Benefits Advisor (Bilingual)
Duties
Major duties include but are not limited to:
GS-301-09: Provides 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.
Assists participants and beneficiaries in obtaining benefits to which they are entitled but which they have not been able to secure from plan officials. Develops complex recoveries and referrals per EBSA's standard operating procedures. Explain the law, regulations or other guidance and work with employers to informally resolve benefit issues; with supervisory/senior advisor assistance.
Conducts research, fact-finding, analyzes data, and prepares and presents information about particular situations. Identifies and develops responses to inquiries. Reviews eligibility or entitlement to benefits with supervisory/senior advisor assistance.
Identify potential criminal or 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.
Educates individuals on their rights and responsibilities under ERISA and other related laws enforced by EBSA. Assists with planning and conducting outreach events; disseminates information related to ERISA employee benefits plan protections and retirement savings education; with supervisory/senior advisor assistance.
Gathers information so that agencies can determine how well programs and activities are meeting established needs and goals.
Maintains agency databases and systems with information that is used to generate reports supporting both policy and budget decisions; with supervisory/senior advisor assistance.
GS-301-11: Provides 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.
Assists participants and beneficiaries in obtaining benefits to which they are entitled but which they have not been able to secure
from plan officials. Develops complex recoveries and referrals per EBSA's standard operating procedures. Explain the law, regulations or other guidance and work with employers to informally resolve benefit issues; with supervisory/senior advisor assistance.
Conducts research, fact-finding, analyzes data, and prepares and presents information about particular situations. Identifies and develops responses to inquiries. Reviews eligibility or entitlement to benefits with supervisory/senior advisor assistance.
Identify potential criminal or 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.
Educates individuals on their rights and responsibilities under ERISA and other related laws enforced by EBSA. Plans and conducts outreach events; disseminates information related to ERISA employee benefits plan protections and retirement savings education; with supervisory/senior advisor assistance.
Benefits Advisor (Bilingual) regularly use Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Tagalog or Korean language translation skills in performing duties listed above and on an as needed basis to assist other office staff; receives assignments involving people who may communicate in native foreign language and unable to communicate effectively using English language.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- Must be at least 16 years old.
- Must be a U.S. Citizen.
- Candidate required to obtain the necessary security/investigation level.
- Requires a probationary period if the requirement has not been met.
- Must be able to speak/read/write English and one of the foreign languages listed in announcement.
- Driver's licenses desirable but not required.
Qualifications
Applicants will be required to self-certify proficiency in English and one of the following foreign languages: Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Tagalog or Korean by responding to a foreign language question which will be used to determine initial language proficiency and also meet the specialized experience or education listed below. Applicants who are otherwise qualified and referred must satisfactorily complete an interview to demonstrate their foreign language proficiency in order to be considered for appointment.
For the GS-9 level, Applicants must possess 1 year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-07 in the Federal Service.
Specialized experience:
- Experience working in a customer service environment providing technical information, guidance, and assistance that demonstrates both written and oral communication skills.
- Experience that demonstrates the ability to provide educational information and outreach activities.
- Experience that provided knowledge of laws, policies, regulations, and precedents.
- Experience in fact-finding research, analyzing data, reviewing requirements and providing determinations based on the information.
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.
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 in the Federal Service.
Specialized experience:
- Experience working in a customer service environment dealing with upset, difficult customers providing technical information, guidance and assistance.
- Experience administering the logistics of outreach programs and information.
- Experience in the interpretation of Federal laws and legal requirements.
- Experience in problem solving to ensure conformity to applicable laws, rules and regulations for employee benefit plans.
3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, in a related field of study that demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work;
OR
LL.M., if related.
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 coursework requirements for this position. Click Evaluation of Foreign Education for more information.
Additional information
This job is not 100% telework; it requires employee to report on a regular basis to their assigned office location.
- This is an Open and Continuous Announcement. The final application dispositions will be completed once all of the positions have been filled or the announcement reaches the end of the open period.
- The first cut-off date for receipt/referral of applications is 7/26/2023. Additional cut-off date will be: 8/2/2023 and 8/10/2023(closing date).
- This announcement may be closed early if sufficient applicants apply to fill the anticipated vacancies or may be extended, if needed.
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.
Refer to these links for more information: GENERAL INFORMATION, REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION, ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION, FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES
Applicants must meet all legal and regulatory requirements. Reference the "Required Documents" section for additional 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.
Career Level Promotion: 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 the supervisor's recommendation to the next grade.
Position 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.
Benefits
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.
Review our 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.
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.
Evaluation Factors (Competencies) - All qualified applicants will be evaluated on the following key competencies:
- Customer Service
- Information Management
- Interpersonal Skills
- Oral Communication
- Problem Solving
- Technical Competence
- Writing
Click here for Evaluation details.
You may preview questions for this vacancy here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12050932
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 ICTAP/CTAP ELIGIBLE(S) 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 eligible(s) who are placed into Category B or higher will be considered "well-qualified." Be sure to review the eligibility questions to reflect that you are applying as an ICTAP or CTAP eligible and submit supporting documentation.
Click Application of Veterans Preference for Category Rating Jobs for more information.
Benefits
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.
Review our 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.
Required Documents
As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.
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.
- 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 the experience listed on your resume. We also suggest that you preview the vacancy questions and confirm that your resume supports your question responses.
- 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 the veteran's preference. For more information, go to Feds Hire Vets - Veterans Preference
- 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.
NOTE: The OFFICIAL Transcript(s) MUST BE RECEIVED, if you are selected, and prior to receiving the firm offer with a start date.If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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.
How to Apply
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 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 USAJOBS 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.
STEP 5 - 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.Agency contact information
Regina Paruszkiewicz
Phone
415-625-2387
Email
paruszkiewicz.regina@dol.gov
Address
Employee Benefits Security Administration, Regional Offices
200 Constitution Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20210
USNext 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 point of contact on the job announcement.
Fair and Transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
- Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
- Reasonable accommodation policy
- Financial suitability
- Selective Service
- New employee probationary period
- Signature and false statements
- Privacy Act
- Social security number request
Required Documents
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.
- 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 the experience listed on your resume. We also suggest that you preview the vacancy questions and confirm that your resume supports your question responses.
- 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 the veteran's preference. For more information, go to Feds Hire Vets - Veterans Preference
- 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.
NOTE: The OFFICIAL Transcript(s) MUST BE RECEIVED, if you are selected, and prior to receiving the firm offer with a start date.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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.
This job is open to
Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.
The public
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Clarification from the agency
Open to the public. Also open to status applicants under MS-23-CHI-EBSA-12050933-RLP and to Recent Graduates under PW-23-CHI-EBSA-12050934-RLP. To be considered for each, you must apply to ALL job announcements. Must be bilingual in English and Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Tagalog or Korean.
The US Department of Labor labors for laborers. The department looks out for job seekers, workers, and retirees in the US. It works to advance work opportunities, improve work conditions, and protect retirement and health benefits. It helps employ...
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