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Recent Graduate - Benefits Advisor

Department of Labor
Employee Benefits Security Administration

Summary

For more information, click Pathways Programs, State Apprenticeship Programs, Other Apprenticeship Programs or Career One Stop.

This is an appointment under the DOL Recent Graduates program. The program duration is one year. Upon successful completion of the program and at the agency's discretion, the appointee may be converted to a term or permanent position in the competitive service.

This position is inside the Bargaining Unit.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
02/13/2026 to 02/18/2026
Salary
$51,283 to - $100,315 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7 - 9
Locations
Many vacancies in the following locations:
Los Angeles, CA
San Francisco, CA
Plantation, FL
Atlanta, GA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—This is not a remote work position. The selectee will report to an assigned DOL office location on a regular basis and is eligible for participation in telework as determined by management in accordance with DOL policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
12
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
Yes
Announcement number
PW-26-CHI-EBSA-12884481-LAC
Control number
857616900

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Open to applicants who have graduated, within the past two years, (with an associate, bachelor, master, professional, doctorate, diploma, vocational, technical degree, or certificate, etc.) from a qualifying educational institution or career or technical education program (including registered Apprenticeship Programs, Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, Job Corps, Climate Corps). Students who will meet the education requirements at the end of Spring semester 2026 may apply.

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Duties

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Benefits Advisors respond to participant and beneficiary inquiries and complaints and provide technical assistance on the obligations of employers, plan sponsors, and service providers under ERISA, COBRA, ACA, HIPAA, MHPAEA, etc. They resolve valid complaints through informal dispute resolution, refer complaints to enforcement involving potential criminal activity or plan wide issues that cannot be resolved informally, and serve as the focal point of the DOL liaison with the general public.

The following are the duties of this position at the GS-09 level. If you are selected at a lower grade level, you will have the opportunity to learn to perform all these duties and will receive training to help you grow in this position.

Major duties for this position include but are not limited to:

  • Provide information, guidance, and assistance to plan administrators, plan service providers, participants, beneficiaries, the general public and other government agencies concerning provisions of ERISA and other related statutes, regulations, and Department published guidance, with supervisory/senior advisor assistance.
  • Assist participants and beneficiaries in obtaining benefits to which they are entitled but which they have not been able to secure from plan officials. Develop recoveries and referrals per EBSA's standard operating procedures. Explain the law, regulations or other guidance and works with employers to informally resolve benefit issues; with supervisory/senior advisor assistance.
  • Conduct research, fact-finding, analyze data, and prepare and present information about particular situations. Identify and develop responses to inquiries. Review eligibility or entitlement to benefits, including obtaining and examining multiple types of records; with supervisory/senior advisor assistance.
  • Identify potential criminal or more complex civil disputes that require formal investigation, or situations where it appears that a fiduciary violation of law has occurred, and develop investigative referrals; with supervisory/senior advisor assistance.
  • Educate individuals on their rights and responsibilities under ERISA and other related laws enforced by EBSA. Assist with planning and conducting outreach events; disseminate information related to ERISA employee benefits plan protections and retirement savings education; with supervisory/senior advisor assistance.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.
EBSA commits to educating and assisting more than 155 million workers, retirees, and their families covered by the benefit plans we oversee. This includes overseeing more than 837,000 private retirement plans, 2.8 million health plans, and 521,000 other welfare benefit plans, which collectively hold about $14.6 trillion in assets. We also dedicate ourselves to serving plan sponsors and members of the employee benefits community. To learn more about the agency go to www.dol.gov/agencies/ebsa and EBSA Restores Nearly $1.4 Billion to Employee Benefit Plans, Participants, and Beneficiaries | U.S.…

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be at least 16 years.
  • Must be a U.S. Citizen.
  • Candidate required to obtain the necessary security/investigation level.
  • The entire duration of the Recent Graduate Appointment constitutes a trial period.
  • In some regions, a driver's license may be required.
  • Appointees must sign a DOL Pathways Recent Graduate Program Participant Agreement.

Qualifications

This appointment is under the DOL Recent Graduates program. The program duration is one year.
The appointee must be a U.S. citizen to be eligible for conversion to a permanent position in the competitive service upon completion of the program.

Applicants must have graduated, within the past two years, (with an associate, bachelor, master, professional, doctorate, diploma, vocational, technical degree, or certificate, etc.) from a qualifying educational institution or career or technical educational program including registered Apprenticeship Programs, Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, Job Corps, Climate Corps). Students who will meet the education requirements at the end of Spring semester 2026 may apply.

You must meet the Basic Requirements listed in the Education Requirements section and the Specialized Experience to qualify for the Recent Graduate - Benefits Advisor, as described below.

For GS-07: Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level GS-05 in the Federal Service.

For GS-09: Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level GS-07 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.

GS-07 Qualifying specialized experience for the GS-07 is defined as:

  • Experience working in a customer service environment providing information or assistance, resolving inquiries or complaints, and communicating clearly in both writing and speech to diverse audiences.
  • Experience delivering educational information, outreach, or training (e.g., drafting materials, conducting briefings or presentations, and responding to questions) tailored to the audience and subject matter.
  • Experience using research and analytical methods to identify and analyze problems and gathering, validating, and compiling data.
  • Experience building and maintaining effective working relationships using tact, empathy, and professionalism, including engaging individuals who may be difficult, hostile, or distressed, and working respectfully with people from diverse backgrounds.
OR you may substitute education for experience:

A Bachelor's degree with superior academic achievement defined as 1 (or more) of the following: graduating in the upper 1/3 of the class; membership in a national honor society; earning an undergrad GPA of 2.95 (on a 4.0 scale) in the final 2 undergrad years completed; earning an overall undergrad GPA of 2.95; earning an undergrad GPA of 3.45 in the major during the final 2 undergrad years completed; earning an overall undergrad GPA of 3.45 in the major.

OR

One year of related progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: An appropriate combination of graduate level education and specialized experience.

Education must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this position.

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.

GS-09 Qualifying specialized experience for the GS-09 is defined as:
  • Experience working in a customer service environment providing information or assistance, resolving inquiries or complaints, and communicating clearly in both writing and speech to diverse audiences.
  • Experience delivering educational information, outreach, or training (e.g., drafting materials, conducting briefings or presentations, and responding to questions) tailored to the audience and subject matter.
  • Experience applying and interpreting laws, regulations, policies, and procedures related to employee benefit plans (e.g., ERISA, reporting/disclosure) or a similar regulatory framework.
  • Experience using research and analytical methods to identify and analyze problems; gathering, validating, and compiling data from multiple sources; evaluating alternatives; and making well-supported recommendations.
  • Experience building and maintaining effective working relationships using tact, empathy, and professionalism, including engaging individuals who may be difficult, hostile, or distressed, and working respectfully with people from diverse backgrounds.
OR you may substitute education for experience:

2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree, in a related field of study that demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work;

OR

LL.B. or J.D., if related.

Education

To be eligible for an appointment, you must meet requirement A or B.

A. Completed all requirements for a diploma, associate, bachelor, master, professional, doctorate, vocational, or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution or career or technical education program (including registered Apprenticeship Programs, Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, Job Corps, Climate Corps) within the previous two years; OR

B. Was released or discharged from active duty within the previous two years, where the applicant is a veteran who, due to a military service obligation, was precluded from applying for a recent graduate position during any portion of the two-year eligibility period following completion of his/her degree or certificate requirements, provided that not more than six years have transpired since the applicant completed the requirements for a degree or certification. You must submit an academic transcript from your academic institution showing the date that you most recently completed the academic requirements described above.

*For Accredited Post-Secondary Institutions, click Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs
*For Registered State Apprenticeship Programs Information, click State Apprenticeship Programs
*For Other Apprenticeship Programs, click Apprenticeship Programs
*For Industry-Endorsed Certificate Programs, click Career One Stop Certificate Finder

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 coursework requirements for this position. Click Evaluation of Foreign Education for more information.

Additional information

*For more information, click Pathways Programs.

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.

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

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

For more information, click Career Ladder Promotion Information

Applicants must meet all legal and regulatory requirements.

This position is inside the bargaining unit. If the duty location is within the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, the position will be included in the Local 12, AFGE bargaining unit. If the duty location is outside the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, the position will be included in the NCFLL bargaining unit.

For more information, click Telework Position Information. This is not a remote work position. The selectee will report to an assigned DOL office location on a regular basis and is eligible for participation in telework as determined by management in accordance with DOL policy.

Based on agency needs, additional positions may be filled using this vacancy.

The Department of Labor may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities, currently offered by the Federal government to attract highly qualified candidates. Click here for Additional Information.

The Fair Chance Act (FCA) prohibits Federal agencies from requesting an applicant's criminal history information before the agency makes a conditional offer of employment. If you believe a DOL employee has violated your rights under the FCA, you may file a complaint of the alleged violation following our agency's complaint process Guidelines for Reporting Violations of the Fair Chance Act.

Note: The FCA does not apply to some positions specified under the Act, such as law enforcement or national security positions.

All Department of Labor employees are subject to the provisions of the Drug-Free Workplace Program under Executive Order 12564 and Public Law 100-71.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Reasonable Accommodation Information - Application Manager

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position.

USA Hire

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

  • Attention to Detail
  • Customer Service
  • Decision Making
  • Flexibility
  • Integrity/Honesty
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Learning
  • Oral Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Reasoning
  • Self-Management
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Teamwork
  • Written Communication
Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

Click Application of Veterans Preference for more information.

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.

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 qualification requirements section of this announcement and demonstrates proficiency in the basic competencies.

Click here for Evaluation details.

The information you provide may be verified by a review of your paid, unpaid, and volunteer, 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.).

For more detailed information on applying for positions with DOL click here to view the U.S. Department of Labor, How to Apply website.

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