What are the responsibilities and job description for the Human Resources Specialist (Employee Benefits) position at USDA?
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Requirements
Conditions of Employment
Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the 01/07/2025 of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined above.
Time in grade: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade to be considered for the next higher grade (e.g. one year at the GS-07 grade level for consideration for the GS-09 grade level, one year at the GS-09 grade level for consideration for the GS-11 grade level, one year at the GS-11 grade level for consideration for the GS-12 grade level). You must include an SF-50 (you may need to submit more than one) that supports meeting this requirement with your application package.
Specialized Experience for the GS-09 Level: Applicant must have at least one full-time year (12 months) of Human Resources Specialist experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service demonstrating experience in the following:
Education: Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LLB. or J.D. in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: Human Resources, Organizational Psychology, Public Administration; or other Administrative and Management fields.
OR
Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages.
Specialized Experience for the GS-11 Level: Applicant must have at least one full-time year (12 months) of Human Resources Specialist experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service demonstrating experience in the following:
Education: 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or equivalent doctoral degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: Human Resources, Organizational Psychology, Public Administration; or other Administrative and Management fields.
OR
Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages.
Specialized Experience for the GS-12 Level: Applicant must have at least one full-time year (12 months) of Human Resources Specialist experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service demonstrating experience in the following:
For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here: General Schedule Qualification Standards (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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Education
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
You must submit a copy of your college transcripts or a list of college courses with credit hours, dates completed, and grades received to verify all education requirements (i.e. substitution of education and/or basic education requirement). If a relevant course is not clearly qualifying (e.g. special topic, seminar, research, thesis, obscure or misleading course title, etc.), please submit an official course syllabi and/or detailed course description from the university/college for that particular course to ensure you are properly evaluated. Please note that qualifications determinations are based solely on the information submitted for each particular vacancy announcement. You must document all requirements on every vacancy; we cannot use previous determinations as a basis for rating. All required information must be received by the closing date of this announcement, and non-submission of all required documents/documentation will result in non-consideration. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted. This information must be received by the closing date of this announcement. Non-submission of these documents will result in non-consideration.
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. Applicants must, therefore, only report attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation via this link. All education claimed by applicants will be verified accordingly. Important: 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. Click on this link for more information.
Additional information
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- You must be a US Citizen or US National.
- Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
- Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check. If selected you will be sent instruction on obtaining fingerprints. Please note we are not able to reimburse any fees incurred for fingerprints.
- Successful completion of one year probationary period, unless previously served.
- Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
- Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/.
Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the 01/07/2025 of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined above.
Time in grade: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade to be considered for the next higher grade (e.g. one year at the GS-07 grade level for consideration for the GS-09 grade level, one year at the GS-09 grade level for consideration for the GS-11 grade level, one year at the GS-11 grade level for consideration for the GS-12 grade level). You must include an SF-50 (you may need to submit more than one) that supports meeting this requirement with your application package.
Specialized Experience for the GS-09 Level: Applicant must have at least one full-time year (12 months) of Human Resources Specialist experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service demonstrating experience in the following:
- Providing information on employee benefits and entitlements (FEHB, TSP, etc.);
- Assisting in facilitating virtual and in-person trainings, briefings, and presentations to educate employees on federal benefits, retirements, and related topics.
Education: Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LLB. or J.D. in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: Human Resources, Organizational Psychology, Public Administration; or other Administrative and Management fields.
OR
Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages.
Specialized Experience for the GS-11 Level: Applicant must have at least one full-time year (12 months) of Human Resources Specialist experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service demonstrating experience in the following:
- Advising on employee benefits and entitlements (FEHB, TSP, etc.);
- Advising on the federal retirement process (FERS/CSRS);
- Facilitating virtual and in-person trainings, briefings, and presentations to educate employees on federal benefits, retirements, and related topics;
- Analyzing a variety of federal benefits program issues.
Education: 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or equivalent doctoral degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: Human Resources, Organizational Psychology, Public Administration; or other Administrative and Management fields.
OR
Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages.
Specialized Experience for the GS-12 Level: Applicant must have at least one full-time year (12 months) of Human Resources Specialist experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service demonstrating experience in the following:
- Provide advisory guidance and assistance to employees to execute a variety of complex employee benefits programs which may include worker's compensation, health and life benefits, Thrift Savings Program (TSP), health and life insurance programs, health benefits open season, flexible spending accounts, temporary continuation of coverage of health insurance (TCC), etc;
- Provide advice and counsel to employees related to the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) and Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) to include computation of estimated benefits;
- Experience researching and presenting findings, deliver briefings related to a variety of employee benefits programs; AND
- Interpreting and applying laws, regulations, policies, and practices to provide advice and guidance to employees on federal benefit and retirement programs/systems.
For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here: General Schedule Qualification Standards (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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Education
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
You must submit a copy of your college transcripts or a list of college courses with credit hours, dates completed, and grades received to verify all education requirements (i.e. substitution of education and/or basic education requirement). If a relevant course is not clearly qualifying (e.g. special topic, seminar, research, thesis, obscure or misleading course title, etc.), please submit an official course syllabi and/or detailed course description from the university/college for that particular course to ensure you are properly evaluated. Please note that qualifications determinations are based solely on the information submitted for each particular vacancy announcement. You must document all requirements on every vacancy; we cannot use previous determinations as a basis for rating. All required information must be received by the closing date of this announcement, and non-submission of all required documents/documentation will result in non-consideration. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted. This information must be received by the closing date of this announcement. Non-submission of these documents will result in non-consideration.
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. Applicants must, therefore, only report attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation via this link. All education claimed by applicants will be verified accordingly. Important: 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. Click on this link for more information.
Additional information
- Locality Pay: The salary for each location may vary depending on locality. Locality tables my be found at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/.
- Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.
- This position is eligible for telework within the local commuting area of the position and other flexible work arrangements. Current USDA policy includes telework for an 8 hour work day, 4 days per week; other flexibilities are possible dependent upon availability and/or the position and its associated duties. Employee participation is at the discretion of the supervisor.
- Term appointments are time limited appointments for more than one year but cannot exceed four years.
- Current permanent Federal employees (to include permanent USDA employees) applying for a Term appointment will be appointed/converted into a Term appointment with no statutory return rights back to a permanent position.
- Positions may be made permanent without further competition if certain conditions are met, such as meeting a non-competitive hiring authority.
- Recruitment and/or relocation incentives may be authorized.
- Help Help A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
