Duties

Summary

This position is located in the Office of the Chief Actuary, Office of Short-Range Actuarial Estimates, Headquarters Main Complex, Woodlawn, MD.

This is a career ladder position description leading to the full performance position description, Actuary, GS-1510-12, position number 1B135.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

• Prepares responses to inquiries from members of Congress, other government agencies and members of the public.
• Works with higher-grade actuaries on comprehensive studies related to short range cost estimates of present Social Security programs and proposed legislation.
• Prepares estimates of short range actuarial parameters relative to the OASDI insured and beneficiary population.
• Analyzes beneficiary and benefit data and prepares actuarial tables and reports for use in government publications.
• Planning and conducting comprehensive studies and projects applying the theories and practices of the actuarial science to the analysis, inter?pretation and presentation of data essential to SSA program planning, evaluation and general management.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
12

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship required
• Selective Service Registration, if applicable (www.sss.gov)
• Background and/or security investigation required
• Job offers are contingent on background / security investigation results
• Selectees may be required to serve a 1 year probationary period
• Relocation expenses will not be paid
• Complete the initial online assessment and USA Hire Assessment, if required
• All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement

Qualifications

Please provide ALL undergraduate and graduate transcripts.

All applicants must have courses in actuarial science, mathematics, relevant statistics, business, finance, economics, insurance, or computer science totaling at least 24 semester hours. This course work must have also included a minimum of 12 semester hours of mathematics that included differential and integral calculus and one or more courses in mathematics for which these calculus courses were prerequisites. NOTE: Transcripts are required to substantiate education.

In addition, to qualify at the GS-9 level, you must have one of the following:

• At least 52 weeks of actuarial experience at the GS-7, or equivalent, which is in or related to the work of the position to be filled which has equipped me with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.
• A master's degree or equivalent graduate degree, or 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree in actuarial science; mathematics, statistics, business, finance, economics, insurance, or computer science. NOTE: Transcripts are required to substantiate education; OR
• Successfully completed two of the SOA or CAS examinations, or received credit for two of the JBEA examinations. NOTE: Documentation of successful completion as evidenced by an official SOA or CAS transcript is required at the time of application.

In addition, to qualify at the GS-11 level, you must have one of the following:

• At least 52 weeks of professional actuarial experience at the GS-9, or equivalent, which is in or related to the work of the position to be filled which has equipped me with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.
• Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D degree in actuarial science, mathematics, statistics, business, finance, economics, insurance, or computer science; NOTE: Transcripts are required to substantiate education; OR
• One year of professional actuarial experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 level and successfully completed three of the SOA or CAS examinations, or received credit for three of the JBEA examinations. NOTE: Documentation of successful completion as evidenced by an official SOA or CAS transcript is required at the time of application.

NOTE: Your resume and supporting documents must specifically address the evaluation criteria for the position. This information is instrumental in determining the highest quality candidates to be referred to the Selecting Official. If your application materials do not demonstrate the knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience needed for this position, your application will be ineligible for consideration.

Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

Please provide ALL undergraduate and graduate transcripts.

OFFICIAL, UNOFFICIAL, OR SCREENSHOTS OF TRANSCRIPTS ARE REQUIRED TO SUBSTANTIATE POSSESSION OF QUALIFYING EDUCATION, EVEN IF YOU CURRENTLY HOLD OR HAVE PREVIOUSLY HELD AN ACTUARY POSITION. All academic degrees and coursework must be from accredited or pre-accredited institutions. You must submit your transcripts according to the application submission details of this announcement. Documents will not be accepted via email or regular mail.

For GS-9: Master's degree or equivalent degree, or two full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree in actuarial science; mathematics, statistics, business, finance, economics, insurance, or computer science.

For GS-11: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or three full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent degree, in actuarial science; mathematics, statistics, business, finance, economics, insurance, or computer science.

Providing Proof of Education or Substituting Education
For information on providing proof of education or substituting education for experience, visit t https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1500/actuarial-science-series-1510/ .

If you are qualifying on the basis of education or satisfying an educational requirement, submit a copy of your transcripts that includes your name, the name of the educational institution, course title(s), number of credits, grade, and date of completion. Unofficial transcripts or screenshots of electronic/web transcripts with the required information will be accepted at the time of application. You must submit your transcripts according to the application submission details of this announcement. Documents will not be accepted via email or regular mail. If selected, you may be required to provide your official college transcripts prior to the effective date of the personnel action placing you into the new position.

Foreign Education: If your transcripts show education completed in foreign colleges or universities, you must also provide documentation 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 a conventional/accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

Additional information

Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See www.sss.gov .

Additional selections may be made for this vacancy six months from the closing date of this announcement.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

The evaluation you receive is based on your responses to the online assessments completed during the application process. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

• Knowledge of actuarial and statistical theory and techniques
• Knowledge of computer techniques for data collection, manipulation and analysis in the development of actuarial cost estimates and projections.
• Ability to communicate technical information orally and in writing.
• Knowledge of demographics, economics, and finance as these areas relate to actuarial work.
• Knowledge of social insurance programs and the legislative process.

Your application will be evaluated under the Category Rating method, based on your responses to the Assessment Questions. If you meet the basic requirements for the position, your application will be evaluated and placed into one of three categories:

1 - Qualified Category - Candidates who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements.
2 - Well Qualified Category - Candidates who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements and demonstrate a satisfactory level of the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position.
3 - Best Qualified Category - Candidates who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements and demonstrate a high level of the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position.

Candidates eligible for veterans' preference will be placed ahead of other candidates in the appropriate category for which they have been rated. Additionally, preference eligibles who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent and who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements will automatically be placed in the Best Qualified Category.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

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

Your resume showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed.

A copy of undergraduate and/or graduate transcripts and/or certificates for the SOA, CAS, and JBEA examinations.

Other supporting documents detailed below, as applicable.

If you are requesting a reasonable accommodation to the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, submit documentation to support your request, including the Reasonable Accommodation Request Form found here: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Reasonable_Accommodations_for_USA_Hire

You must also submit ALL supporting documentation by the closing date of the vacancy announcement to claim certain types of preference.

INTERAGENCY CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (ICTAP): ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority for competitive service vacancies. To receive selection priority, candidates must meet the requirements for the Well Qualified category as described in the vacancy announcement. Candidates must also provide:

• proof of eligibility with your application. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation Notice of Personnel Action, (SF-50); and
• proof of your most recent performance rating of at least "fully successful" (Level III) or equivalent.

For more information visit http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp .

VETERANS' PREFERENCE: If you are claiming veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your military discharge certificate (DD-214 member 4 copy preferred) or an official statement of service from your command if you are currently on active duty. To be acceptable, the document must contain dates and show Character of Service. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference based on a service-connected disability, you must also submit an Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference (SF 15) and the required documentation specified on the reverse of the SF-15. Applicants claiming derived preference must submit the SF-15 and the required documentation specified on the reverse of the SF-15. Preference will be granted based on the documents received.

Note: If you are a current active duty military member who does not have a DD-214 and are claiming preference under the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act, you must submit certification from the Armed Forces indicating that you will be discharged or released under honorable conditions from active duty within 120 days of the date on the certification. Certifications must be on letterhead from the appropriate military branch and include the following information: military dates of service and expected discharge or release date, the character of service, military rank, type of discharge, and date when terminal leave will begin. Certifications must be signed by or under the direction of military members' military personnel offices, unit commanders, or higher headquarters.

For more information visit the Vet Guide .