This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/536572500. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) is responsible for planning, directing and administering a program of enforcement to ensure maximum compliance with Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and criminal provisions of US Code as they relate to employee benefit plans. Offices initiate, execute and coordinate civil/criminal investigations of alleged violations of ERISA and conduct financial investigations of all types of employee benefit plans & related entities.
Learn more about this agency06/14/2019 to 07/05/2019
$71,593 - $111,558 per year
GS 11 - 12
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Occasional travel - Some travel may be required.
No
Permanent
Full-time - Full time
Competitive
12 - There is no obligation to provide future promotions if you are selected. Promotions are dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, meet all the performance requirements, and supervisor’s recommendation to the next grade.
1801 General Inspection, Investigation, Enforcement, And Compliance Series
No
No
DE-19-BNY-EBSA-77
536572500
Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Also advertised as job # MS-19-BNY-EBSA-78 for status applicants, VEOA eligible, Land Management eligible, Military Spouses, ICTAP eligibles in the local commuting area. To be considered for each, apply to BOTH jobs.
GS-1801-11; will complete the following tasks with some supervision from a supervisor or higher level investigator:
Plans, conducts and coordinates moderately difficult civil and criminal investigations of health, pension and other employee benefit plans, service providers, trust departments, and other financial entities having relationships and conducting transactions with the plan.
Determines the scope and investigative approaches to be taken for each investigation. Researches and reviews targeting data, reporting and disclosure documents, case files and other background information relative to the entity being investigated; and determines investigative scope and approaches as well as setting forth the issues(s) being investigated and possible remedies needed for correction.
Initiates and arranges for meetings, conferences, and discussions with plan officials, service providers, and their financial and legal representative to explain: the conduct of the investigation, what ERISA requires, EBSA policy and procedures, and to conduct formal interviews. Prepares and serves subpoenas when necessary to obtain desired records, documents, information, and testimony.
Examines and analyzes: employee benefit plan financial records, trustee meeting minutes, claims data, and other plan records to determine compliance with plan documents and ERISA; Form 5500 series of annual reports with financial statements and audit reports prepared by plans’ accountants; and fidelity bonding to determine coverage and adequacy in accordance with ERISA, and records to ensure proper payment of benefit claims.
Prepares comprehensive and well-documented investigative reports, using computers and computer software applications. Clearly and effectively conveys information (orally and in writing) taking into account the audience and the nature of the information. Actively listens to others and persuades others to accept recommendations.
Works with the legal staff of the Department's Office of the Solicitor (SOL) or Department of Justice in preparing cases for civil litigation and/or criminal prosecution and developing documentary evidence.
GS-1801-12; will complete the following tasks with little to no supervision from a supervisor or higher level investigator:
Independently plans, conducts and coordinates civil and criminal investigations of large and varied health, pension and other types of employee benefit plans, service providers, trust departments and other financial entities having relationships and conducting transactions with the plan. Employee benefit plans investigated typically involve large numbers of participants, large sums of plan assets, complex organizational structures and accounting systems, and complex financial transactions.
Determines scope of assigned investigations and the general investigative approach to be taken, considering: (1) targeting data, reporting and disclosure documents, and other background information relative to the entity being investigated; (2) the issues being investigated; (3) the sections of ERISA believed to be violated and references to relevant interpretations and regulations; (4) required elements of proof; (5) estimated time for completion; (6) records to be reviewed, interviews to be conducted, information and documentation to be collected, and (7) possible remedies needed to achieve correction.
Initiates and arranges for meetings, conferences, and discussions with plan officials, service providers, and their legal and financial representatives to explain: the conduct of the investigation, ERISA requirements, EBSA policy and procedures, and conducts formal interviews. Prepares and serves subpoenas when necessary to obtain desired records, documents, information, and testimony.
Examines and analyzes: employee benefit plan financial records, trustee meeting minutes, claims data, and other plan records to determine compliance with plan documents and ERISA, proper payment of health claims, fiduciary conduct of officials associated with the plan, prudence of financial investments and the propriety of specific transactions; Form 5500 series of annual reports with financial statements and audit reports prepared by plans’ accountants; and fidelity bonding to determine coverage and adequacy in accordance with ERISA.
Prepares comprehensive and well-documented investigative reports, using computers and computer software applications. Clearly and effectively conveys information (orally and in writing) taking into account the audience and the nature of the information. Actively listens to others and persuades others to accept recommendations.
Works closely with and provides technical assistance to the legal staff of the Department's Office of the Solicitor (SOL) or Department of Justice in preparing cases for litigation, developing documentary evidence and preparing witnesses.
Applicants must meet all legal and regulatory requirements. Reference the "Required Documents" section for additional requirements.
Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled.
GS-11: One (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 in the Federal service (but not limited.to Federal service) as defined below:
GS-12: One (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS- 11 in the Federal service (but not limited to Federal service) as defined below.
Selective Factor GS-11:
To be considered minimally qualified for the GS-11 you must have knowledge of ERISA or knowledge of similarly complex federal or state regulatory programs. Candidates must show this knowledge in their resume to receive further consideration.
Also for the GS-11 level, Applicants must possess 1 year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal Service.
Specialized experience is experience that provided knowledge of ERISA rules, regulations and enforcement and regulatory policies and procedures; knowledge and experience in investigative techniques and methods of financial examination in order to obtain the necessary information to assess employee benefit plan operations, fiduciary conduct, and individual transactions. Examples include experience as a compliance inspector, examiner, auditor, legal analyst, or investigator whose work related to the field of employee benefit plans and/or Federal and/or state financial regulatory statutes or experience in closely related occupations involving specialized work directly involved in assessing or assuring finance related regulatory compliance.
OR
Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree (Please note: a JD is not considered a doctorate degree);
OR
three (3) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree;
OR
LL.M., if related.
Combining Education and Experience (GS-11 only):
Education and experience can be combined to meet the minimum qualification requirements. Note: Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level can be combined with the appropriate level of experience to qualify for positions at grade GS-11.
Selective Factor GS-12:
To be considered minimally qualified for the GS-12 you must have in-depth working experience/knowledge of ERISA, or similarly complex federal or state regulatory programs. Candidates must show this knowledge in their resume to receive further consideration.
Also for the GS-12 level, Applicants must possess 1 year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal Service.
EXAMPLES OF QUALIFYING GS-12 EXPERIENCE INCLUDE:
This experience may have been gained in government, pension and health benefit plan administration, or a consulting firm, law firm, actuarial or accounting firm, labor union, health and pension trade association or research service, bank trust department, brokerage firms, insurance companies or investment firm.
There is no substitution of education for experience at the GS-12 level.
The information you provide may be verified by a review of your work experience and/or education, by checking references and through other means (ex. interview). The examining Human Resources Office (HRO) makes the final determination concerning applicant ratings. Your resume MUST provide sufficient information to substantiate your responses to the vacancy questions. If not, the HRO may amend your responses to more accurately reflect the level of competency indicated by the content of your resume. Your evaluation may also include a review by a Human Resources Specialist or panel and may include other assessments (ex. interview, panel review, written test, writing sample, etc.)
INFORMATION FOR ICTAP ELIGIBLES ONLY: If you are eligible for special priority selection under ICTAP, you must be well-qualified for the position to receive consideration. ICTAP eligibles who are placed into Category 85.0 or higher will be considered "well-qualified".
Click Application of Veterans Preference for Category Rating Jobs for more information.
If you wish to use your education as a basis for meeting the eligibility and/or minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must submit academic transcripts demonstrating that you meet the qualifying educational requirements. If specific course work is required to fulfill the eligibility and/or minimum qualification requirements, you must supply transcripts from each academic institution in which the required courses were taken in order to receive credit for that course work. See the 'Qualifications and Evaluations' section of this announcement for more details.
If you do not submit sufficient academic documentation necessary to demonstrate that you meet the eligibility and minimum qualification requirements described in this announcement, your application will be deemed incomplete and you will be ineligible for further consideration for this vacancy.
College Transcript and Evaluation of Foreign Education - The Department of Labor does not recognize academic degrees from unauthorized secondary schools or post-secondary institutions that are not accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the Department of Education. Any applicant falsely claiming an academic degree from an accredited school will be subject to actions ranging from disqualification from federal employment to removal from federal service. If your education was completed at a foreign college or university, you must show comparability to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States and comparability to applicable minimum course work requirements for this position. Click Evaluation of Foreign Education for more information.
The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.
The Department of Labor does not make unfavorable hiring decisions on the basis of an applicant's previous or current unemployment, or the fact that an applicant has experienced financial difficulty through no fault of his/her own and has undertaken good faith efforts to meet his/her financial obligations. Consideration is given to financial status in relation to appointments only where required by law, regulation, or Executive Order.
Refer to these links for more information: GENERAL INFORMATION, REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION, ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION, SELECTIVE SERVICE REGISTRATION, PROBATIONARY PERIOD, FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be evaluated against the evaluation factors below and will be placed into a category based on your vacancy question responses.
Categories
Category A - Meets the basic qualification requirements for the vacancy and has successful experience in the same or similar job that has demonstrated superior proficiency in applying critical competencies required by this position to work of increased levels of difficulty and complexity.
Category B - Meets the basic qualification requirements for the vacancy and demonstrates satisfactory proficiency in the critical competencies required by this position.
Category C - Meets the specialized experience described in the minimum qualifications requirements section of this announcement and demonstrates proficiency in the basic competencies.
Evaluation Factors (Competencies) - All qualified applicants will be evaluated on the following key competencies:
Planning and Evaluating - Organizes work, sets priorities, and determines resource requirements; determines short- or long-term goals and strategies to achieve them; coordinates with other organizations or parts of the organization to accomplish goals; monitors progress and evaluates outcomes.
Technical Competence - Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the-job experience to perform one's job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues.
Self-Management - Sets well-defined and realistic personal goals; displays a high level of initiative, effort, and commitment towards completing assignments in a timely manner; works with minimal supervision; is motivated to achieve; demonstrates responsible behavior.
Oral Communication - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.
Writing - Recognizes or uses correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling; communicates information (for example, facts, ideas, or messages) in a succinct and organized manner; produces written information, which may include technical material that is appropriate for the intended audience.
The following documents must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the vacancy closing date. You are not required to submit a document if it does not apply to you. Warning: If you submit a document using the same document title, the 2nd submission will OVERWRITE the 1st submission. Also, do not upload password protected documents.
- Veterans Documents (if applicable): To be considered as a 5-point preference eligible, you must submit a copy of your Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty, DD214. Your DD-214 must show the type of discharge and dates of active duty. To claim 10-point preference, you must submit a copy of your DD214; an Application for 10-point Veteran's Preference, SF15; and the proof of entitlement of this preference which is normally an official statement, dated 1991 or later, from the Department of Veterans Affairs certifying to the present existence of the service-connected disability and indicating the percentage of your disability. (For active duty service members expecting honorable or general discharge or release within 120 days, click Active Duty). Without this documentation, you will not receive veteran's preference. For more information, go to: http://www.fedshirevets.gov/hire/hrp/vetguide/index.aspx
- Displaced Employee Placement Documents – Only required if requesting priority consideration under CTAP or ICTAP eligibility.
- Cover Letters are not mandatory and will not be used to verify experience, but may be submitted
Applicants selected for employment who are not current DOL employees will be required to provide proof of citizenship, and the E-Verify system will be used to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires.
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section.
Follow the steps below to apply. Your application and ALL required supplemental documents MUST be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Time (ET) on the vacancy closing date to receive consideration. Paper applications and supplemental documents submitted in any other manner without prior approval from the vacancy contact will not be considered. Click here for information on Reasonable Accommodations.
SAVE your information before the 30 MINUTE TIMEOUT! For help, go to https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/.
STEP 1 - Create USAJOBS Account on www.usajobs.gov, including Resume and Saved Documents
Your resume must provide sufficient information to substantiate your responses in the self-assessment vacancy questions. If not, HR may amend your responses to more accurately reflect the competency indicated by resume content. FOR EACH EMPLOYMENT PERIOD, include: start/end month & year and note full-time or part-time (if part-time, include # of hours worked per week); otherwise, your application may be considered incomplete.
STEP 2 - Complete the 1st part of the application process (USAJOBS)
Once you have identified a job on www.usajobs.gov that you wish to apply for, click on the title and click the Apply button . For questions about the vacancy, contact the Agency Contact at the bottom of the announcement. Click “Start Application” and proceed through 5 steps noted at the top of the USAJOBS page. You will be able to select a resume and documents from your USAJOBS Account that you can submit as a package as part of your DOL application. At Step 5, click “Continue to Agency Site”.
STEP 3 – Complete the 2nd part of the application process (DOL)
On the Department of Labor (DOL) page, create a DOL Account if you have not already and click “APPLY TO THIS VACANCY”. Continue through the 7 progress steps indicated by circles at the top of the DOL page. The 3rd progress step is where you answer the vacancy specific questions. The 4th progress step "Documents" is where you submit required documents (only if applicable to you) specified in the "Required Documents" section of this vacancy. If you submit a document using the same document title, the 2nd submission will OVERWRITE the 1st submission.
STEP 4 – On the “Review and Submit” step, click “Submit Application”
The last “Confirmation” step will turn green noting that your application was submitted successfully.
STEP 5 - Edit Application as needed by 11:59 pm ET of Closing Date by returning to USAJOBS, clicking the vacancy, then “Update Application”.
Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and refer candidates for selection consideration. Candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. You will be notified of the outcome. A selection is expected to be made within 30 calendar days from the issuance date of the certificate.
For instructions on how to check the status of your application, go to Step 7 on: Using DOORS and USAJOBS Help Guide. To sign up for Application Status Updates via email: Click Here for instructions.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/536572500. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
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