Recent Graduate - Employee Benefits Investigator

Employee Benefits Security Administration•Pasadena, CA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Employee Benefits Investigator works for the Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), which protects the retirement, health, and other job-based benefits of workers, retirees, and their families. The role supports compliance with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and related laws by conducting technical civil and criminal investigations of employee benefit plans and associated entities. The appointment is through the DOL Recent Graduates program and lasts one year. After successful completion, the agency may convert the appointee to a term or permanent position in the competitive service. The position is not remote; the employee reports regularly to an assigned DOL office and may participate in telework as determined by management and DOL policy.

Requirements

Must be at least 16 years old.
Must be a U.S. citizen; U.S. citizenship is required for eligibility for conversion to a permanent competitive-service position.
Must obtain the necessary security/investigation level and undergo a background investigation.
Must sign a DOL Pathways Recent Graduate Program Participant Agreement; the appointment’s full duration constitutes a trial period.
Must have completed a qualifying degree, diploma, vocational or technical credential, certificate, or qualifying program within the previous two years, subject to the stated exception for qualifying veterans. Students who will meet education requirements by January 15, 2027, may apply.
Must meet the basic education requirements and the specialized experience qualification for the position.
For GS-09 specialized experience, must have 52 weeks of qualifying experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level and meet at least two of these four areas: participating in investigative projects or audits to gather and review compliance information; conveying information to individuals or groups to present findings, recommendations, and conclusions; researching and analyzing financial and accounting records, laws, regulations, court decisions, and other materials; or writing reports, memoranda, analyses, and other work products citing applicable laws and regulations.
The experience requirement may alternatively be met through a related master's or equivalent graduate degree, two full years of related graduate-level education, an LLB or J.D., or an applicable combination of specialized experience and graduate-level education.
Must provide an academic transcript documenting the relevant completion date, or documentation of enrollment if graduating by January 15, 2027. Foreign education must be shown comparable to U.S. accredited education and applicable coursework requirements.

Responsibilities

Plan and conduct technical civil and criminal investigations involving employee benefit plans, service providers, fiduciaries, financial institutions, and related entities to assess compliance with ERISA and related laws.
Review and analyze plan financial records, accounting systems, transactions, investments, plan operations, and fiduciary conduct to identify violations, assess impacts on plan participants, and recommend enforcement actions.
Arrange and conduct meetings and discussions with plan officials, service providers, and their legal and financial representatives, including at company locations.
Prepare investigative reports, work papers, findings, legal and regulatory analyses, and recommendations concerning voluntary compliance, civil litigation, criminal prosecution, penalties, settlements, or case closure.