Incumbent will provide direct support and assistance to higher level investigators and managers and conduct research on policy, program, and case related issues/questions, and gather/evaluate data relevant to specific cases. Also responsible for planning, directing, and administering a program of enforcement to ensure maximum compliance with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the criminal provisions of the US Code as they relate to employee benefit plans.
Summary
Incumbent will provide direct support and assistance to higher level investigators and managers and conduct research on policy, program, and case related issues/questions, and gather/evaluate data relevant to specific cases. Also responsible for planning, directing, and administering a program of enforcement to ensure maximum compliance with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the criminal provisions of the US Code as they relate to employee benefit plans.
Open to all current Department of Labor (DOL), Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) employees with competitive status in the local commuting area of Pasadena, CA. And Career Transition Program (CTAP) eligibles.
Serve as a technical expert and program advisor regarding the planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of current and proposed goals, objectives, and strategies about the EBSA health, pension or criminal investigations, the enforcement program, education, and compliance.
Provide insight and guidance regarding the interpretation and implementation of EBSA's statutory responsibilities under the criminal provisions of Title I of ERISA; Title 18 United States Criminal Code; and other related laws.
Recommend significant policy and program change that targets criteria, and enforcement and initiatives which address EBSA objectives and industry trends and problems.
Formulate, recommend, and oversee the implementation of the strategies, methodologies, targeted criteria, procedures, reporting and accountability systems, and guidance that form the basis for the EBSA enforcement program.
Keep well informed on current trends, interpretations, and legal actions arising from cases that may affect the enforcement of the provisions of ERISA.
Coordinate enforcement efforts to ensure a comprehensive enforcement presence across the country.
Initiate and maintain intra- Department, interagency, and intergovernmental liaison to assure coordination of Department, Federal and State programs aimed at compliance with ERISA and other Federal statutes related to employee pension and welfare benefit plans.
Assist management when representing EBSA and DOL at conferences, with other Federal, State, and local agencies.
Clarify and resolve questions of jurisdiction, policy, and strategy; formulate interagency teams to conduct joint investigations; jointly formulate investigative priorities and initiatives; discuss resolution of precedential and national enforcement problems enforcement efforts; discuss improvement of enforcement efforts and methodologies; participate in and/or lead interagency enforcement training efforts
Candidate required to obtain the necessary security/investigation level.
Requires a probationary period if the requirement has not been met.
Driver's License is desirable but not required.
Qualifications
You must meet the "Specialized Experience" to qualify for the Employee Benefits Investigator position, as described below.
For GS-14 level: Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level GS-13 in the Federal Service. Specialized Experience is the experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform the duties of the position successfully, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level.
Qualifying specialized experience for this GS-14 position includes: experience with programs, priorities and the civil laws administered by Federal and State agencies which impact health benefit plan activities and health coverage; experience with the health benefit industry, benefit claims processing, investigative methodology, auditing and accounting systems; experience with regulatory requirements and sub-regulatory guidance of Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) including the group health plan requirements under part 7 as amended by HIPAA, MHPA, MHPAEA, WHRCA, Newborn's Act, GINA, Michelle's Law, CHIPRA and the Affordable Care Act; experience analyzing and measuring the effectiveness and efficiency of the health enforcement programs.
Education
There is no substitution of education for experience at the GS-14 level for this position.
Additional information
Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or have speech disabilities, please dial 711 to access telecommunications relay services.
The mission of the Department of Labor (DOL) is to protect the welfare of workers and job seekers, improve working conditions, expand high-quality employment opportunities, and assure work-related benefits and rights for all workers. As such, the Department is committed to fostering a workplace and workforce that promote equal employment opportunity, reflects the diversity of the people we seek to serve, and models a culture of respect, equity, inclusion, and accessibility where every employee feels heard, supported, and empowered.
This position is at the Full-Performance Level (FPL).
This position is outside the bargaining unit.
Based on agency needs, additional positions may be filled using this vacancy.
This job is not 100% telework; it requires employees to report to the Pasadena, CA office on a regular basis.
As a condition of employment, all personnel must undergo a background investigation for access to DOL facilities, systems, information and/or classified materials before they can enter on duty: BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION
Telework: Eligibility is determined by management based on position duties during the recruitment process. Employee participation in telework on a routine or situational basis is determined by management primarily based on business needs. Employees participating in telework are subject to the terms and conditions of the Department of Labor's Telework Program.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Evaluation Factors (Competencies) - All qualified applicants will be evaluated on the following key competencies:
The information you provide may be verified by a review of your paid, unpaid, volunteer, and other lived experience, as it demonstrates the competencies or skills required for the position to be filled. Your evaluation may include an interview, reference checks, or other assessment conducted by HR specialists, subject matter experts, or panel members and may include other assessment tools (ex. interview, structured interview, written test, work sample, etc.). The examining Office of Human Resources (OHR) makes the final determination concerning applicant ratings. Your resume MUST provide sufficient information to substantiate your vacancy question responses. If not, the OHR may amend your responses to more accurately reflect the level of competency indicated by the content of your resume.
INFORMATION FOR CTAP ELIGIBLE(S) ONLY: If you are eligible for special priority selection under CTAP, you must be well-qualified for the position to receive consideration. CTAP eligible(s) will be considered "well-qualified" if they attain at least a rating score of 85 in a numerical rating scheme. Be sure to review the eligibility questions to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP eligible and submit supporting documentation.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
The following documents must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the vacancy closing date.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements of time-in-grade (52 weeks at the next lower grade), time-after-competitive-appointment (90 days), and minimum qualifications (52 weeks equivalent to the next lower grade in federal service). These requirements must be met within 30 days of 10/24/2023 the announcement closing date.
The following documents are required from all applicants (PLEASE READ CAREFULLY):
STATUS FEDERAL EMPLOYEES: If applying as a status candidate with current or former Federal Service, please provide a copy of your last or most recent SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action" which shows your appointment eligibility for the position for which you are applying. Your SF-50 must identify the highest grade you held on a permanent basis, Pay Plan/Pay Schedule, Series, Grade/Pay Band, and career status. Multiple SF-50 may be submitted to demonstrate your highest previous rate and eligibility.
*WARNING: An award SF-50 (ex. cash or time off award) may not indicate grade, step, and competitive status. For current DOL employees, an award SF-50 DOES NOT indicate grade and step.
Resumes are required- provide a resume either by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one from your profile. To receive full consideration for relevant and specialized experience, please list the month, year, and number of work hours worked for experience listed on your resume. We also suggest that you preview the vacancy questions, and confirm that your resume supports your question responses.
Most recent performance appraisal/evaluation signed and dated within 18 months is requested by the agency, but will not disqualify candidates if not submitted. If not submitted during the application process, one may/will be requested at the time of the interview if the opportunity is extended. *In most cases, CTAP applicants must submit this document - see the CTAP link below for more details.
The following documents are required (if applicable):
Displaced Employee Placement Documents: Only required if requesting priority consideration under Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) Eligibility. Click/Review this CTAP link to confirm what must be submitted as proof that the requirement has been met.
Cover Letters are not mandatory and will not be used to verify experience but may be submitted.
To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, including 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 USAJOBS Help Center
STEP 1 - Create a USAJOBS Account on www.usajobs.gov, including your Resume and Saved Documents. Your resume must provide sufficient information to substantiate your responses to 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 the 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. In 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 the 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.
STEP5 - Edit Application as needed by 11:59 pm ET of the Closing Date by returning to USAJOBS, clicking the vacancy, then "Update Application"
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
Employee Benefits Security Administration, Regional Offices
200 Constitution Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20210
US
Next steps
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 interviews. You will be notified of the outcome. A selection is expected to be made within 30 calendar days of the issuance date of the certificate.
For instructions on how to check the status of your application, go to USAJOBS Help Guide.
USAJOBS will no longer send status alert email notifications. You can check your application status in the TAS by logging into USAJOBS and in the Applicant Dashboard, click the hiring agency Talent Acquisition System (TAS). If the TAS does not provide application tracking information, contact the agency's point of contact on the job announcement.
To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link, and then select the more information link for this position. The Application page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
The following documents must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the vacancy closing date.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements of time-in-grade (52 weeks at the next lower grade), time-after-competitive-appointment (90 days), and minimum qualifications (52 weeks equivalent to the next lower grade in federal service). These requirements must be met within 30 days of 10/24/2023 the announcement closing date.
The following documents are required from all applicants (PLEASE READ CAREFULLY):
STATUS FEDERAL EMPLOYEES: If applying as a status candidate with current or former Federal Service, please provide a copy of your last or most recent SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action" which shows your appointment eligibility for the position for which you are applying. Your SF-50 must identify the highest grade you held on a permanent basis, Pay Plan/Pay Schedule, Series, Grade/Pay Band, and career status. Multiple SF-50 may be submitted to demonstrate your highest previous rate and eligibility.
*WARNING: An award SF-50 (ex. cash or time off award) may not indicate grade, step, and competitive status. For current DOL employees, an award SF-50 DOES NOT indicate grade and step.
Resumes are required- provide a resume either by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one from your profile. To receive full consideration for relevant and specialized experience, please list the month, year, and number of work hours worked for experience listed on your resume. We also suggest that you preview the vacancy questions, and confirm that your resume supports your question responses.
Most recent performance appraisal/evaluation signed and dated within 18 months is requested by the agency, but will not disqualify candidates if not submitted. If not submitted during the application process, one may/will be requested at the time of the interview if the opportunity is extended. *In most cases, CTAP applicants must submit this document - see the CTAP link below for more details.
The following documents are required (if applicable):
Displaced Employee Placement Documents: Only required if requesting priority consideration under Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) Eligibility. Click/Review this CTAP link to confirm what must be submitted as proof that the requirement has been met.
Cover Letters are not mandatory and will not be used to verify experience but may be submitted.
To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, including 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 USAJOBS Help Center
STEP 1 - Create a USAJOBS Account on www.usajobs.gov, including your Resume and Saved Documents. Your resume must provide sufficient information to substantiate your responses to 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 the 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. In 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 the 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.
STEP5 - Edit Application as needed by 11:59 pm ET of the Closing Date by returning to USAJOBS, clicking the vacancy, then "Update Application"
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
Employee Benefits Security Administration, Regional Offices
200 Constitution Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20210
US
Next steps
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 interviews. You will be notified of the outcome. A selection is expected to be made within 30 calendar days of the issuance date of the certificate.
For instructions on how to check the status of your application, go to USAJOBS Help Guide.
USAJOBS will no longer send status alert email notifications. You can check your application status in the TAS by logging into USAJOBS and in the Applicant Dashboard, click the hiring agency Talent Acquisition System (TAS). If the TAS does not provide application tracking information, contact the agency's point of contact on the job announcement.
To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link, and then select the more information link for this position. The Application page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
