Human Resources Assistant (Benefits)

National Institutes of Health • Montgomery County, MD

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

This position is in the Retirement and Employee Benefit Branch (REBB), Office of Human Resources (OHR), Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health (NIH). REBB administers employee benefit and entitlement programs, including retirement, health insurance, Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance, long-term care insurance, and the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). The branch provides direct benefits and entitlement counseling to employees, their families, and survivors as appropriate.

The Human Resources Assistant (Benefits) manages employee outreach and information services, processes benefits actions for NIH staff, and provides benefits support and counseling. The role also involves working with health carriers and payroll and researching and explaining interconnected employee-benefit issues.

The position is designated as non-emergency/teleworker. In the event of a closure, the selected employee must be available to telework or request leave. At the supervisor's discretion, the position may offer telework and compressed or flexible schedules.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship or proof of U.S. National status by the announcement closing date.
• Successful completion of a background investigation, verification of qualifications, onboarding forms, required documents, and other job-related requirements before or after appointment.
• Meet all qualification requirements within 30 calendar days of the announcement closing date, including time-in-grade requirements.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with the Selective Service.
• For GS-06: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-05 in the Federal service, in the public or private sector, applying HR rules, procedures, and operations to administrative work; reviewing benefits forms for accuracy; and researching employee-benefit issues and processing personnel actions through automated HR systems.
• For GS-07: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-06 in the Federal service, in the public or private sector, providing benefits support to employees; applying HR rules, procedures, and operations to research benefit-related problems; arranging and providing information about benefits programs; and researching, identifying, and explaining interrelated employee-benefit issues.
• For GS-08: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-07 in the Federal service, in the public or private sector, applying employee-benefit practices, policies, laws, and regulations to research and resolve benefits issues; assisting with the full range of employee-benefit programs; and responding verbally or electronically to staff inquiries about status.
• Must be able to perform the essential duties of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Applicants must complete required USA Hire Competency Based Assessments when applicable and within the specified timeframe.

Responsibilities

• Manage employee outreach and information services, including health and financial fairs, open seasons, and new-hire onboarding activities.
• Process benefits actions for NIH staff.
• Provide benefits support and assistance to employees, serving as a liaison with health carriers and payroll as necessary.
• Counsel managers, employees, and family members on the legality, timeliness, appropriateness, requirements, options, and potential problems associated with benefit options.
• Research and explain interrelated employee-benefit issues, including health benefits conversion and continuation matters.

Benefits

• The supervisor may offer telework, compressed schedules, and flexible schedules at their discretion.
• A newly appointed or reappointed employee may receive service credit for prior qualifying work experience or active-duty uniformed service when determining annual leave accrual, subject to organizational need, justification, budget limitations, and approval before entry on duty.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed