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 Office of Regulation and Interpretations (ORI) develops and issues regulations, opinions, rulings, forms, outreach materials, technical assistance, and other guidance to facilitate compliance with and enforcement of the coverage, fiduciary, reporting, disclosure, claims procedure, the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA), qualified domestic relations order, qualified medical child support order, and other provisions of Title I of ERISA, the Code, and FERSA administered by the Department of Labor. Major duties include but are not limited to the following: Provides oral and written technical advice and guidance to other EBSA personnel regarding interpretation and application of ERISA provisions, and related legislation. Provides oral technical advice to the public regarding interpretation and application of ERISA. Presents technical issues and accompanying recommendations in order to develop and write organized, concise, and effective opinions, and technical guidance. Provides technical advice and guidance to other EBSA personnel regarding interpretation and application of ERISA provisions and related legislation. Maintains liaison with officials of other Federal agencies to work on joint projects, secure and furnish technical advice or assistance, provide interpretive guidance regarding ERISA, and discuss and resolve problems of mutual concern. Develops interpretations and policy positions consistent with law, legislative history, established precedents, and EBSA/DOL policy. Knowledge and application of the laws, regulations, court proceedings, precedents, interpretations, and exemptions governing the employee benefit plan community. Develops technical presentations regarding ERISA to train other EBSA personnel. Reviews complex group health plan, pension plan, or other welfare plan materials and guidance requests and develops recommendations for disposition for consideration by the Director and other senior Agency officials. 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 2 out of the 3 examples of specialized experience listed here: Experience assisting in explaining legal and regulatory requirements related to employee welfare or benefit plans or policy positions on employee benefits issues to stakeholders during meetings and consultations. Experience in performing research and conducting analytical reviews of ERISA or related laws to support regulatory and interpretive work. Experience drafting interpretations, summaries, and other technical legal materials that apply statutory and regulatory provisions related to employee welfare or benefit plans for supervisory review. 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 2 out of the 3 examples of specialized experience listed here: Experience explaining detailed regulatory requirements and policy rationales related to employee welfare or benefit plans to stakeholders during meetings and consultations. Experience conducting substantive research, analytical reviews, and application of ERISA, FERSA, and related laws to support regulatory and interpretive responsibilities. Experience drafting technical interpretations, regulatory summaries, and explanatory materials that apply statutory and regulatory provisions related to employee welfare or benefit plans, subject to supervisory review for consistency and policy alignment. 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 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 Reasonable Accommodation Information - Application Manager 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.