HR Specialist (Employee Benefits)
: Job Details :

Summary NOTE: This position is ONLY open to current, permanent employees assigned to the South Central VA Health Care Network, VISN 16, HR Department and/or current, permanent employees of the VA eligible under the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) (displaced/surplus VA employees who havereceived a notice of RIF, separation, etc.). The announcement is limited to the first 50 applicants and will close on the date indicated, or when 50 applications are received, whichever occurs first. Responsibilities VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: HR Specialist Total Rewards Please Note: This is NOT a remote position. The incumbent will serve as a Human Resources (HR) Specialist performing a variety of HR program functions in Federal Workers' Compensation and serves as a VISN Subject Matter Expert (SME) on the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) servicing the employee's workers' compensation needs at all medical facilities within VISN 16. The incumbent is a liaison between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Labor's Office of Workers Compensation Programs (OWCP) District Offices Duties include but are not limited to: Completing technical reviews, analysis and collaborating among internal and external stakeholders to ensure accurate processing of worker's compensation claims. Providing guidance and counsel to facility and VISN employees, managers and supervisors regarding their rights, responsibilities and requirements under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) immediately following the first report of work-related injury or illness. Evaluating the disposition of each workers' compensation claim to determine whether it is necessary to transmit the claim form to OWCP or maintain it in the Employee's Medical Folder. Evaluating all claims against the five required elements of a compensable claim, i.e., Time elements, federal employee status, Fact of Injury (factual), Fact of Injury (medical, diagnosis), Performance of Duty, and Causal Relationship. Reviewing and interpreting medical portions of claim based on medical matrices and the level of disability in relationship to the work injury, considering any preexisting medical conditions and subsequent medical conditions of the injured employee. Identifying, developing, and coordinating permanent job offers with human resources and facility senior leadership when the injured employee is at maximum medical improvement and OWCP has determined the injured worker cannot return to their pre-injury position because they are permanently partially disabled. Monitoring and tracking injury management and workers' compensation quality indicators and subsequent impact on the facility and network director's performance standards. Providing workers' compensation program advice to the facility on the preparation of disciplinary and adverse action, grievance and appeal letters by reviewing the workers' compensation aspects of the case for compliance to applicable laws and regulations. Representing the workers' compensation program for the agency in fraud proceedings and prosecution. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 8am-4:30pm CST. Telework: No. Remote/Virtual: This is NOT a remote/virtual position. Position Description/PD#: HR Specialist (Employee Benefits)/PD99655S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a current, permanent employees assigned to the South Central VA Health Care Network, VISN 16, Human Resources Department or CTAP Eligible. You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See Additional Information below for details. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/27/2024. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Selective Placement Factor: This position includes a skill, knowledge, ability or other worker characteristic basic to - and essential for - satisfactory performance of the job. Selective Placement Factors are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for a position. Your resume must clearly detail your experience as it relates to the selective placement factor. Applicants who do not meet it are ineligible for further consideration. The Selective Placement Factor for this position is: Experience researching, applying, interpreting and communicating laws, regulations and policy related to a Human Resources Program. In addition to meeting the above Selective Placement Factor, applicants must also meet the experience and/or directly related education relevant to this position. The BASIC REQUIREMENT for the HR Specialist GS-0201 series is presumed met if found qualified at the GS-0201-7 level and above. To qualify for this position at the GS-7 level, you meet one of the following: Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level in federal service that demonstrates HR management knowledge, concepts and principles and the performance of work in one or more of the HR specialty areas. Such experience may be gained in administrative, professional, technical or other responsible work positions in the public (i.e., Government or military) or private sector. Qualifying specialized experience includes: Experience providing guidance both verbally and in writing to employees on employee benefit programs. Performing data entry and coding human resources benefits and actions related to benefits in a variety of automated HR systems. Analyzing benefit forms/documents for accuracy and completion and processing such documents according to program policy/rules. Typing correspondence and other documentation related to employee benefits. Ability to assist and train others with human resources such as employee benefits, process, and use of automated systems. ~OR~ Education: Successful completion of one full year of graduate level education or Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.). The S.A.A. provision is an educational achievement based on class standing, grade-point average or honor society membership. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. ~OR~ Combination: Combinations of successfully completed graduate level education (beyond a bachelors degree) and specialized experience, as described above, to meet the total requirements. The education portion must include graduate courses that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do to the work of this position. Education Qualifying education for the GS-0201 series includes courses and programs in HR, HR development, HR management, business, business management/administration, industrial relations, labor relations, industrial psychology, organizational psychology, organizational development, management, organizational behavior, pre-law/law, legal studies, health care management/administration, public administration, public policy, human services, leadership and/or humanities. A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Superior Academic Achievement S.A.A. (S.A.A. is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership. The full provision for Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.) is described in the OPM General Schedule Operating Manual. Class standing--Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses. Grade-point average (G.P.A.)--Applicants must have a grade-point average of: 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ( B or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ( B+ or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum. Grade-point averages are to be rounded to one decimal place. For example, 2.95 will round to 3.0 and 2.94 will round to 2.9. Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society--Applicants can be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies listed below. These honor societies are listed in the Association of College Honor Societies: Booklet of Information (1992-95) and/or Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (1991). Agencies considering eligibility based on any society not included in the following list must ensure that the honor society meets the minimum requirements of the Association of College Honor Societies. Membership in a freshman honor society cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision. (UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix F1; Human Resources Specialist Qualification Standards GS-0201. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.