Human Resources Assistant (Employee Benefits)

This Human Resources Assistant (Employee Benefits) position is with Veterans Health Administration (Department of Veterans Affairs) in Phoenix, AZ. This position is located in VHA Workforce Management and Consulting's Human Reasources Operations Office (HROO). HROO is the exclusive operational HR service provider for VHA's Central Office (VHACO). The Human Resources Assistant (Employee Benefits) serves in the HROO's Retirement Shared Services Office (RSSO) and provides information and counseling on retirement and related benefits to all VHA employees. Key duties: • This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed represent the full performance level of GS-07. At the lower grade levels, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher-level work, and availability of funds. Promotion is not guaranteed, and no promise of promotion is implied. Provides pre-retirement counseling to a wide variety of employees. Counseling services include retirement options available under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS), Civil Service Offset, Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) options, Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) options, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) withdrawal options, creditability of sick leave toward length of service, benefits of buying back refunded service, civilian and/or military deposit service and related benefits information. Conducts analysis of employee service history and corresponding retirement coverage codes. Prepares annuity estimates after determining creditability of civilian and military service and verifying service computation date of retirement. Works with employees to establish payments for both military deposit and civilian deposit/redeposit service. Provides in­-depth benefit analysis and comparisons of CSRS and FERS options, including Social Security benefits and offsets.. Performs work involving the collection, compilation and/or tracking of data along with statistical information in support of an organization's program operation. Reviews documents and reports for completeness and enters pertinent information into an automated tracking system. Performs database file searches, monitors all aspects of the operating program and makes recommendations to improve or modify methods for disseminating information to intended audiences. Creates cases in the appropriate case management program and works with servicing HR or payroll offices as needed to correct coding, establish payroll changes and other actions related to retirement actions. Examines and processes a variety of retirement personnel action requests. Identifies and reports unresolved data problems resulting from the processing requirements of different payroll systems. Maintains various filing systems, including appropriately documenting Official Personnel Files and internal filing systems to ensure retention of records. Reviews and/or drafts standard operating procedures (SOPs) and other written documents based on subject matter expertise, knowledge of existing internal procedures, and awareness of current regulatory requirements. Drafts responses to various information requests (such as Freedom of Information Act, Privacy Act, and Congressional inquiries) related to assigned cases within established timeframes. 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: Full-time, 40 hours per week, Monday - Friday. Compressed/Flexible: Available Telework: This position may be authorized for ad hoc telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Ad hoc is defined as occasional, non-recurring telework. Virtual: This position may be authorized for Virtual Work. Virtual Work eligibility is for current VA employees that are already subject to the return to in person work mandate in their current position. Definition of Virtual Work: Employee works outside of original hiring duty station at a VA owned or leased space. Return to Office (RTO): RTO mandates are in effect and selectees will be required to report to in person work unless they have an approved exception or an exemption. Any approval for an RTO exception, exemption, or extension will happen after a tentative job offer, but before a final job offer. Position Description/PD#: Human Resources Assistant (Employee Benefits)/PD52790A and PD52780A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Qualifications: To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/28/2026. 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-6 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5. For a GS-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-6. 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. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience as described below: GS-06 Minimum Qualifications Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-5 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience include: Providing employment benefits or counseling to a wide variety of employees. Processing a variety of personnel actions with assistance. Performing document searches and related administrative work as needed to ensure completeness of personnel records. GS-07 Minimum Qualifications Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-6 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience include: Answering questions and providing counseling on federal employee retirements. Assisting employees with completing and processing benefit election forms. Searching and filing employee documents in EOPF in accordance with policy. Note: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hour worked per week. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. View the full announcement and apply on USAJOBS.gov.