Recent Graduate - Benefits Advisor

Full Job Description

For more information, click Pathways Programs, State Apprenticeship Programs, Other Apprenticeship Programs or Career One Stop. This is an appointment under the DOL Recent Graduates program.

The program duration is one year.

Upon successful completion of the program and at the agency's discretion, the appointee may be converted to a term or permanent position in the competitive service.

This position is inside the Bargaining Unit. This appointment is under the DOL Recent Graduates program. The program duration is one year. The appointee must be a U.S.

citizen to be eligible for conversion to a permanent position in the competitive service upon completion of the program.

Applicants must have graduated, within the past two years, (with an associate, bachelor, master, professional, doctorate, diploma, vocational, technical degree, or certificate, etc.) from a qualifying educational institution or career or technical educational program including registered Apprenticeship Programs, Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, Job Corps, Climate Corps).

Students who will meet the education requirements at the end of Spring semester 2026 may apply.

You must meet the Basic Requirements listed in the Education Requirements section and the Specialized Experience to qualify for the Recent Graduate - Benefits Advisor, as described below.

For GS-07: Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level GS-05 in the Federal Service.

For GS-09: Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level GS-07 in the Federal Service.

Specialized Experience is the experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform the duties of the position successfully, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled.

To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level.

GS-07 Qualifying specialized experience for the GS-07 is defined as: Experience working in a customer service environment providing information or assistance, resolving inquiries or complaints, and communicating clearly in both writing and speech to diverse audiences.

Experience delivering educational information, outreach, or training (e.g., drafting materials, conducting briefings or presentations, and responding to questions) tailored to the audience and subject matter.

Experience using research and analytical methods to identify and analyze problems and gathering, validating, and compiling data.

Experience building and maintaining effective working relationships using tact, empathy, and professionalism, including engaging individuals who may be difficult, hostile, or distressed, and working respectfully with people from diverse backgrounds.

OR you may substitute education for experience: A Bachelor's degree with superior academic achievement defined as 1 (or more) of the following: graduating in the upper 1/3 of the class; membership in a national honor society; earning an undergrad GPA of 2.95 (on a 4.0 scale) in the final 2 undergrad years completed; earning an overall undergrad GPA of 2.95; earning an undergrad GPA of 3.45 in the major during the final 2 undergrad years completed; earning an overall undergrad GPA of 3.45 in the major.

OR One year of related progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree.

OR Combination of Education and Experience: An appropriate combination of graduate level education and specialized experience.

Education must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this position.

If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be evaluated against the evaluation factors below and will be placed into a category based on your vacancy question responses.

GS-09 Qualifying specialized experience for the GS-09 is defined as: Experience working in a customer service environment providing information or assistance, resolving inquiries or complaints, and communicating clearly in both writing and speech to diverse audiences.

Experience delivering educational information, outreach, or training (e.g., drafting materials, conducting briefings or presentations, and responding to questions) tailored to the audience and subject matter.

Experience applying and interpreting laws, regulations, policies, and procedures related to employee benefit plans (e.g., ERISA, reporting/disclosure) or a similar regulatory framework.

Experience using research and analytical methods to identify and analyze problems; gathering, validating, and compiling data from multiple sources; evaluating alternatives; and making well-supported recommendations.

Experience building and maintaining effective working relationships using tact, empathy, and professionalism, including engaging individuals who may be difficult, hostile, or distressed, and working respectfully with people from diverse backgrounds.

OR you may substitute education for experience: 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree, in a related field of study that demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work; OR LL.B.

or J.D., if related. Major Duties:

Benefits Advisors respond to participant and beneficiary inquiries and complaints and provide technical assistance on the obligations of employers, plan sponsors, and service providers under ERISA, COBRA, ACA, HIPAA, MHPAEA, etc.

They resolve valid complaints through informal dispute resolution, refer complaints to enforcement involving potential criminal activity or plan wide issues that cannot be resolved informally, and serve as the focal point of the DOL liaison with the general public.

The following are the duties of this position at the GS-09 level.

If you are selected at a lower grade level, you will have the opportunity to learn to perform all these duties and will receive training to help you grow in this position.

Major duties for this position include but are not limited to: Provide information, guidance, and assistance to plan administrators, plan service providers, participants, beneficiaries, the general public and other government agencies concerning provisions of ERISA and other related statutes, regulations, and Department published guidance, with supervisory/senior advisor assistance.

Assist participants and beneficiaries in obtaining benefits to which they are entitled but which they have not been able to secure from plan officials.

Develop recoveries and referrals per EBSA's standard operating procedures.

Explain the law, regulations or other guidance and works with employers to informally resolve benefit issues; with supervisory/senior advisor assistance.

Conduct research, fact-finding, analyze data, and prepare and present information about particular situations. Identify and develop responses to inquiries.

Review eligibility or entitlement to benefits, including obtaining and examining multiple types of records; with supervisory/senior advisor assistance.

Identify potential criminal or more complex civil disputes that require formal investigation, or situations where it appears that a fiduciary violation of law has occurred, and develop investigative referrals; with supervisory/senior advisor assistance.

Educate individuals on their rights and responsibilities under ERISA and other related laws enforced by EBSA.

Assist with planning and conducting outreach events; disseminate information related to ERISA employee benefits plan protections and retirement savings education; with supervisory/senior advisor assistance.

Perform other duties as assigned. EBSA commits to educating and assisting more than 155 million workers, retirees, and their families covered by the benefit plans we oversee.

This includes overseeing more than 837,000 private retirement plans, 2.8 million health plans, and 521,000 other welfare benefit plans, which collectively hold about $14.6 trillion in assets.

We also dedicate ourselves to serving plan sponsors and members of the employee benefits community.

To learn more about the agency go to www.dol.gov/agencies/ebsa and EBSA Restores Nearly $1.4 Billion to Employee Benefit Plans, Participants, and Beneficiaries | U.S....