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Benefits Advisor

Department of Labor
Employee Benefits Security Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in the Department of Labor/EBSA, Chicago, IL. 

This position is inside the bargaining unit.   

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
03/15/2019 to 03/28/2019
Salary
$45,703 to - $87,933 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 07 - 11
Location
Chicago, IL
2 vacancies
Telework eligible
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12 - There is no obligation to provide future promotions to you if you are selected. Promotions are dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, the need for an employee promoted to the higher level, and supervisory approval.
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Announcement number
DE-19-CHI-EBSA-0059
Control number
527493900

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

U. S. Citizens; Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program and Career Transition Assistance Program eligible in the local commuting area. Also advertised as job # MS-19-CHI-EBSA-0059 for status applicants, VEOA eligible, Qualified Land Management eligible and Military Spouse.

Duties

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GS-7: Provides technical information, guidance and assistance in response to written, telephonic, and walk-in inquiries from plan administrators, participants and  beneficiaries, members of congress, and the general public on the rights and benefits of individuals under the job related acts.  Conducts detailed fact-finding and researches, analyzes and applies the provisions of ERISA, COBRA, ACA, HIPAA, Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, Newborns' and Mothers' Health Protection Act, Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act, Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act, Michelle's law and other statutes and related regulations in the course of responding to inquiries. Directly assists participants in obtaining benefits to which they are entitled but which they have not been able to secure from plan officials on their own. Performs liaison duties with agencies, industry and employee groups and other organizations.

GS-9: Provides technical information, guidance and assistance in response to written, telephonic, and walk-in inquiries from plan administrators, participants and  beneficiaries, members of congress, and the general public on the rights and benefits of individuals under the job related acts.  Conducts detailed fact-finding and researches, analyzes and applies the provisions of ERISA, COBRA, ACA, HIPAA, Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, Newborns' and Mothers' Health Protection Act, Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act, Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act, Michelle's law and other statutes and related regulations in the course of responding to inquiries.  Advises participants in obtaining benefits to which they are entitled but which they have not been able to secure from plan officials on their own.  Directly assists participants in obtaining benefits to which they are entitled but which they have not been able to secure from plan officials on their own.  Works with plan sponsors and employee benefit plans on behalf of plan participants to resolve disputes regarding plan-wide participant contribution and abandoned plan complaints through informal dispute resolution.

GS-11: The duties are the same as the GS-9, but performed with less supervision.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Appointment to this position requires a background investigation.
  • Must be at least 16 years old and an U.S. Citizenship.

Applicants must meet all legal and regulatory requirements.  Reference the "Required Documents" section for additional requirements.

Qualifications

GS-11: Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-9, in the Federal Service.
GS-9: Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-7, in the Federal Service.  
GS-7: Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-5, in the Federal Service.

Specialized experience is defined as 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.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC.  WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

This experience may have been gained working with pension and health benefit plan administration; or in a consulting firm, law firm, actuarial or accounting firm; in a labor union, health and pension trade association; or in a research service, bank trust department, brokerage firms, insurance companies, or investment firms.

GS-7: Some examples of qualifying experience include: experience that demonstrates the ability to provide assistance and educational information to individuals, employers, special interest and other groups in the employee benefits field;  conduct fact-finding and researches, analyzes and applies provisions of health benefit acts and other statutes and related regulations to respond to inquiries; Assist in obtaining benefits for participants.

GS-9: Some examples of qualifying experience include: experience providing technical information, guidance and assistance in response to written and telephonic inquiries related to various benefits; conducts detailed fact-finding and researches, analyzes and applies the provisions of ERISA in the course of responding to inquiries; Determines eligibility or entitlements to benefits; directly assists participants in obtaining benefits entitlements. 

GS-11: Some examples of qualifying experience include:  Professional legal work in the interpretation of Federal laws and legal requirements concerning health and pension plans or in such related fields as taxation, securities, real estate, corporations, trusts, bankruptcy, and investments; Professional auditing and accounting work that involved determining compliance with Federal and State laws governing health and pension plans, securities, banking, insurance or corporations; Knowledge of ERISA, COBRA, ACA, HIPAA, Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, Newborn's and Mother's Health Protection Act, Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act, Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act, Michelle’s Law and related laws, regulations and policies. 

GS-11: In addition to the examples of specialized experience shown above your application must demonstrate knowledge of ERISA laws and regulations or those similarly complex Federal or State financial regulatory programs.   

Education may be used to substitute for specialized experience for this position.

TO SUBSTITUTE EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE APPLICANTS MUST PROVIDE PROOF OF COMPLETION OF DEGREES IF APPLICABLE. 

GS-7: 1 full year of graduate level education or superior academic achievement as listed below:
Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) is automatically qualifying for the GS-7 level. SAA is based upon one of the following three criteria:
1) Class standing - you must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university or major subdivision based on completed courses; or
2) Grade Point Average (GPA) - you must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher (out of a possible 4.0) based on 4 years of education or based on courses completed during the final 2 years or
a 3.5 GPA in the major field of study completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or
3) Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society.

GS-9: A master's or equivalent graduate degree or two full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B., or J.D., if related   

GS-11: 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.

Education


To use your education as a basis for meeting the minimum qualification requirements (MQR) 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 MQR, you must supply transcripts from each academic institution in which the required courses were taken 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 demonstrating that you meet the eligibility and MQR for this position, your application will be deemed incomplete & 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 or you will be ineligible for further consideration.

Additional information

DOL seeks to attract and retain a high performing and diverse workforce in which employees’ differences are respected and valued to better meet the varying needs of the diverse customers we serve. DOL fosters a diverse and inclusive work environment that promotes collaboration, flexibility and fairness so that all individuals are able to participate and contribute to their full potential.

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

Delegated Examining Authorization # DOL-1

How you will be evaluated

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:

Communication Skills: Clearly and effectively conveys information (orally and in writing) to individuals and groups.
Individual Effectiveness: Organizes work and sets realistic personal goals.
Interpersonal Effectiveness: Shows understanding, professionalism, courtesy, tact, and concern.
Technology Application: Uses computers and computer software applications.
Critical Thinking/Problem Solving: Identifies and analyzes problems.
Customer Relations: Identifies and understands stakeholder problems. Under close supervision, attempts resolution of identified customer problems through provision of accurate technical information gained through analysis of regulatory and plan provisions and clear, concise explanation of benefits due.
 
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/CTAP ELIGIBLES ONLY: If you are eligible for special priority selection under ICTAP/CTAP, you must be well-qualified for the position to receive consideration.  ICTAP/CTAP eligibles who are placed into Category [INSERT WELL-QUALIFIED CATEGORY] or higher will be considered "well-qualified".

Click Application of Veterans Preference for Category Rating Jobs for more information.


To preview questions please click here.

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