Human Resources Assistant (Employee Benefits) - HR Navigator

Veterans Health Administration • Augusta, ME

6d • Onsite

About The Position

The HR Navigator supports the VA Maine Healthcare System in Augusta, Maine, by providing on-site onboarding assistance, employee HR support, benefits education, and HR systems processing. The role serves as a centralized onboarding and workforce navigation resource, provides Tier 1 support to current employees, and assists with benefits and leave programs. It helps ensure timely hiring, regulatory compliance, workforce readiness, accurate HR data, and positive employee experiences.

The position serves as the primary contact for selectees from tentative job offer through Entry on Duty. It coordinates pre-employment steps, assists with forms and checks, supports scheduling and communication, monitors progress, and helps resolve delays. It also conducts new employee in-processing, prepares first-day documentation, responds to employee inquiries through walk-in, phone, email, and ticketing channels, and provides assistance with pay processes, payroll briefings, tax withholding, and direct deposit.

The HR Navigator provides guidance on federal benefits, including health, life, dental and vision coverage, retirement savings plans, childcare assistance, and transit benefits. The position meets with employees to explain options, supports enrollment and qualifying life-event changes, and assists with Open Season activities. It uploads and verifies documentation in HR systems and the electronic Official Personnel Folder, processes benefits updates, submits tickets, and maintains accurate, compliant records.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; the schedule may be negotiable based on organizational needs. Telework may be authorized, with eligibility discussed during the interview. This is not a virtual position. The position is permanent, and selection at a lower grade may allow promotion to the full performance level when regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met; promotion is not guaranteed. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Meet the applicable GS-5 or GS-6 qualification requirements by the announcement closing date, October 30, 2026.
• For GS-5, have one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-04, or four years of education above high school, or a qualifying combination of education and experience.
• GS-5 specialized experience may include collecting documentation or reviewing forms, providing customer service by phone, email, or walk-in, using automated systems to enter or retrieve data, supporting payroll documentation or form completion, receiving employee inquiries, and preparing correspondence or arranging follow-up meetings.
• For GS-6, have one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-05.
• GS-6 specialized experience may include coordinating onboarding and pre-employment requirements, reviewing personnel documents and identifying discrepancies, providing benefits guidance, conducting benefits enrollment and reviewing forms, triaging HR inquiries, submitting and tracking troubleshooting tickets, and using HR information systems to upload documents, maintain data integrity, and process actions.
• Complete the application, questionnaire, and required online assessment.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Submit transcripts if using education to qualify; foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with the transcript.
• Complete the required background/security investigation and online onboarding process.
• Provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements; beginning May 7, 2025, non-REAL ID-compliant driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards are not acceptable for employment identification.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as a condition of employment.
• Serve a one-year probationary period.
• The role requires regular walking throughout the facility, standing for extended periods during onboarding activities, and navigating between offices and service points; accommodations or workplace adjustments may be used.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact for selectees from tentative job offer through Entry on Duty.
• Coordinate pre-employment steps, assist new hires with forms and checks, and support onboarding scheduling and communication.
• Monitor onboarding progress, identify delays, and help ensure timely completion of requirements.
• Support background checks, fingerprinting, physical exams, drug testing, driving record reviews, and other pre-employment requirements.
• Conduct New Employee In-Processing and prepare first-day documentation.
• Provide on-site HR customer support through walk-in, phone, email, and ticketing systems.
• Assist employees with pay processes, payroll briefings, tax withholding, and direct deposit.
• Review employee records, identify discrepancies, and gather information to support resolution.
• Address routine HR questions and issues and refer complex matters to HR Specialists or appropriate resources.
• Submit and track payroll service requests and HR troubleshooting tickets.
• Educate employees about federal benefits, including health, life, dental and vision coverage, retirement savings plans, childcare assistance, and transit benefits.
• Meet with employees to explain benefits options and provide individualized guidance.
• Conduct new-hire benefits enrollment, review forms for accuracy, and upload required documentation.
• Support Open Season communications and enrollment activities and assist with benefits changes tied to qualifying life events.
• Upload and verify documentation in HR systems and the electronic Official Personnel Folder (eOPF).
• Use HR systems to process benefits updates, submit tickets, and maintain accurate HR data and compliant records.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package available to the employee and family, subject to position eligibility.
• VA may grant newly appointed federal employees credit for job-related non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service when determining annual leave accrual; approval must be obtained before appointment and is not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED