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Summary This vacancy is for a HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST position in the Benefits & Retirement Counseling Branch located at the U.S. Census Bureau Headquarters in Suitland, Maryland. The Census Bureau is accessible from the Metro Rail Green Line - Suitland Station. Responsibilities Serves as an experienced, subject-matter resource on laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures for retirement and various benefits. Provides interpretation and technical guidance to staff and ensures compliance with established operating instruction and procedures. Provides advisory services for administration of the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance Program, Civil Service Retirement System, death benefits, FERS, TSP, and other employee benefit programs. Participates in planning activities with management officials at Headquarters and in field offices and provides information and advice to managers. Ensures employees are provided with retirement and benefit consultation along with various scenarios for financial planning. Participates in and conducts presentations for various audiences and provides training, as necessary, to supervisors, managers, and employees. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications This vacancy is advertised under 2 different announcements. Please read the 'Who May Apply' section carefully to determine your eligibility. If you are not eligible under this announcement, please see 24-HRD-12453760-DE-CB, Human Resources Specialist, GS-0201-9/11/12/13. Specialized Experience: For the GS-09, you must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-07 in the Federal service. Experience for this position includes: Providing technical assistance in 1 or more of the following Human Resources specialist areas (Benefits, Retirement, Leave Administration, Military Deposit); Maintaining and monitoring employees' retirement, benefits, and/or annual leave lump sum files; Communicating with human resources staff, management, internal shareholders, and external agencies (National Finance Center, Insurance Carriers); Assisting in developing and presenting employee benefits and/or retirement information for meetings, conferences, and/or training seminars (Lunch and Learn, New Employee Orientation, Webinars); and the use of automated HR information systems to process retirement and benefits actions. OR 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 Specialized Experience: For the GS-11, you must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-09 in the Federal service. Experience for this position includes: researching and applying Title 5 personnel principles, procedures, and regulations sufficient to advise on the procedural and regulatory requirements for benefits and/or retirement, ; determining benefits eligibility and/or retirement eligibility; interpreting and applying 5 CFR, CSRS/FERS Guidelines, FEHB Handbook, FEGLI Handbook, Guide to Processing Personnel Actions to resolve benefits/retirement issues and discussing the findings with management and employees; Using automated HR information systems to process retirement and benefits actions, lump sum payments for retirees and beneficiaries of deceased employees, and correcting retirement code errors; Providing consultation to separating employees leaving federal service on benefits and retirement implications and options with regard to particularly sensitive complex retirement and/or benefit issues; and identify Federal Erroneous Retirement Coverage Corrections Act (FERCCA) cases. OR Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related OR A combination of education and experience. Specialized Experience: For the GS-12, you must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-11 in the Federal service. Experience for this position includes: Researching, analyzing, interpreting, and applying 5 CFR, CSRS/FERS Guidelines, FEHB Handbook, FEGLI Handbook, Guide to Processing Personnel Actions, and personnel principles and procedures to advise on the procedural and regulatory requirements for benefits and/or retirement with management and employees; Using automated HR information systems to process retirement and benefits actions, lump sum payments for retirees and beneficiaries of deceased employees, and correcting retirement code errors; Providing consultation to separating employees leaving federal service on benefits and retirement implications and options; and Identifying, processing, counseling, and monitoring Federal Erroneous Retirement Coverage Corrections Act (FERCCA) cases. Education cannot be substituted at this grade level. Specialized Experience: For the GS-13, you must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-12 in the Federal service. Experience for this position includes, researching, analyzing, interpreting, and applying 5 CFR, CSRS/FERS Guidelines, FEHB Handbook, FEGLI Handbook, Guide to Processing Personnel Actions, and personnel principles and procedures to advise on the procedural and regulatory requirements for benefits, retirement, military deposit, and voluntary leave transfer program with management and employees; developing Standard Operating Procedures; and analyzing trends and forecast changes. Education cannot be substituted at this grade level. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer. Education Additional Information If hired for this position with the Census Bureau, at its headquarters office located in Suitland, Maryland, you will be expected to temporarily telework to maximum extent while the headquarters building is being renovated. Once renovations are completed for your area, you will be notified when to return to the office. At that time, you will be expected to work from your duty station, and you may be eligible to telework, up to 8 days a pay period depending on your respective work schedule, with approval from your supervisor. Additionally, the following links provide information on various hiring authorities that may enable you to apply through merit assignment procedures, or be eligible for a non-competitive appointment. VRA (GS-11 or below) VEOA (permanent positions) 30% or more disabled Persons with Disabilities CTAP ICTAP The Department of Commerce provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the Human Resources Office. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis. TTY users can contact the Human Resources Office via the Federal Relay Service, 1-800-877-8339.