HR Specialist (Employee Benefits)

Serves as the agency's subject matter expert on federal employee benefits programs including Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB), Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI), Premium Conversion, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAFEDS), leave programs, and other related benefit offerings.

Designs and executes rigorous program evaluations, quality assurance reviews, and compliance assessments to ensure regulatory compliance and identify opportunities for operational effectiveness and improvement.

Formulates and continuously refines comprehensive, agency-wide policies, standard operating procedures, and detailed guidance governing employee benefits programs to ensure consistency and alignment with agency goals.

Delivers authoritative guidance and consultative support to agency executives, managers, supervisors, HR professionals, and employees regarding benefits eligibility, enrollment processes, qualifying life events, and specific program requirements.

Interprets federal laws, regulations, Office of Personnel Management (OPM) directives, and internal agency policies to review and resolve complex and sensitive employee benefits cases.

Coordinates collaboratively with payroll providers, insurance carriers, and external agencies to address and resolve benefits enrollment discrepancies, data inaccuracies, and related issues. Ensures timely and precise processing of all employee benefit actions in strict compliance with applicable regulatory guidelines and agency standards.

Proactively identifies and analyzes program risks, develops actionable mitigation strategies, and recommends targeted enhancements to strengthen internal controls, streamline processes, and enhance customer service standards.

Serves as a subject matter expert, leading cross-functional teams in the seamless implementation of new legislation, Executive Orders, OPM regulations, and agency initiatives impacting employee benefits, ensuring timely and effective transition of policy into practice.

Provides expert consultation and guidance on the benefits implications of workforce initiatives, organizational changes, leave administration, and employee wellness initiatives, facilitating informed decision-making and optimal outcomes.

Designs, develops, and delivers comprehensive training programs to educate employees, supervisors, managers, and HR staff on employee benefits offerings and related organizational policies.

Creates and maintains a suite of educational resources-including interactive modules, job aids, standard operating procedures, and clear communication materials-to enhance employee awareness and utilization of available benefits Other duties may be assigned.

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: May be available Telework: Yes, on an ad hoc basis as determined by the agency policy Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: PD003980 and PD003990 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/11/2026. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

For a GS-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12. For a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials.

If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade.

Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to some former Federal employees applying for reinstatement, as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. See the Required Document section below for more information regarding the SF-50s needed to verify time-in-grade.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-13 -Criteria 1: Graduate level degree or higher and three years of progressive specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level.

OR Criteria 2: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-12 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Coordinated with payroll providers, insurance carriers to address and resolve benefits enrollment discrepancies. Ensures timely and precise processing of all employee benefit actions in strict compliance with applicable regulatory guidelines and agency standards.

Provided expert technical advice to Senior Executive Service employees, retirees, and their family members regarding benefit program entitlements/options, as well as the interpretation of laws, regulations, and policies.

Served as the agency's subject matter expert on federal employee benefits programs- including Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB), Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI), Premium Conversion, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAFEDS), leave programs, and other related benefit offerings.

GS-12- Criteria 1: Graduate level degree or higher and three years of progressive specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level.

OR Criteria 2:Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-11 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Experience providing consultative advice and guidance on federal employee benefits programs and leave programs. Performed the full range of benefit functions, including processing actions, designing and delivering training, and executing program evaluations.

Provided guidance on federal employee benefits programs- including Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB), Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI), Premium Conversion, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAFEDS), leave programs, and other related benefit offerings.

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; religions; 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.

Note: Resume must include job title and employer name, number of hours worked per week, start and end dates (including month and year), list of duties and responsibilities for each position held. In addition, if the experience was a federal position, you must list series and grade for each position held.

Failure to include this information may result in an ineligible rating. A full year of work is considered to be 40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities.

Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary in nature.

Some work may involve standing, walking in offices or conference rooms for meetings or to conduct work. The work does not require any physical effort.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies.

To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy.

To be found well qualified at the GS-12, applicants must meet the following qualifications: At least one year conducting benefits briefings, orientations, webinars, individual counseling sessions, or retirement-preparation sessions to help employees understand their benefits and make informed decisions.

To be found well qualified at the GS-13, applicants must meet the following qualifications: At least one year conducting benefits briefings, orientations, webinars, individual counseling sessions, or retirement-preparation sessions to help employees understand their benefits and make informed decisions AND reduced the risk of benefits-processing errors by conducting proactive reviews of executive benefits actions before retirement, transfer, appointment, or separation.

Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. Local Commuting Area: The local commuting area for this position is defined as a radius of 50 miles from 810 Vermont Ave NW, Washington DC 20420.

This includes all locations that fall within a 50-mile driving distance from 810 Vermont Ave NW, Washington DC 20420.