Summary

This position is located in the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Office of Administration (OA), Human Resources Division (HRD), Talent Management and Employee Services Branch (TMESB).

This position is also being announced to All U.S. Citizens under JP-26-003.

Duties

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The duties and responsibilities for a GS-0201-13 generally include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Serves as authoritative subject matter expert on compensation, payroll, and benefits administration.
• Analyzes, processes, and resolves complex historical payroll discrepancies involving retirement coverage determinations, multi-year retroactive pay adjustments, premium pay calculations, and benefits deductions; coordinates with National Finance Center (NFC), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), and HR servicing specialists to address systemic or high-risk payroll issues.
• Provides advisory services on federal retirement systems (CSRS, FERS) and employee benefits programs (FEHB, FEGLI, TSP), interpreting complex laws and regulations to resolve retirement coverage disputes, benefits eligibility issues, and service credit determinations; oversees Workers' Compensation programs.
• Conducts internal audits and compliance reviews related to payroll accuracy, benefits administration, and retirement processing; researches and interprets federal laws, regulations, and OPM guidance to resolve ambiguous issues and respond to audits, grievances, congressional inquiries, and management inquiries.
• Applies technical expertise in NFC and related automated systems to generate reports, dashboards, and workforce analytics; performs quality assurance reviews to ensure HR data accuracy; develops policy guidance, training materials, and procedural documentation to ensure regulatory compliance and operational consistency.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a United States Citizen.
• You will be required to complete a pre-employment security investigation and background check which includes a drug screening.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born on, or after, December 31, 1959. Those not registered should have an approved exemption on file.
• You must meet all eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement and continue to meet these requirements throughout the hiring process. Offers can be rescinded if requirements are not met.
• Security Requirements: Non-Sensitive/Moderate Risk
• A USA Hire assessment is required. An email will be sent with additional information after you submit your application. You will have 48 hours from the closing date of this announcement to complete the assessment.

Qualifications

To qualify for the position of Human Resources Specialist (Compensation/Employee Benefits), at GS-0201-13, you must meet the qualification requirements listed below.

Selective Placement/Screen Out Factor:

Applicants must have experience processing the full scope of payroll and personnel actions using the Department of Agriculture's National Finance Center (NFC) system.

Specialized Experience:

Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level. Specialized experience is experience which is in or related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.Examples of specialized experience include:

• Analyzes and/or resolves federal payroll issues including, but not limited to, retroactive pay adjustments, retirement coverage determinations (FERS, CSRS), premium pay calculations, leave accrual corrections, and/or benefits deductions.
• Provides technical guidance and/or advisory services on federal retirement systems (CSRS, FERS) and employee benefits programs (FEHB, FEGLI, TSP), including eligibility determinations, service credit calculations, and benefits entitlement issues.
• Interprets federal regulations (5 USC, 5 CFR), OPM guidance, and/or agency policies to conduct compliance reviews, develop procedural guidance, and respond to audits, grievances, or management inquiries related to compensation and benefits administration.
• Utilizes federal payroll and HR systems (NFC, GovTA) to conduct audits, generate reports, verify data accuracy, and/or develop training materials and procedural documentation to ensure regulatory compliance and operational consistency.

Online Assessment:

This position requires an online assessment. After you submit this application, you will receive an e-mail informing you that a USA Hire assessment is required of you. You will have 48 hours from the closing date of this announcement 07/06/2026 to complete the assessment as this assessment is part of your application.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

• Reading Comprehension
• Decision Making
• Accountability
• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service
• Flexibility
• Reasoning

You MUST meet all qualification requirements, including time-in-grade, by the closing date of this announcement, 07/06/2026.

Your resume must support your responses to the online questionnaire and the qualification requirements. Failure to do so may result in an ineligible rating. See the Required Documents section for important notes about what must be included in your resume.

Education

Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone. No substitution of education for experience is permitted.

Additional information

• OJP offers opportunities for flexible work schedules.
• Additional selections may be made from this announcement.
• Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.
• Probationary Period: You may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period to evaluate your fitness and whether continued employment advances the public interest. We may consider: 1) performance and conduct; 2) agency needs and interests; 3) advancement of agency/Government organizational goals; and 4) Federal service efficiency. Upon completion, employment terminates unless you receive written certification that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Benefits

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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. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.