Summary EBSA plays a vital role in protecting the retirement, health, and other job-based benefits of America's workers, retirees, and their families. We issue effective regulations, offer comprehensive education and assistance to workers, plan sponsors, fiduciaries, and service providers, and rigorously enforce the law. We serve workers, families, and the broader employee benefits community by protecting the security and integrity of the nation's benefit systems. Responsibilities Duties include but are not limited to the following: Serve as the senior technical advisor on ERISA and related health, retirement, and welfare benefit laws, including COBRA, HIPAA, MHPAEA, the Affordable Care Act, the No Surprises Act, and related regulations. Advise OEA, EBSA leadership, regional offices, benefits advisors, and external stakeholders on complex program and policy matters. Manage and resolve highly complex participant and compliance assistance matters, including urgent health issues, financial distress cases, high-profile disputes, congressional or media-sensitive inquiries, and matters requiring senior-level intervention. Collaborate with EBSA offices, the Solicitor's Office, other federal and state agencies, congressional liaisons, attorneys, plan officials, fiduciaries, public interest groups, and private-sector stakeholders to exchange information, resolve issues, and support consistent application of benefit laws. Draft, review, and edit standard operating procedures, training materials, outreach publications, presentations, webinars, website content, policy language, official responses, and other written products related to OEA and EBSA programs. Set well-defined and realistic personal goals; displays a high level of initiative, effort, and commitment towards completing assignments in a timely manner; works with minimal supervision; is motivated to achieve; demonstrates responsible behavior. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications You must meet the Specialized Experience to qualify for the Senior Outreach Education and Assistance Advisor as described below. For GS-15: Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level GS-14 in the Federal Service. Specialized Experience is the experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform the duties of the position successfully, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level. Applicants must meet 4 out of the 5 examples of specialized experience below. Examples of qualifying specialized experience are: 1) Experience providing technical advice to senior leadership on employee benefits laws, regulations, policies, and outreach initiatives. 2) Experience coordinating partnerships with Federal agencies, industry groups, and advocacy organizations to improve consumer education, technical assistance, and outreach efforts in employee benefits. 3) Experience analyzing legislative, regulatory, and policy issues a regarding ERISA and preparing technically accurate guidance, correspondence, and recommendations for management. 4) Experience planning and delivering training in employee benefits law and developing operating procedures, manuals, publications, and online educational materials. 5) Experience leading or supporting sensitive, high-visibility projects involving program planning, policy implementation, executive correspondence, No Surprises Act and outreach program improvements. NOTE: Specialized experience must be clearly documented in your resume; merely copying this statement into your application does not demonstrate that you possess the required experience. Education There is no substitution of education for the required specialized experience for this position at the GS-15 level. Additional Information The mission of the Department of Labor (DOL) is to protect the welfare of workers and job seekers, improve working conditions, expand high-quality employment opportunities, and assure work-related benefits and rights for all workers. Refer to these links for more information: GENERAL INFORMATION, REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION, ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION, FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES As a condition of employment, all personnel must undergo a background investigation for access to DOL facilities, systems, information and/or classified materials before they can enter on duty: BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION This position is inside the bargaining unit. The position will be included in the Local 12, AFGE bargaining unit. Non-Supervisory Financial Disclosure: This position is subject to the confidential financial disclosure requirements of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (P.L. 95-521). Therefore, if selected, you will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) to determine if a conflict or an appearance of a conflict exists between your financial interest(s) and your prospective position with DOL. This information will be required annually. For more information, click Telework Position Information. This is not a remote work position. The selectee will report to an assigned DOL office location on a regular basis and is eligible for participation in telework as determined by management in accordance with DOL policy. Based on agency needs, additional positions may be filled using this vacancy. The Department of Labor may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities, currently offered by the Federal government to attract highly qualified candidates. Click here for Additional Information. The Fair Chance Act (FCA) prohibits Federal agencies from requesting an applicant's criminal history information before the agency makes a conditional offer of employment. If you believe a DOL employee has violated your rights under the FCA, you may file a complaint of the alleged violation following our agency's complaint process Guidelines for Reporting Violations of the Fair Chance Act. Note: The FCA does not apply to some positions specified under the Act, such as law enforcement or national security positions. All Department of Labor employees are subject to the provisions of the Drug-Free Workplace Program under Executive Order 12564 and Public Law 100-71.
