Summary This vacancy will close on the posted closing date or at 11:59 p.m. on the day in which 100 applications have been received, whichever comes first. This position is located in the Department of Veterans Affairs, Central Office Human Resources Service Center, which focuses on the establishment and transition of human capital services for VACO staff offices. This position serves as the Benefits Specialist and is responsible for administering the employee benefits and related programs. Responsibilities VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: HR Specialist Total Rewards Major Duties Include: Administering and providing advisory services on workplace flexibilities, tour of duty, group life insurance, health benefits, and the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) programs. Serving as the specialist on benefits issues, including general information about retirement benefits, resolution of health benefits issues, and advising on insurance coverage options. Resolving problems in the administration of Work-life/Employee benefits programs. Training employees and supervisors regarding the latest information on all federal benefits. Assisting supervisors in planning and carrying out Work-life projects to inform employees regarding a range of available Work-life programs. Developing Work-life benefit's program information materials (in both electronic and print formats) for employees, including fact sheets, brochures, booklets, designed to increase program awareness, participation, and employee satisfaction. Counseling management, employees, and beneficiaries on program coverage, options, variances in coverage, and advantages and disadvantages of benefits decisions. Evaluating trends in missions, technology, federal benefits laws and regulations, and other factors influencing employee WLB needs; coordinating with other HR functional areas in support of difficult and unusual recruitment and retentions issues or problems. Administering and providing advisory services on federal leave programs. Providing advice and consultation on Federal leave programs, including Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Advanced Leave, Voluntary Leave Transfer Program (VLTP), Disabled Veterans Leave, Leave Without Pay (LWOP), Weather and Safety Leave, Authorized Absence (AA), etc. Explaining to employees the relationship of federal retirement and insurance programs to other retirement and insurance programs (Social Security, worker's compensation, and private insurance companies) and providing referral to additional resources, when appropriate. Work Schedule: Monday- Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Compressed/Flexible: May be Available Remote/Virtual: This is not a remote or virtual position Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position is authorized 50% telework and selectee will be expected to report to the nearest VA/government facility the remaining 50%. Relocation Incentive: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. The BASIC REQUIREMENT for the HR Specialist GS-0201 series is presumed met if found qualified at the GS-0201-7 level and above. To qualify for this position at the GS-12 level, you must meet one of the following listed Criteria: Criteria 1- Graduate Degree and Specialized Experience: Successful completion of a graduate level degree or higher and three years of progressive specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level. Such experience may be gained in administrative, professional, technical or other responsible work positions in the public (i.e., Government or military) or private sector. Qualifying specialized experience includes: experience that has provided you with knowledge of federal employee benefits; answering questions related to federal employee benefits entitlements; preparing communications to inform individuals of federal employee benefits; assisting in the development of work-life benefits programs. OR Criteria 2- Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in federal service that demonstrates HR management knowledge, concepts and principles and the performance of work in one or more of the HR specialty areas. Such experience may be gained in administrative, professional, technical or other responsible work positions in the public (i.e., Government or military) or private sector. Qualifying specialized experience includes: counseling management, employees, and beneficiaries on federal employee benefit program coverage, options, variances in coverage, and advantages and disadvantages of benefits; resolving issues in the administration of the federal employee benefits program; interpreting, applying, and explaining federal retirement and insurance laws and regulations to employees. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Employee Benefits Reasoning Education Qualifying education for the GS-0201 series includes courses and programs in HR, HR development, HR management, business, business management/administration, industrial relations, labor relations, industrial psychology, organizational psychology, organizational development, management, organizational behavior, pre-law/law, legal studies, health care management/administration, public administration, public policy, human services, leadership and/or humanities. A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix F1; Human Resources Specialist Qualification Standards GS-0201. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Additional Information Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator. The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provides eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition. Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members. For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document. If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.