Department of Energy - Agency Wide Logo
Position Title
Human Resources Specialist (Employee Benefits and Employee Relations)
Agency
Department of Energy - Agency Wide
Announcement Number
23-HC-00882-12046601-MP Opens in new window
Open Period
Wednesday, July 19, 2023 to Monday, July 24, 2023
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1. Do you claim Veterans’ Preference? (limit characters)
2. Are you a veteran who separated from active duty under honorable conditions AND:

--you have a rating by the Department of Veterans Affairs showing a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more; OR
--you are retired from active military service with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more?

For more information on eligibility visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/veterans/  

Check the REQUIRED DOCUMENTS section in the job announcement for instructions to support your eligibility to apply for this vacancy. (limit characters)
3. Were you employed overseas as an appropriated funded employee, AND:

--you complete 52 weeks of creditable overseas service as a family member during the time you accompanied a sponsor officially assigned to an overseas area;
--you received a fully successful or better (or equivalent) performance rating;
--you returned to the United States to resume residence less than 3 years ago?

For more information on eligibility visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/family-of-overseas-employees/

Check the REQUIRED DOCUMENTS section in the job announcement for instructions to support your eligibility to apply for this vacancy. (limit characters)
4. Are you a current/former federal employee who meets one of the following Merit Promotion eligibilities:

1. Current career/career-conditional federal employee applying for a PROMOTION or TRANSFER to a position with a higher grade/pay band or higher promotion potential than you previously held on a permanent basis?
2. Former career/career-conditional federal employee with "Status" applying for REINSTATEMENT to a position with a higher grade/pay band or higher promotion potential than you previously held on a permanent basis?

Note: also select "Yes" if applying for a change-to-lower grade (CTLG) to a position with higher promotion potential than you previously held on a permanent basis.

Check the REQUIRED DOCUMENTS section in the job announcement for instructions to support your eligibility to apply for this vacancy. (limit characters)
5. Are you a SURPLUS or DISPLACED federal employee (e.g., Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP))?

If yes, confirm:

--you are located in the same local commuting area as the vacancy;
--you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated;
--you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you were or will be separated; AND
--your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or equivalent.

For more information on eligibility visit:  https://www.usajobs.gov/help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/federal-employees/career-transition/

Check the REQUIRED DOCUMENTS section in the job announcement for instructions to support your eligibility to apply for this vacancy. (limit characters)
6. Are you a current or former employee of a land management agency (Forest Service; Bureau of Land Management; National Park Service; Fish and Wildlife Service; Bureau of Indian Affairs; or Bureau of Reclamation)  AND:

--you worked in a term or temporary job (time-limited) under a competitive appointment;
--you served under 1 or more appointments for a period totaling more than 24 months, without a break in service of 2 or more years;
--you performed at an acceptable level during each period of service; AND
--if you are a former employee, you have been separated no more than 2 years since the most recent date of separation; and
--you did not leave your job due to misconduct or performance?

For more information on eligibility visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/federal-employees/land-management/

Check the REQUIRED DOCUMENTS section in the job announcement for instructions to support your eligibility to apply for this vacancy. (limit characters)
7. Are you the spouse of:

--a member of the armed forces serving on active duty;
--a 100 percent disabled service member injured while on active duty; OR
--a service member who was killed while performing active duty (un-remarried widow or widower)?

For more information on eligibility visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/military-spouses/

Check the REQUIRED DOCUMENTS section in the job announcement for instructions to support your eligibility to apply for this vacancy. (limit characters)
8. Are you a former Peace Corps volunteer or VISTA member who has completed your service within the past twelve months?

-OR-

Are you a former Peace Corps volunteer or VISTA member who has completed your service within the past 36 months and are requesting an extension of your non-competitive eligibility due to your military service, status as a full-time student or other experience related to this position (you must provide supporting documentation?

-OR-

Are you a current or former Peace Corps employee who has completed at least 36 months of continuous service and has been separated from the Peace Corps for less than three years?

For more information on eligibility visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/peace-corps/

Check the REQUIRED DOCUMENTS section in the job announcement for instructions to support your eligibility to apply for this vacancy. (limit characters)
9.
Are you a current/former federal employee who meets one of the following non-competitive eligibilities:

1. Current career/career-conditional federal employee applying for REASSIGNMENT, CHANGE-TO-LOWER GRADE, REPROMOTION, or TRANSFER, and you currently or previously held a position with the same grade/pay band or higher and the same or higher promotion potential on a permanent basis?
2. Former career/career-conditional federal employee with "Status", applying for REINSTATEMENT, and you previously held a position with the same grade/pay band or higher and the same or higher promotion potential on a permanent basis?
3. Current Excepted Service employee at an agency that has a valid INTERCHANGE agreement with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM)?
4. Current or former federal employee with the Foreign Service, Postal Career Service, Postal Rate Commission Employee, Government Accountability Office (GAO), Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts or other federal agency for which you gained eligibility to apply for career/career-conditional positions?

For more information on eligibility visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/competitive-hiring/#url=Types-of-Appointments

Check the REQUIRED DOCUMENTS section in the job announcement for instructions to support your eligibility to apply for this vacancy. (limit characters)
10. Reasonable Accommodations for taking the online assessments are provided on a case-by-case basis only to qualified individuals with a disability covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.

Do you have a disability (physical or mental) that you believe will interfere with completing the online assessments and require a Reasonable Accommodation?

 (limit characters)
11. Do you have an intellectual disability, severe physical disability, or psychiatric disability that qualifies you for a Schedule A Disability appointment?

For more information on eligibility visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/individuals-with-disabilities/

Check the REQUIRED DOCUMENTS section in the job announcement for instructions to support your eligibility to apply for this vacancy. (limit characters)
12. Are you a veteran who separated from active duty under honorable conditions AND:

--you served three or more years of continuous active duty service in the military; OR
--you are entitled to veterans' preference?

Note: if released shortly before completing a 3-year tour or claiming "derived preference" you may also meet the eligibility criteria.

For more information on eligibility visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/veterans/

Check the REQUIRED DOCUMENTS section in the job announcement for instructions to support your eligibility to apply for this vacancy. (limit characters)
Preferences
1. Do any of your relatives work for the agency to which you are applying? If so, please list any applicable names below. Please enter N/A in the text box, if not Applicable. (Include: father, mother, husband, wife, son, daughter, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, first cousin, nephew, niece, father-in-law, mother-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, stepfather, stepmother, stepson, stepdaughter, stepbrother, stepsister, half brother, and half sister).
 (limit characters)
2. Are you currently serving or have served in the last five (5) years in a Political Appointment in the Federal Government? (limit characters)
3. Please list the title, agency and dates of the appointments (limit characters)
Conditions of Employment
This position may have pre-employment requirements and conditions for continued employment. Your answers to the questions in this section will indicate your understanding of, possession of, and the ability to obtain and maintain these requirements and conditions. (limit characters)
1. This position is subject to the appropriate background investigation to determine suitability or fitness for federal employment. Are you willing to undergo pre-employment? (limit characters)
2. This position has a Temporary Duty (TDY) or occasional business travel requirement. Are you willing and able to travel away from your permanent duty station? (limit characters)
3. Appointment to this position may be subject to a one year probationary period. Are you willing to serve a one year probationary period? (limit characters)
4. I declare under penalty of perjury, that all statements contained in this application and any accompanying documents are true and correct, with full knowledge that all statements made in this application are subject to investigation and that any false or dishonest answer to any question may be grounds for disqualification and loss of consideration. (limit characters)
5. Instructions: To provide the hiring manager an opportunity to consider your accomplishments, you may submit/attach copies of your performance appraisals and/or incentive award justification as part of your application by uploading these documents into USA Staffing.


All current Federal employees must have at least a fully successful or equivalent performance rating or higher, to be considered for competitive placement. Competitive Federal employees who have a current unacceptable performance rating will be excluded from consideration. (limit characters)
6. Have you received awards or been recognized as part of your annual performance appraisal for work that was based on one or more of the competencies described in this vacancy announcement? (limit characters)
7. Permanent appointments are status appointments without an ending date. There are two categories for permanent appointments. A permanent career-conditional appointment is the first career-type appointment, and the appointee must complete a 1-year probationary period. A career appointment begins once an employee has completed the probationary period(s) and three years of permanent, substantially continuous creditable service in the competitive service. Would you accept a permanent career-conditional or career appointment? (limit characters)
8. I understand that the responses in this questionnaire must be fully supported in my online resume. I further understand that my resume must provide detailed descriptions and/or examples of my knowledge and competencies as required in the vacancy announcement, and that my failure to do so may result in my being rated "ineligible" or "not qualified" for this position. (limit characters)
9. I have read this Vacancy Announcement thoroughly and understand that supplemental documentation may be required. I further understand that I will not be considered if my supplemental documentation is not received in the Servicing Personnel Office by the closing date of the announcement. (limit characters)
Assessment 1
Thank you for your interest in a Human Resources Specialist (Employee Benefits and Employee Relations) position with Department of Energy. Your resume and the responses you provide to this assessment questionnaire will be used to determine if you are among the best qualified for this position. Your responses are subject to verification. Please review your responses for accuracy before you submit your application. (limit characters)
1. Select the one statement that best describes the experience that you possess that demonstrates your ability to perform the work of Human Resources Specialist (Employee Benefits and Employee Relations) at the GS-14 grade level or equivalent pay band in the Federal Service. (limit characters)
For each item, select the one response that most accurately describes your current level of experience and capability using the scale below. (limit characters)
2. Research federal laws, policies, guidelines, procedures, concepts and principles governing employee benefits, retirement, and workers' compensation. (limit characters)
3. Review procedures and guidelines associated with Federal civilian benefits to establish eligibility, provided information to employees, and processed claims. (limit characters)
4. Provide oversight on the completion of benefits enrollments and change of forms; verified information and reviewed forms for accuracy. (limit characters)
5. Explain rules and procedures to help employees understand their full rights, options, and obligations in regards to benefits, retirement, and workers' compensation. (limit characters)
6. Provide in-depth benefits counseling to employees, explaining options available to an employee based upon analysis on individual circumstances. (limit characters)
7. Administer human resources programs in accordance with legal requirements. (limit characters)
8. Use information systems to perform research on legal decisions, policies, regulations, statutes, precedents, or employment case law. (limit characters)
9. Update an automated personnel information system to finalize an employee relations case. (limit characters)
10. Communicate with managers and other Human Resources (HR) professionals to provide policy and guidance when resolving difficult HR issues. (limit characters)
11. Explain rules and procedures to help employees understand their entitlements to use grievance, complaint, and appeal procedures. (limit characters)
12. Prepare written instructions or standard operating procedures on handling employee benefits programs to determine trends, problems and corrective actions (limit characters)
13. Resolve discrepancies and obtained missing data from files to provide information to other HR specialists on Federal benefits eligibility. (limit characters)
14. Provide advice and guidance to senior management officials and individual employees on employee benefits when the issues were complicated by various eligibility determinations or by the sensitive nature of the issue. (limit characters)
15. Conduct internal training for employee benefits issues. (limit characters)
16. Recommend modifications to program goals or objectives. (limit characters)
17. Prepare persuasive final ruling documents that reflect corrective action to be taken. (limit characters)
18. Serve as a liaison in which contact was made with a variety of individuals for the purpose of conveying information. (limit characters)
19. Select the categories of benefits in which you have expertise in counseling employees. (Select all that apply) (limit characters)
20. Select the categories of retirement in which you have expertise in counseling employees. (Select all that apply) (limit characters)
21. Indicate the job(s) (i.e., title, name of employer, dates of employment) listed on your resume that support your self-ratings to the questions above. Be specific, do NOT say "see resume." Your self-ratings will be validated against this information and may be lowered if your resume does not support your self-rating. (limit 250 characters)
22. Your responses to the Announcement and Assessment Questionnaires, along with your resume and all supporting documentation are subject to evaluation and verification to ensure accuracy. Please take this opportunity to review your responses to ensure their accuracy.
 (limit characters)
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