Employee Benefits Law Specialist

Summary EBSA plays a vital role in protecting the retirement, health, and other job-based benefits of America's workers, retirees, and their families. We issue effective regulations, offer comprehensive education and assistance to workers, plan sponsors, fiduciaries, and service providers, and rigorously enforce the law. We serve workers, families, and the broader employee benefits community by protecting the security and integrity of the nation's benefit systems. Learn more about this agency Duties This position is in the Office of Health Plan Standards and Compliance Assistance (OHPSCA). This office is the primary source of regulations and interpretive guidance related to private employer-sponsored group health plans under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). The employee will provide education, compliance assistance, and other technical support to group health plans, their service providers, participants, stakeholders, and beneficiaries regarding health coverage-related matters. Duties include but are not limited to the following: Provides oral and written technical advice and guidance to agency personnel and members of the public regarding interpretation and application of ERISA provisions, and related legislation. Presents recommendations to develop and write organized, concise, and effective opinions, and technical guidance. Maintains liaison with stakeholders to collaborate on joint projects, secure and furnish technical advice or assistance, provide interpretive guidance regarding ERISA, and discuss and resolve problems of mutual concern. Applies knowledge of laws, regulations, court proceedings, precedents, interpretations, and exemptions governing the employee benefit plan community. Develops technical presentations regarding ERISA to train agency personnel. Reviews group health plan, pension plan, or other welfare plan materials and guidance requests and develops recommendations. Requirements Conditions of employment Must be a U.S. Citizen. Must be at least 16 years old. Requires a probationary period if the requirement has not been met. Candidate required to obtain the necessary security/investigation level. This position is inside the bargaining unit. Qualifications Education - Undergraduate AND Graduate Education: Major study in one or a combination of the following fields - finance, banking, business administration, economics, mathematics, accounting or auditing, pension plan administration, law, industrial relations, public administration, or other related fields. OR Specialized Experience: Progressively responsible experience that demonstrated the ability to perform work in the field of pension and welfare plans. Such experience may have been gained in (1) management, administration, development, analysis, audit, financial management, or the termination of such plans or their funds; or (2) in closely related work such as taxation, securities, and investments. Specialized experience may have been gained in government, a welfare and pension plan administration or consulting firm, law firm, actuarial or accounting firm, labor union, welfare and pension association or research service, banking trust department, or investment firm. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: Analysis and application of fiduciary, reporting and disclosure, bonding, funding, vesting, administration, and termination provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and related laws, regulations, court decisions, and precedent rulings. Development of proposals for new or revised pension or welfare plans, petitions for exemptions, or requests for rulings under governing law. Legal work, a substantial portion of which required interpretation of Federal laws and legal requirements concerning welfare and pension plans, or in such related fields as taxation, securities, real estate, corporations, trusts, bankruptcy, and investments. Auditing or accounting work that involved determining compliance with Federal and State laws governing welfare and pension plans, securities, banking, insurance, or corporations. Analysis of Federal laws or regulations, development of policy, and drafting of proposed changes in an employee welfare and benefit plan or a related function. For the GS-09 grade level: In addition to meeting the requirements above, applicants must demonstrate 52 weeks of qualifying specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 level in Federal service. You must meet 3 out of the 4 examples of specialized experience listed here: Experience assisting in explaining statutory and regulatory requirements applicable to group health plans and other welfare plans, including those under ERISA, the Affordable Care Act, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, and the No Surprises Act. Experience working in a health insurance oversight capacity or collaborating with health insurance issuers to ensure compliance with state or federal health insurance requirements, including requirements applicable both within and outside the health insurance exchanges. Experience performing research and conducting analytical reviews of statutory and regulatory requirements governing group health plans and other welfare plans. Experience drafting plain language interpretations and summaries of technical legal requirements for non-legal audiences. OR Posses a master's or equivalent graduate degree in one or a combination of the following fields: finance, banking, business administration, pension plan administration, law, or other related fields. OR Completed at least two full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a masters degree in one or a combination of the following fields: finance, banking, business administration, pension plan administration, law, or other related fields. OR Possess an LL.B. or J.D. in one or a combination of the following fields: a field such as finance, banking, business administration, pension plan administration, law, or other related fields. OR A combination of education and specialized experience to meet the requirements of this position. For the GS-11 grade level: In addition to meeting the requirements above, applicants must demonstrate 52 weeks of qualifying specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in Federal service. You must meet 3 out of the 4 examples of specialized experience listed here: Experience providing written analyses and delivering guidance in meetings, consultations, or presentations to help employers, plan sponsors, or group health plans comply with statutory and regulatory requirements under ERISA, the Affordable Care Act, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA), the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA), the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, and the No Surprises Act. Experience collaborating with health insurance issuers to ensure compliance with state and federal health insurance requirements, including those applicable both within and outside the health insurance exchanges. Experience drafting and reviewing ERISA required group health plan documents for example, summary plan descriptions, summaries of material modifications, summaries of benefits and coverage, and summary annual reports. Experience performing legal work that requires conducting legal research and analyzing case law to interpret Federal and State laws, regulations, and related requirements governing group health plans, welfare plans, or comparable areas such as health insurance. OR Possess a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in one or a combination of the following fields: finance, banking, business administration, pension plan administration, law, or other related fields. OR Completed at least three full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D in one or a combination of the following fields: finance, banking, business administration, pension plan administration, law, or other related fields. OR Possess an LL.M in one or a combination of the following fields: a field such as finance, banking, business administration, pension plan administration, law, or other related fields. OR Combination of education and specialized experience to meet the requirements of this position. 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 Applicants must meet all legal and regulatory requirements. Reference the Required Documents section for additional requirements. 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. Refer to these links for more information: GENERAL INFORMATION, REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS, ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION, FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES As a condition of employment, all personnel must undergo a background investigation for access to DOL facilities, systems, information and/or classified materials before they can enter on duty: BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION 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. For more information, click Career Ladder Promotion Information For more information, click Telework Position Information. This is not a remote work position. The selectee will report to an assigned DOL office location on a regular basis and is eligible for participation in telework as determined by management in accordance with DOL policy. Based on agency needs, additional positions may be filled using this vacancy. The Department of Labor may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities, currently offered by the Federal government to attract highly qualified candidates. Click for more information on Pay, Leave, and Workforce Flexibilities. The Fair Chance Act (FCA) prohibits Federal agencies from requesting an applicant's criminal history information before the agency makes a conditional offer of employment. If you believe a DOL employee has violated your rights under the FCA, you may file a complaint of the alleged violation following our agency's complaint process Guidelines for Reporting Violations of the Fair Chance Act. Note: The FCA does not apply to some positions specified under the Act, such as law enforcement or national security positions. All Department of Labor employees are subject to the provisions of the Drug-Free Workplace Program under Executive Order 12564 and Public Law 100-71. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the : Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. Expand Hide  additional information 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. 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.