Benefits Specialist.

About the role

Join the team that keeps the lights on for millions in the Pacific Northwest. The Bonneville Power Administration's mission is to provide an adequate, efficient, and reliable power supply, and this starts with our employees. As a Benefits Specialist, you are the critical link ensuring that our dedicated team is supported through comprehensive benefits, allowing them to focus on their vital work.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical advice and guidance to management and employees on the application of retirement and insurance benefit programs.
• Perform research and analysis to resolve benefit case issues.
• Prepare formal correspondence or supporting documentation regarding benefit eligibility, entitlement determinations, and program participation.
• Interpret and apply complex regulatory and legal frameworks to resolve non-standard or highly detailed benefit problems.
• Develop, evaluate, or recommend new operational methods, criteria, or policies for effective program implementation.
• Conduct authoritative analysis and research to reconcile disputed, incomplete, or contentious information to reach legally supportable conclusions.
• Guide employees through the intricacies of federal retirement, helping them understand their options, calculate annuities, and prepare for a secure future beyond their service.
• Shape and improve benefits programs by providing crucial input into the policies and procedures for BPA's benefits programs.
• Tackle challenging and unique benefits issues, from determining eligibility for special programs to correcting retirement coverage errors.
• Lead educational initiatives, developing and delivering retirement planning seminars and other benefits-related training.
• Advise on a wide range of programs, including health and life insurance (FEHB, FEGLI), long-term care, dental and vision (FEDVIP), flexible spending accounts (FSA), and the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP).
• Ensure program integrity by conducting audits of personnel records and reviewing retirement applications and other documentation for accuracy and compliance.

Qualifications

• Specialized experience for this position is defined as:
• 1) providing technical advice and guidance to management and employees on the application of retirement and insurance benefit programs;
• 2) performing research and analysis to resolve benefit case issues;
• 3) preparing formal correspondence or supporting documentation regarding benefit eligibility, entitlement determinations, and program participation.

Requirements

• Conditions of employment: Applicants are encouraged to respond to four short, free-response, essay questions in the questionnaire.
• Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; or a LL.M., if related; your education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.
• Time-in-Grade: Current Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement to receive consideration.
• CTAP/ICTAP candidates: To be considered "well qualified" you must meet all of the requirements as described in this section.
• Reasonable Accommodation: Employees or applicants may request Reasonable Accommodation (RA) for assistance, when applying or competing for a job or performing a job due to their medical condition or to exercise their religious beliefs.
• Telework: Hiring incentives may be authorized for a highly qualified candidate based on budget availability and in accordance with federal regulations.
• BPA strives to ensure a safe and positive work environment. We also understand the importance of work/life balance and offer a variety of programs and policies designed to create more flexible, responsive work environments supportive of commitments to community, home and family members.
• Veterans Information: Veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
• Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis.
• Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent.

Benefits

• 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.

Pay

Details of pay will be provided upon selection.

Schedule

Details of schedule will be provided upon selection.