Important Notes: Additional selections may be made from this announcement if identical vacancies occur within 180 days from the closing date. Reasonable Accommodation Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended and Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a reasonable accommodation in your online application. Requests for Reasonable Accommodations for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for Reasonable Accommodation must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a Reasonable Accommodation, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Reasonable\Accommodations\for\USA\Hire Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) is a program that helps "surplus" or "displaced" federal employees improve their chances of finding a new job in their current agency (intra-agency, i.e. SBA employees only). Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) is a program that applies to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position score of 85 or better based on your responses to the competencies and associated questions listed within the assessment; 3) the position to which you are applying MUST BE in the Local Commuting Area of the position of record from which you are being displaced; 4) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. For more information: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. 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. For additional information visit www.sss.gov. Telework may be available. For information on Telework visit: http://www.telework.gov/
