Human Resources Specialist (Employee Benefits)

Air Force Personnel Center • Randolph AFB, TX

2d

About The Position

The primary purpose of this position is to serve as a senior subject matter expert of civilian employee benefits and retirement programs with responsibility for providing the most complex administration, advisory services and counseling on employee benefits and entitlements in a regionalized environment for 145,000 Air Force-serviced civilian employees world-wide. This role also serves in a developmental position with known promotion potential to the target position of GS-11. The specialist is responsible for resolving technically complex/difficult, sensitive and volatile problems/issues in all aspects of retirement benefits and coverages, requiring substantial knowledge of Federal insurance laws, regulations, and procedures. This involves researching applicable laws, executive orders, regulations, and policies to make final determinations on complex retirements and death cases involving obscure special entitlement matters. As a subject matter expert, the role requires extensive knowledge, skill, and application of employee benefits principles and evaluative methods to advise on and/or resolve incoming calls/inquiries. The position also involves preparing and completing necessary correspondence, documentation, and reports, and participating in special projects/initiatives affecting the benefits program.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship Required
• Males must be registered for Selective Service, see www.sss.gov
• If authorized, PCS will be paid IAW JTR and AF Regulations.
• If receiving an authorized PCS, you may be subject to completing/signing a CONUS agreement.
• This position is subject to provisions of the DoD Priority Placement Program
• Depending on the type of position (competitive/excepted) you are selected for, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period OR 2-year trial period.
• Experience and knowledge of windows based information systems are required for immediate productivity
• Travel by military and public conveyances may be required
• May be required to work shifts
• GS-05: At least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-04, or equivalent in other pay systems. Examples include ability to effectively communicate information clearly, orally and in writing; gather and analyze basic facts and draw conclusions; and to learn the operation of automated data systems.
• GS-05: Successful completion of a full four-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree.
• GS-05: Combination of specialized experience and education.
• GS-07: At least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-05, or equivalent in other pay systems. Examples include knowledge of the basic principles, concepts, and methodology used in employee benefits and skill in applying basic principles, concepts, and practices of the occupation sufficient to perform moderately difficult assignments.
• GS-07: Successful completion of one full academic year of graduate level education in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as Human Resources.
• GS-07: Combination of specialized experience and education.
• GS-09: At least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-07, or equivalent in other pay systems. Examples include knowledge of the principles, concepts, and theories of Employee Benefits, and the standard practices, methods, and techniques of the occupation sufficient to perform difficult, but well-precedented assignments; knowledge of analysis, evaluation, fact-finding, and investigative techniques in order to gather data, identify significant factors, and recommend a solution from a number of possible alternatives; and knowledge of the occupation to perform studies and prepare reports, documentation, and correspondence to communicate factual and procedural information clearly.
• GS-09: Successful completion of a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B or J.D., [if related] in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work of the position, such as Human Resources Management.
• GS-09: Combination of specialized experience and education.
• GS-11: At least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-09, or equivalent in other pay systems. Examples include knowledge of, and skill in applying health insurance, life insurance, retirement, Thrift Savings Plan, and death-in-service laws, regulation, procedures, and counseling techniques provided in a regionalized environment using state-of-the-art technology and reengineered business processes. Actions cover the whole spectrum of these benefits such as responding to complex benefits questions; providing information necessary to help employees obtain maximum gains from available benefits; deciding obscure special entitlement matters; and providing individual employee counseling on retirement options, eligibility requirements, health and life insurance and Thrift Savings Plan issues.
• GS-11: Successful completion of a Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M. in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work of the position, such as Human Resources Management.
• GS-11: Combination of specialized experience and education.
• Federal Time-in-Grade (TIG) requirements must be met.
• Knowledge of federal personnel management functions, theories, techniques, and their relation to other personnel disciplines.
• Knowledge of the Directorate objectives, mission, and operating programs and their implications on Air Force civilian personnel management programs.
• Knowledge of methods and techniques of fact finding, analysis, and resolution of complex problems and development of concrete action plans.
• Knowledge of automated data processing functions, techniques, and capabilities.
• Ability to assimilate and translate the logic of personnel management to the data system.
• Ability to establish performance goals and assess progress.
• Ability to train and work effectively with diverse individuals and groups.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, in working out solutions to problems or questions.
• Ability to represent the activity both within and outside the organization, and to gain support for program goals.

Nice To Haves

• Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government.
• Candidates should be passionate about the ideals of our American republic.
• Candidates should be committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a senior employee benefits specialist and subject matter expert.
• Resolve technically complex/difficult, sensitive, and volatile problems/issues in all aspects of retirement benefits and coverages.
• Research applicable laws, executive orders, regulations, and policies to make final determinations on complex retirements and death cases.
• Advise on and/or resolve incoming calls/inquiries that are technically complex/difficult, sensitive, and volatile.
• Provide sound, accurate, and thorough benefits and entitlements counseling.
• Participate in special projects/initiatives and perform special assignments affecting the benefits program.
• Prepare and complete necessary correspondence, documentation, and reports.

Benefits

• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
• As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.
• Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent.
• Disabled veteran leave is available to a Federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level