Human Resources Specialist (Employee Benefits)

Department of State Headquarters • Washington, DC

10h

About The Position

This position is located in the Bureau of Human Resources, Office of Retirement (HR/RET), which administers the Foreign Service retirement system for 18,000 annuitants and 15,000 active-duty participants from the Department of State and other U.S. foreign affairs agencies. The position provides technical advice and counseling to employees and management on retirement eligibility, benefits entitlements, health and life insurance, and applicable policies and regulations. It analyzes retirement and employee benefits issues, reviews retirement cases, evaluates program procedures, and develops benefits training and informational materials.

At the GS-9 level, the incumbent performs substantially similar duties as at the GS-11 level, but assignments have less scope and complexity, less independence, and closer-than-normal supervision. Applicants must satisfy the stated qualification requirements by the announcement closing date. Qualification may be based on specialized experience, qualifying graduate education, or a combination of education and experience. Federal applicants are subject to time-in-grade and time-after-competitive-appointment requirements. The position requires U.S. citizenship, random drug testing, and the ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance. Situational telework may be permitted if eligible and with supervisory approval.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance.
• Incumbent is subject to random drug testing.
• Federal applicants must meet time-in-grade requirements, including 52 weeks at the next lower grade, as applicable, and time-after-competitive-appointment requirements by the announcement closing date.
• For GS-9, qualifying options include at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-7; a master's or equivalent graduate degree, two years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or an LL.B. or J.D.; or a qualifying combination of graduate education and experience.
• GS-9 specialized experience includes providing guidance on federal retirement programs, employee benefits, eligibility, and enrollment; reviewing personnel and benefits records for eligibility, discrepancies, and compliance; and assisting with retirement or benefits actions and routine issue resolution.
• For GS-11, qualifying options include at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-9; a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or an LL.M.; or a qualifying combination of graduate education and experience.
• GS-11 specialized experience includes advising employees and management on federal retirement systems, benefits, eligibility, laws, and regulations; analyzing retirement and benefits cases to resolve discrepancies, eligibility issues, and processing errors; and evaluating procedures and recommending improvements for compliance and effective administration.
• Applicants qualifying based on education, or subject to mandatory education requirements, must submit college transcripts. Applicants must submit transcripts to verify educational qualifications.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical advice and counseling to employees and management regarding retirement eligibility, benefits entitlements, health and life insurance, and applicable retirement policies and regulations.
• Analyze and resolve employee benefits and retirement issues, including coverage discrepancies, eligibility determinations, and pay-related inconsistencies.
• Conduct comprehensive analyses of Foreign Service and Civil Service retirement cases to ensure accurate benefits determinations, regulatory compliance, and timely processing.
• Evaluate retirement program procedures, identify deficiencies and inconsistencies, and recommend corrective actions to improve program effectiveness and compliance.
• Develop and deliver retirement benefits training, presentations, and informational materials to employees, management, and other federal agencies.

Benefits

• Federal employees receive a comprehensive benefits package; the specific benefits available depend on position type, and applicants are directed to contact the hiring agency for details.

What This Job Offers

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