Human Resources Specialist (Employee Benefits)

Full Job Description

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Human Resources Management, Workers' Compensation Branch.

Location is negotiable to the following locations: Washington, DC Detroit, MI Erlanger, KY Front Royal, VA Rouses Point, NY Brunswick, GA Jacksonville, FL Marfa, TX Artesia, NM Del Rio, TX El Paso, TX Laredo, TX El Centro, CA Los Angeles, CA Continued in BenefitsSection Experience: You qualify for the GS-09 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Analyzing and managing federal workers' compensation cases in accordance with the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) and related regulations.

Providing technical guidance and support to employees, supervisors, and agency leadership on workers' compensation rights, responsibilities, and regulatory requirements.

Preparing, reviewing, and maintaining case documentation, including developing plans of action, establishing diary dates, and ensuring all required evidence is collected and submitted.

Interpreting and applying case law, regulations, and agency policies to workers' compensation claims, and assisting in the preparation of responses to legal inquiries or Department of Labor hearings.

NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible.

Please see the "Required Documents" section below for additional resume requirements.

Education Substitution: GS-09: A master's degree or equivalent graduate degree, or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or a J.D. or an LL.B.

degree from an accredited college or university may substitute for experience required at this level. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise two years of graduate education. If that information is not available, use 36 semester hours or 54 quarter hours.

Combining Experience and Education: Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements for the grade levels specified in the table, and may be computed by first determining the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining the applicant's education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; and then adding the two percentages.

The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level. More information on this qualification standard is located here.

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.

You must: Meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process; and Meet all applicable Time in Grade requirements (current federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent grade band in the federal service) by 03/02/2026.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees.

If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Background Investigation: U.S.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment in order to promote the agency's core values of vigilance, service to country, and integrity.

During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges, the use of illegal drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamines, ecstasy), and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation, possession, sale, receipt, manufacture, cultivation, production, transfer, shipping, trafficking, or distribution of controlled substances.

For additional information on the preemployment process, review the following link: Applicant Resources | CBP Careers Residency: There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP.

Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years.

If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency waiver by meeting one or more of the following conditions: Working for the U.S.

Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military A dependent who was authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S.

government Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university Working as a contractor, intern, consultant or volunteer supporting the U.S.

government Probationary Period: All employees new to the federal government must serve a one year probationary period during the first year of his/her initial permanent federal appointment to determine fitness for continued employment.

Current and former federal employees may be required to serve or complete a probationary period.

Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not CTAP/ICTAP eligible.

View information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website.

To be considered well qualified under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be rated at a minimum score of 85 for this position.

In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the Required Documents section of this announcement. Major Duties:

Joining Customs & Border Protection (CBP) will allow you to use your expertise to proactively manage assigned workers' compensation cases, providing guidance and support to injured employees, supervisors, and Injury Compensation Coordinators (ICCs).

This position starts at a salary of $61,722.00 (GS-9, Step 1) to $80,243.00 (GS-9, Step 10) with promotion potential to $97,087 (GS-11 Step 10).

GS Salary: Visit this link to view the locality pay tables by geographic area. If you do not see your geographic area listed, select the "Rest of United States" pay table.

Some positions fall under a special pay rate depending on the series, grade level and location of the position. Please visit this link to view special pay rate charts.

Typical duties include: Managing assigned workers' compensation cases by ensuring all required documentation is collected, accurately filed, and maintained in the agency's system.

Monitoring case status, establishing and updating plans of action, and ensuring compliance with the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) and Department of Labor (DOL) requirements.

Serving as a technical resource for employees, supervisors, and Injury Compensation Coordinators (ICCs), providing guidance on workers' compensation rights, responsibilities, and regulatory requirements.

Offering assistance with claim development, return-to-work considerations, and ensures accurate and timely payment of benefits.

Preparing draft responses to Department of Labor correspondence, Congressional inquiries, and other legal proceedings related to workers' compensation cases.