Summary This position is part of the Office of the Secretary, Interior Business Center, HRD Payroll Operations Division (POD), Benefits Processing Branch. The incumbent will be responsible for providing the following services: retirements and all associated actions, separations, health benefits, military service deposits, Thrift Savings Plan, Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), and W2s to all client agencies serviced by POD. Responsibilities Reviews and certifies work of peers. Handles complex assignments for Retirements, Health Benefits, MSD, TSP. Provides training to staff, employees, agencies, and entities. Interprets regulations to staff relating to internal and external entities (TSP, National Finance Center’s Centralized Enrollment Clearinghouse System (CLER), courts, health benefit carriers, OPM). Processes and reviews audits. Identifies errors for correction of retirements, health benefits, MSD, TSP using the Federal Personnel Payroll System, Retirement Systems, FrontEnd, TSP, CLER. Works with multiple complex retirement plans. Ensures work is accomplished to meet OPM requirements for timeliness and staff is meeting metrics. Certifies IRRs for client agencies. Work is complex, covering a broad range of benefits related topics. Requires in-depth analysis and high degree of technical skills. Develops and implements solutions to solve unique problems. Requirements Conditions of Employment U.S. Citizenship is required. Suitable for Federal employment, determined by background investigation. Direct Deposit of pay is required. Selective Service registration required for male applicants, unless exempt. Status candidates must meet time-in-grade (see Qualifications). Qualifications At the GS-09 level, you must meet one of the following qualifications: A. One year of specialized experience that is equivalent to at least the GS-7 level. Specialized experience is that which has equipped the applicant with the competencies to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience for this position includes experience with a variety of Benefits processing in a federal personnel payroll system and subsystems (e.g., retirements, health benefits, military service deposits, retirement code changes, Thrift Savings Plan and USERRA); experience performing audits and adjustments (e.g., health benefits audits, Thrift Savings Plan audits and Retirement Code Change audits); assisting, developing, and providing training to other team members regarding Federal civilian benefits; OR B. Have a master's or equivalent graduate degree, or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related in one of the following fields: Finance, Accounting, Auditing, Business Administration, HR Management, Communication, etc. (Note: Applicants who select this response must provide transcripts as verification of their education); OR C. Have a qualifying combination of specialized experience and education as described above. For example, 6 months of specialized experience and 1.5 years of qualifying graduate education related to the position, which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.(Note: Applicants who select this response must provide transcripts as verification of their education). Applicants must carefully review the information in the "How You Will Be Evaluated" section for important information and instructions pertaining to the multi-hurdle assessment process for this position. Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered. TIME-IN-GRADE: Current career or career-conditional employees of the Federal government, or former career or career-conditional employees, who have a break in service of less than one year, are required to meet the time-in-grade restriction of one year of Federal experience at the next lower grade, with few exceptions outlined in 5 CFR 300.603(b). A written test is not required. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Education If qualifying based on EDUCATION you MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement. Only education from institutions which are accredited or preaccredited/candidate for accreditation may be used to meet education requirements. FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html Additional Information Career Transition Assistance Programs: CTAP/ICTAP provides placement assistance to permanent Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated. Applicants claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with their application. To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, applicants must be well-qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), score at least 85 on the assessment questionnaire, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. For information on CTAP and ICTAP visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/federal-employees/career-transition/ Appointment Authorities: For more information on appointment authority eligibility requirements: Persons with Disabilities-Schedule A Special Hiring Authorities for Veterans Special Hiring Authority for Certain Military Spouses Other Special Appointment Authorities OPM Interchange Agreement and Other Miscellaneous Authorities Telework Suitability: The duties of this position are suitable for occasional telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval and if they meet the eligibility criterion in the 2010 Telework Act. Stipulations of Employment: Selection may require completion of a 1-year probationary period. Work Schedule: This position allows for a flexible work schedule. Miscellaneous: This position is covered by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), Local 1114. DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify. This vacancy announcement may be used to fill similar positions within 90 days. If selection is made below the full performance level, promotion up to the full performance level may be made without further competition. However, promotion(s) will depend on the performance of the incumbent and are not guaranteed.