Duties

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Benefits Advisors respond to participant and beneficiary inquiries and complaints and provide technical assistance on the obligations of employers, plan sponsors, and service providers under ERISA, COBRA, ACA, HIPAA, MHPAEA, etc. They resolve valid complaints through informal dispute resolution, refer complaints to enforcement involving potential criminal activity or plan wide issues that cannot be resolved informally, and serve as the focal point of the DOL liaison with the general public.

Major duties for this position include, but are not limited to the following:

• Provide technical guidance to subordinates on issues related to pension and healthcare benefits by interpreting applicable laws and regulations, ensuring compliance, and applying Standard Operating Procedures and agency guidelines appropriately.
• Ensure that program strategies and activities are consistently aligned with the mission and objectives of the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), demonstrating a thorough understanding of its goals.
• Recommend allocation of resources to ensure compliance with program goals, effectively guiding subordinate staff in achieving organizational objectives.
• Provide comprehensive technical, policy, and planning assistance by developing a range of options designed to uphold the integrity, responsiveness, and operational effectiveness of the Agency's programs.
• Develop and maintain clear and comprehensive materials and procedural guidelines for technical assistance, ensuring all documentation adheres to established standards and provides dependable resources for stakeholders.
• Contribute to the formulation of both short-term and long-term strategies for the Agency's customer service program, and is responsible for drafting, documenting, and communicating these strategies to ensure effective implementation and alignment with organizational objectives.
• Independently manage competing priorities within the outreach, education, and assistance program, ensuring tasks are completed efficiently and deadlines are met.
• Develop a standardized review format to be followed in reviewing regional and national office assistance programs.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Must be at least 16 years old.
• Candidate required to obtain and maintain the necessary security/investigation level.
• Requires a probationary period if the requirement has not been met.
• Subject to financial disclosure requirements.
• Requires a supervisory probationary period if the requirement has not been met.

Qualifications

You must meet the Specialized Experience to qualify for the Supervisory Benefits Advisor position, as described below.

Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-13 in the Federal Service.

Specialized Experience is the experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform the duties of the position successfully, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level.

Qualifying specialized experience for this GS-14 position includes (applicants must meet at least three out of the five statements below):

• Experience in planning, implementing, and/or evaluating programs related to employee benefits, compliance with federal regulations such as the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), the Affordable Care Act (ACA), or related legislation.
• Experience providing technical advice and assistance to stakeholders, including plan administrators, employers, and participants regarding the application and interpretation of employee benefits laws and regulations.
• Experience in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with a range of stakeholders, including federal, state, and local agencies, private industry representatives, and the general public. This includes developing and conducting outreach initiatives, educational programs, call quality assurance programs, and presentations that effectively inform and assist audiences on their rights and obligations under applicable benefit laws.
• Experience in supervising, mentoring, or leading teams in a professional environment, including setting performance standards, conducting evaluations, and promoting professional development. This includes the ability to coordinate work assignments and manage resources to achieve program objectives effectively.
• Experience analyzing technical issues related to employee benefits, identifying potential violations, and proposing solutions through collaborative negotiation and conflict resolution.

Education

There is no substitution of education for the required specialized experience for this position at the GS-14 level.

Additional information

The mission of the Department of Labor (DOL) is to protect the welfare of workers and job seekers, improve working conditions, expand high-quality employment opportunities, and assure work-related benefits and rights for all workers.

Refer to these links for more information: GENERAL INFORMATION, REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION, ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION, FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES

As a condition of employment, all personnel must undergo a background investigation for access to DOL facilities, systems, information and/or classified materials before they can enter on duty: BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION

This position is Outside the Bargaining Unit.

For more information, Click here for Career Ladder Promotion Information

You may not be aware, but in the regulations for agency ethics programs, there are requirements for supervisors. Section 2638.103 of Title 5 of the CFR states: Every supervisor in the executive branch has a heightened personal responsibility for advancing government ethics. It is imperative that supervisors serve as models of ethical behavior for subordinates. Supervisors have a responsibility to help ensure that subordinates are aware of their ethical obligations under the Standards of Conduct and that subordinates know how to contact agency ethics officials. Supervisors are also responsible for working with agency ethics officials to help resolve conflicts of interests and enforce government ethics laws and regulations, including those requiring certain employees to file financial disclosure reports. In addition, supervisors are responsible, when requested, for assisting agency ethics officials in evaluating potential conflicts of interest and identifying positions subject to financial disclosure requirements.

Supervisory Financial Disclosure: This position is subject to the confidential financial disclosure requirements of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (P.L. 95-521). Therefore, if selected, you will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) to determine if a conflict or an appearance of a conflict exists between your financial interest(s) and your prospective position with DOL. This information will be required annually.

For more information, click Telework Position Information. This is not a remote work position. The selectee will report to an assigned DOL office location on a regular basis and is eligible for participation in telework as determined by management in accordance with DOL policy.

Based on agency needs, additional positions may be filled using this vacancy.

The Department of Labor may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities, currently offered by the Federal government to attract highly qualified candidates. Click here for Additional Information.

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.

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.