Duties

Summary

This announcement is open to current Career or Career-Conditional OPM employees.

As a Senior Legal Administrative Specialist at the GS-0901-12 with a full performance level of GS-12, you will be part of RS/RO Claims I, Claims II or Customer Service, Office of Personnel Management. If selected, you will be responsible for the processing of claims and carrying out various review and program evaluation functions intended to maintain the integrity of retirement benefits.
Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

• Perform projects requiring a comprehensive knowledge of the Federal retirement programs administered by OPM to process claims, maintain and improve the operational management of the claims process and the integrity of the retirement program.
• Serve as a technical and policy expert for assigned area, interpreting and correctly applying law and regulation as well as procedures associated with claims adjudication within the Branch or program integrity functions.
• Adjudicate and/or make determinations of eligibility and entitlement on cases to include those of unusual technical difficulty such as cases based on obscure or seldom used retirement laws.
• Review correspondence, evidence, and supplemental claims submitted after the initial claim has been decided to make post-adjudicative determinations and authorize adjustments of benefits.
• Review and approve recommendations and decisions made by other team members, and provide technical guidance to other Specialists, ensuring quality products particularly on matters of high complexity or that require seasoned judgment.
• Investigate or initiate actions to address allegations of fraud or impropriety concerning the receipt of payments under the retirement program.
• Plan, implement, and monitor projects, matches, and/or surveys designed to safeguard and protect the integrity of retirement programs.
• Develop and deliver formal lesson plans and training aids to identified teams and team members via briefings, workshops, and formal training sessions.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
12

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
• Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period

Qualifications

For the GS-12: You must have have at least one year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal Service that included performing duties such as: interpreting laws and regulations to adjudicate and/or make determinations of disability claims based on state/federal laws dealing with health insurance, pension plan or other related programs which provided a broad knowledge of disability; knowledge and understanding of medical conditions and terminology to determine medical treatments/limitations; and experience in coaching and developing training aids to prepare briefings, workshops, and formal training.

Merit promotion applicants must meet time-in-grade requirement as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.
One year at the GS-11 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-12 level.

You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

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). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

Relocation expenses will not be paid. OPM employees may qualify for an exception.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across OPM.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document that you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application: http://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Alternate_Application_Information

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Once the application process is complete, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified for this job, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the Occupational Questionnaire. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

• Administration and Management
• Oral and Written Communication
• Planning and Evaluating
• Teamwork
• Technical Competence

All qualified Non Competitive applicants and the best qualified Merit Promotion applicants will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration.

Career Transition Assistance Programs: These programs apply to Office of Personnel Management (OPM) employees who meet the definition of surplus or displaced from a position in the competitive service. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet CTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 85 or above based on the competencies listed above; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP eligibility. For more information: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
High Risk (HR)

Trust determination process
Credentialing , Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

Your Resume listing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed.

Other supporting documents:

• Cover Letter, optional
• Your most recent Promotion, Within Rate Increase (WRI/WGI), or Appointment/Conversion SF-50 or Notification of Personnel Action showing you are in the competitive service and the highest grade or promotion potential held.
• Most recent Performance Appraisal, if applicable.
• CTAP Reduction-In-Force documentation, if applicable.

Failure to submit any of the above mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.