The position description number for this position is PD6F1430. For a summary of the major duties, view the full PD at the following link: PD Search.
The incumbent serves as a technical specialist in Actuarial Services, providing principal services involving program cost estimation, financial status evaluation, insurance valuation, financial projection, legislative and regulatory proposal evaluation, consultation, improvement of public understanding, and publication of professional findings.
Summary
The position description number for this position is PD6F1430. For a summary of the major duties, view the full PD at the following link: PD Search.
The incumbent serves as a technical specialist in Actuarial Services, providing principal services involving program cost estimation, financial status evaluation, insurance valuation, financial projection, legislative and regulatory proposal evaluation, consultation, improvement of public understanding, and publication of professional findings.
Implements and refines actuarial models to project future program costs, liabilities, and trends, comparing past forecasts with actual outcomes to identify relevant trends and forces.
Utilizes advanced statistical and mathematical techniques to analyze large datasets, evaluate assumptions, and ensure the accuracy and reliability of study samples and projections.
Conducts complex actuarial analyses and develops mathematical models to evaluate SSA financial risks, social insurance programs, and benefit programs.
Prepares detailed reports, presentations, and documentation of actuarial findings, communicating model results and providing recommendations to management and stakeholders.
Reviews and evaluates the impact of proposed legislation, regulations, or program changes on actuarial assumptions and outcomes.
Ensures compliance with federal standards and guidelines for actuarial work.
Reviews and synthesizes current professional literature in fields relevant to actuarial research, including insurance, statistics, and mathematics, maintains up-to-date knowledge of developments in actuarial science, federal regulations,
(CONT.) and industry best practices and evaluates their implications on the work of the office.
Plans, executes, and oversees comprehensive actuarial research, preparing actuarial estimates and calculations for a major program or a major portion of a SSA programs, or for a related functional area.
Plans, develops, and conducts new or special actuarial studies to introduce innovative methods and techniques that support the effective management of assigned programs.
Provides advisory services, on request, to other SSA departments, other government agencies, research organizations, and members of Congress and their staff, and works with senior actuaries, analysts, and program managers concerning
(CONT.) study approaches and research techniques amenable to actuarial methods to support the Agency’s mission.
Accompanies the Chief Actuary at meetings and discussions or may represent Actuarial Services at these meetings.
All application materials must be received by the closing date.
Applicants must be in good standing.
Applicants must have a fully successful rating of record.
Official Personnel Folders will not be reviewed.
Requests for copies of application documents will not be accepted.
All application forms submitted become the property of SSA Human Resources.
Qualifications
Resumes exceeding two pages in length will not be considered. Visit the 'Required Documents' section below for more information.
*** YOUR RESUME/SSA-45 MUST INCLUDE YOUR CURRENT and PERMANENT ORGANIZATION (i.e., component) AND LOCATION OF YOUR CURRENT DUTY STATION. *** Reviewers must be able to determine the Chief-level office you are currently working in from your resume or SSA-45.
Individual Occupational Requirements for GS-13 Actuary: Applicants may qualify by meeting ALL of the following requirements:
One year of actuarial experience equivalent to the next lower grade level; and
A course of educational study in actuarial science, mathematics, relevant statistics, business, finance, economics, insurance, or computer science.
In addition to meeting the basic requirement, applicants must also meet the grade specific requirements below in order to qualify:
Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience at the GS-12 level, or equivalent, which is in or related to the work of the position to be filled and has equipped applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Such experience must include both:
Professional knowledge in one or more of the following disciplines: mathematics, statistics, business, finance, economics, or insurance.
Professional knowledge of programs and problems related to financial risks posed by one or more of the following: Life, health, retirement/pension, or property/casualty entities.
ALL of this specialized experience is REQUIRED and must be explicitly documented/described in your resume, or you may be disqualified from further consideration.
Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
Applicants for promotion must have 52 weeks at GS-12.
Time in grade requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
Education
This position does not have an education qualification substitution.
Additional information
Applications for noncompetitive consideration will be accepted from SSA employees in the area of consideration who are currently serving under the following types of appointments: Schedule A, Reg. 213.3102 (U) appointments for individuals with disabilities and time limited appointments for veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Applicants serving under these provisions do not need to submit copies of your disability or Veteran's documentation.However, you must submit a current SF-50 that provides information on the appointment authority under which you were hired. Otherwise, you will not receive non-competitive consideration.
NOTE: Excepted service employees serving under Schedule A appointments for Attorney positions or Pathways Programs appointments (Presidential Management Fellows, Recent Graduates, and Interns) are not eligible for consideration.
This is a bargaining unit position, represented by AFGE, to be filled under the provisions of the SSA/AFGE Merit Promotion Plan.
Additional selections may be made within 6 months of the date the best qualified list is issued.
LOCALITY PAY: Salary will be set in accordance with locality pay provisions. Candidates currently receiving a higher locality pay than the office applied for are advised that should they be selected, they will lose entitlement to the higher locality pay.
OTHER NOTES:
This position is eligible for telework in accordance with agency policy.
Relocation expenses will not be paid.
This is a moderate-risk public trust position. The selected employee will be required to complete a Standard Form 85P, Questionnaire for Public Trust Positions, in order to have the appropriate investigation conducted, unless the employee has been previously certified eligible to occupy a position at this level.
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.
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.
The following knowledge, skills, and abilities are necessary to perform the duties of the position:
Knowledge of the Social Security programs, their operation and statistical resources.
Knowledge of actuarial theory.
Ability to apply existing actuarial knowledge and research methodology to current assignments.
Ability to present findings of facts and analyses in logical, clear form (both written and oral) and to make valid recommendations.
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 section provides information on supporting documentation that must be submitted.
All applicants are encouraged to submit a two-page resume in compliance with OPM's new resume guidance, as well as an SSA-45 under "Other," to ensure that all qualifications are fully considered.
SSA-45 (all applicants)
SF-50 (all applicants) It is encouraged for all applicants to submit their most recent SF-50 so reviewers can verify you meet the Area of Consideration.
A transcript must be submitted with your application to demonstrate you meet the Individual Occupational Requirement, described above.
Your SSA-45 must provide all of the information necessary to make qualifications determinations (e.g., all experience related to your qualifications for this position, full performance level of your current position, the dates at each grade level of your current or prior career-ladder position(s), etc.). These documents will be referred to the selecting official if you are eligible for the best qualified list. Employees' Official Personnel Folders will not be reviewed.
Your SSA-45 must specifically demonstrate, in your own words, the possession of the required experience related to the minimum qualifications, selective placement factors and/or evaluation criteria. Information that is copied or restated language from the vacancy announcement, rating criteria, KSAs and/or position description will not be considered. If this occurs, you may lose consideration for one or more grade levels or found ineligible.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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.
Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility. When answering the questionnaire, remember that your experience is subject to verification by the selecting official. You may be asked to provide specific examples or documentation of experience to support your answers, or you may be required to verify a response by a practical demonstration of your claimed ability to perform a task.
Notice Concerning Materially False, Fictitious, or Fraudulent Statements
Anything you claim in the occupational questionnaire or in your SSA-45 may be subject to verification. By completing the electronic application process, you are certifying that any statements you make are true, complete, and correct to the best of your knowledge and belief and are made in good faith. Materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements or representations are subject to disciplinary action.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
The Occupational Questionnaire: Click on the Apply Online button to create an account or log into your existing USAJOBS account and follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire.
Additional Required Documents, if applicable (See Required Documents section).
The complete Application Package must be submitted before 11:59 p.m. (EST) on 11/20/2026. Failure to upload any required documents will disqualify your application from consideration.
If you use assistive software or an adaptive device, or you are experiencing some other type of technical difficulty and/or otherwise require assistance with the application process, please contact Ginny Sherrard-Lees at ginny.sherrard-lees@ssa.gov or 410-965-7696.
Individuals with hearing or speech disabilities may use the listed email or 7-1-1 for TTY-based Telecommunications Relay Services to call the listed phone number. Additional Telecommunications Relay Services options are available in each state: https://www.fcc.gov/general/trs-state-and-territories
APPLYING FROM A PERSONAL COMPUTER OUTSIDE OF WORK
SSA employees may access Internal Vacancies On-Line (IVOL) postings and apply for vacancies from locations outside of SSA (e.g., from home, public computer, etc.). Please use the following link:https://www.ssa.gov/careers/ivol. Be sure to forward the link and other application materials (such as the SSA-45) to an email source accessible from outside of SSA (e.g. your personal computer, etc.).
Due to our security procedures, our office will not accept any applications submitted via email, standard mail, or facsimile sent directly to the Servicing Personnel Office. Applicants are required to file through the online application process. The email address is listed only for inquiries about the position or the How to Apply process.
To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log in to your USAJOBS account.
Actuarial Services
6401 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, MD 21235
US
Next steps
After all of the applications have been evaluated, you will receive notification via email explaining the status of your application. If you applied incorrectly or submitted an incomplete application, we will be unable to send you an electronic receipt of your application. Please read the How to Apply instructions carefully to ensure that you submit a complete application.
To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log in to your USAJOBS account, select Application Status, and click on the more information link under the application status for this position.
Selection interviews may be conducted with one or more of the candidates, but there is no requirement that interviews be conducted. The hiring office will contact candidates directly for interviews. Interviews may be conducted via video conferencing software, if technically feasible. Applicants referred for consideration will receive a final disposition notice after selections have been made.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
The following section provides information on supporting documentation that must be submitted.
All applicants are encouraged to submit a two-page resume in compliance with OPM's new resume guidance, as well as an SSA-45 under "Other," to ensure that all qualifications are fully considered.
SSA-45 (all applicants)
SF-50 (all applicants) It is encouraged for all applicants to submit their most recent SF-50 so reviewers can verify you meet the Area of Consideration.
A transcript must be submitted with your application to demonstrate you meet the Individual Occupational Requirement, described above.
Your SSA-45 must provide all of the information necessary to make qualifications determinations (e.g., all experience related to your qualifications for this position, full performance level of your current position, the dates at each grade level of your current or prior career-ladder position(s), etc.). These documents will be referred to the selecting official if you are eligible for the best qualified list. Employees' Official Personnel Folders will not be reviewed.
Your SSA-45 must specifically demonstrate, in your own words, the possession of the required experience related to the minimum qualifications, selective placement factors and/or evaluation criteria. Information that is copied or restated language from the vacancy announcement, rating criteria, KSAs and/or position description will not be considered. If this occurs, you may lose consideration for one or more grade levels or found ineligible.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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.
Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility. When answering the questionnaire, remember that your experience is subject to verification by the selecting official. You may be asked to provide specific examples or documentation of experience to support your answers, or you may be required to verify a response by a practical demonstration of your claimed ability to perform a task.
Notice Concerning Materially False, Fictitious, or Fraudulent Statements
Anything you claim in the occupational questionnaire or in your SSA-45 may be subject to verification. By completing the electronic application process, you are certifying that any statements you make are true, complete, and correct to the best of your knowledge and belief and are made in good faith. Materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements or representations are subject to disciplinary action.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
The Occupational Questionnaire: Click on the Apply Online button to create an account or log into your existing USAJOBS account and follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire.
Additional Required Documents, if applicable (See Required Documents section).
The complete Application Package must be submitted before 11:59 p.m. (EST) on 11/20/2026. Failure to upload any required documents will disqualify your application from consideration.
If you use assistive software or an adaptive device, or you are experiencing some other type of technical difficulty and/or otherwise require assistance with the application process, please contact Ginny Sherrard-Lees at ginny.sherrard-lees@ssa.gov or 410-965-7696.
Individuals with hearing or speech disabilities may use the listed email or 7-1-1 for TTY-based Telecommunications Relay Services to call the listed phone number. Additional Telecommunications Relay Services options are available in each state: https://www.fcc.gov/general/trs-state-and-territories
APPLYING FROM A PERSONAL COMPUTER OUTSIDE OF WORK
SSA employees may access Internal Vacancies On-Line (IVOL) postings and apply for vacancies from locations outside of SSA (e.g., from home, public computer, etc.). Please use the following link:https://www.ssa.gov/careers/ivol. Be sure to forward the link and other application materials (such as the SSA-45) to an email source accessible from outside of SSA (e.g. your personal computer, etc.).
Due to our security procedures, our office will not accept any applications submitted via email, standard mail, or facsimile sent directly to the Servicing Personnel Office. Applicants are required to file through the online application process. The email address is listed only for inquiries about the position or the How to Apply process.
To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log in to your USAJOBS account.
Actuarial Services
6401 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, MD 21235
US
Next steps
After all of the applications have been evaluated, you will receive notification via email explaining the status of your application. If you applied incorrectly or submitted an incomplete application, we will be unable to send you an electronic receipt of your application. Please read the How to Apply instructions carefully to ensure that you submit a complete application.
To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log in to your USAJOBS account, select Application Status, and click on the more information link under the application status for this position.
Selection interviews may be conducted with one or more of the candidates, but there is no requirement that interviews be conducted. The hiring office will contact candidates directly for interviews. Interviews may be conducted via video conferencing software, if technically feasible. Applicants referred for consideration will receive a final disposition notice after selections have been made.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
