Human Resources Benefits Specialist

Cherokee Federal•Washington, DC

1d•$45 - $47•Onsite

About The Position

The Human Resources Benefits Specialist provides technical guidance and support for federal employee benefits programs, including health and life insurance, retirement systems, and the Thrift Savings Plan. The Specialist advises employees and management on eligibility, enrollment, and retirement planning while ensuring compliance with federal laws, regulations, and agency policies. The role supports benefits processing, maintains official personnel records, and provides individualized counseling throughout employees’ employment lifecycle. The position requires U.S. citizenship or legal permanent residency under a government contract, and an active Public Trust clearance. The posting also states that the candidate must be a U.S. citizen. The role has no supervisory or management authority. Work is performed primarily in a climate-controlled environment, with prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer; occasional standing or moving around the office for extended periods may be required.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
At least two years of relevant work experience.
Three to five years of federal benefits experience.
Current OPM Delegated Examining (DE) Certification, or ability to obtain it within one year of hire.
Knowledge of federal staffing, recruitment, and position classification principles, laws, and regulations.
Ability to learn and effectively use Personnel Tracking Systems (PTS).
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to analyze information and support HR processes accurately and with attention to detail.
Valid U.S. driver’s license.
Must be a U.S. citizen; the government contract also restricts the position to U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents, with documentation required to qualify.
Active Public Trust clearance required.
Must pass Cherokee Federal pre-employment qualifications.
Prolonged sitting at a desk and working on a computer; occasional standing or moving around the office for extended periods may be required.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with automated HR systems.
Experience with USA Staffing.

Responsibilities

Advise employees on federal benefits programs, including FEHB, FEGLI, TSP, and FERS/CSRS retirement systems.
Conduct benefits briefings for new hires and assist with enrollments and qualifying life events.
Provide retirement counseling, determine eligibility, compute service dates, and guide employees on TSP withdrawals and benefits continuation, including COBRA and retirement options.
Review retirement applications (SF-2801/SF-3107) for completeness, verify service history against eOPF, manually calculate high-3 salary, and submit certified packages to OPM within required timelines.
Conduct one-on-one retirement counseling sessions within 60 days of eligibility using the GRB Platform to generate annuity estimates and benefits summaries.
Maintain and update official personnel records in eOPF, ensuring accuracy and regulatory compliance.
Manage FECA cases, including documentation and coordination with the Department of Labor.
Provide guidance on federal benefits policies, employee rights, and regulatory updates.
Use HR systems and tools to process benefits-related actions and maintain records.
Perform other job-related duties as assigned.