Human Resources Assistant (Employee Benefits) - HR Navigator

About the role

The Human Resources (HR) Navigator supports the White River Junction VA Medical Center by providing in-person onboarding assistance, employee HR support, benefits education, and HR systems processing.

Responsibilities

• Serves as the primary point of contact for selectees from tentative job offer through Entry on Duty (EOD).
• Coordinates pre-employment steps with new hires.
• Helps new employees submit required forms and completes pre-hire checks.
• Supports scheduling and communication throughout the onboarding process.
• Maintains and tracks onboarding progress, identifies delays, and ensures timely completion of requirements.
• Serves as an on-site HR customer support representative handling inquiries via walk-in, phone, email, and ticketing systems.
• Provides assistance with pay processes, payroll briefings, tax withholding, and direct deposit.
• Reviews employee records, identifies discrepancies, and gathers information for resolution.
• Helps resolve basic HR issues and directs employees to the correct resources.
• Submits and tracks payroll service requests.
• Screens and resolves routine HR inquiries and refers complex issues to HR Specialists.
• Provides guidance and support to employees on their federal benefit programs, including health insurance, life insurance, dental and vision coverage, retirement savings plans, childcare assistance, and transit benefits.
• Meets with employees to explain benefits options and provide individualized guidance.
• Conducts new hire benefits enrollment, reviews forms for accuracy, and uploads required documentation.
• Aids in Open Season communications and enrollment activities.
• Affords assistance with benefits-related changes tied to qualifying life events.
• Uploads and verifies documentation in HR systems and the electronic Official Personnel Folder (eOPF).
• Uses HR systems to submit tickets, process benefits updates, and maintain HR data accuracy.
• Ensures records and documentation meet compliance requirements.

Requirements

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/24/2026. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

• Specialized Experience GS-5: Assisting with tasks such as collecting documentation or reviewing forms for accuracy. Providing customer service through phone, email, or walk-in support. Using automated systems to enter or retrieve data. Supporting administrative processes such as payroll documentation, form completion, or employee inquiry intake. Prepares and types various correspondence, follow-up meeting arrangements, and similar functions required to administer operations.
• Specialized Experience GS-6: Serving as an onboarding point of contact for selectees and coordinating pre-employment requirements. Reviewing personnel documents and identifying discrepancies. Providing benefits guidance such as Health, Life, Dental, Vision, Retirement, and other benefit programs. Conducting benefits enrollment and reviewing forms for accuracy/compliance. Providing HR customer support and triaging inquiries. Submitting and tracking HR troubleshooting tickets. Using HR information systems to upload documents, maintain data integrity, and process actions.
• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 4 years above high school OR - Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education in excess of the first 60 semester hours (i.e., beyond the second year) is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirement. One full academic year of study (30 semester hours) beyond the second year is equivalent to 6 months of specialized experience.

Qualifications

To qualify based on experience, you must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/24/2026. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

• Specialized Experience GS-5: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-04 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include - but are not limited to: Assisting with tasks such as, collecting documentation or reviewing forms for accuracy. Providing customer service through phone, email, or walk-in support. Using automated systems to enter or retrieve data. Supporting administrative processes such as payroll documentation, form completion, or employee inquiry intake. Prepares and types various correspondence, follow-up meeting arrangements, and similar functions required to administer operations.
• Specialized Experience GS-6: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include - but are not limited to: Serving as an onboarding point of contact for selectees and coordinating pre-employment requirements. Reviewing personnel documents and identifying discrepancies. Providing benefits guidance such as Health, Life, Dental, Vision, Retirement, and other benefit programs. Conducting benefits enrollment and reviewing forms for accuracy/compliance. Providing HR customer support and triaging inquiries. Submitting and tracking HR troubleshooting tickets. Using HR information systems to upload documents, maintain data integrity, and process actions.

Pay

The salary range for this position is $35,270 to $52,900 per year.

Schedule

The work schedule for this position is Monday-Friday, 8am-4:30pm.

Benefits

The position offers benefits such as health insurance, life insurance, dental and vision coverage, retirement savings plans, childcare assistance, and transit benefits.

Skills

Skills required for this position include excellent customer service, strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and proficiency in using HR information systems.

Benefits

The position provides education and training opportunities to help employees develop their skills and advance in their careers.

Qualification Standards

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.