Human Resources Specialist (Benefits)

PDS Overview: The Public Defender Service (PDS) is a federally funded, independent organization governed by an eleven-member Board of Trustees. PDS provides legal representation to adults and children who are facing a loss of liberty but who cannot afford an attorney. The PDS staff consists of approximately 275 attorneys, social workers, investigative specialists, administrative, and technical employees who collaborate to advance the mission of the organization. By statue, PDS employees are entitled to participate in federal health insurance, life insurance and retirement plans, to include the Thrift Savings Plan. Employees with prior tenure at federal agencies will receive recognition of creditable federal service for leave accrual and retirement purposes. Employment at the Public Defender Service is considered “At Will” and is not considered as federal nor District of Columbia government employment.

Division Description: To support PDS’s holistic approach to public defense, the Office of Human Resources provides services throughout PDS in terms of talent acquisition, position classification, compensation and benefits administration, employee relations, organizational and employee development, payroll, HR information management, and regulatory compliance--- all for the purpose of inspiring excellence in people so the organization is successful in its mission. As a strategic partner with PDS’s leadership, the Office of Human Resources develops and delivers innovative human resource programs and services designed to support the mission of PDS. Our efforts are focused on the organization’s most valuable asset, its employees. We succeed by earning the satisfaction of our employees, the respect and trust of those who govern us, support us and collaborate with us. Please note that this position is a hybrid position.

Major Duties: The incumbent assists the Chief of Human Resources in performing the day-

to-day responsibilities associated with human resources operations. Duties of the position

include, but are not limited to:

1. Monitors legislative and regulatory changes in the benefit, retirement, and work life program areas in order to identify required changes in PDS policy regulations or procedures; coordinate with affected employees and other stakeholders in the development, issuance, and implementation of required changes.

2. Reviews all retirement applications and ensures timely processing to OPM. Serves as the liaison with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) in monitoring the status of retirement applications.

3. Assists employees with special retirement situations such as those initiating disability retirements, early-out retirement, etc.

4. Researches employment records for applicability to federal career, e.g., adjustment in service computation dates. Provide individual retirement counseling. Analyzes information to establish the length and type of creditable service, and prepare retirement annuity estimates for employees. Research regulations and records and advise employees on the buyback of creditable time for retirement. Provides technical expertise on complex retirement coverage issues including, but not limited to, creditable service for employees formerly employed in the District of Columbia Government, and specific benefits provisions affecting current and former PDS employees as stipulated by federal law. Determine the amount of retirement contributions, refunds of contributions, payments, and repayments needed for service credit to include military deposits, and whether all special requirements and conditions applicable to the type of case have been met; and whether the requirements for payment of a survivor annuity or lump sum are satisfied. Assist employees in the preparation of retirement applications and related documents.

5. Oversees and conducts off-boarding of employees whether as terminations, separations or transfers. Ensure employees are apprised of what happens to their benefits upon their separation from PDS (or if they transfer to a Federal agency). Processes all necessary separations paperwork. Conducts exit interviews with employees and ensures off-boarding processes and procedures are followed.

6. Oversees the processing and completion of benefits related personnel actions in the Federal Personnel and Payroll System (FPPS) and Workforce Transformation and Tracking System (WTTS). Serves as administrator in the e-OPF system and other systems related to employees’ records and benefits (Employee Express, Employers’ Edge (unemployment), GRB, DPRW/NFC, etc.)

7. Manages and monitors Office of Worker’s Compensation (OWCP) Program and develop programs and processes to help reduce OWCP costs by coordinating with employees, DOL, medical professionals, and supervisors to return employees to work as soon as medically possible. Use the e-Comp system as an Agency Maintenance User (AMU) to maintain administrative function of the system.

8. Develops, modifies, and conducts presentations of basic and/or refresher training in employee benefits programs such as workers’ compensation, retirement, Thrift Savings Program, Employee Assistance Program, etc.

9. Provides information on PDS’s available employee benefits, retirement, and leave programs. Utilize web-based personnel, timekeeping, and data retrieval systems to identify, document, and affect required actions.

10. Administers PDS’s leave program including Family Medical Leave (FMLA), Paid Parental Leave, Leave Share/Voluntary Leave Transfer, Bereavement Leave, etc.

11. Receives and researches questions from supervisors and employees concerning aspects of human resources and employee benefits programs and processes. Respond with thorough explanations citing regulations, operating directives, or past practices that provide clients with additional information. When research reveals errors in the record, recommend or initiate necessary corrective action(s).

12. Serves as lead on PDS-wide initiatives and oversee ongoing Benefits, Work Life Services and Employee Programs management (Telework, Employee Assistance Program, Health and Wellness, New Employee Orientation, Work Life Services, etc.) across PDS.

13. Establishes productive working relationships with counterparts and senior level officials throughout PDS, with representatives of governmental or private sector organizations providing services to PDS.

14. Conducts analysis with benefits data mining; quantitative and qualitative analysis for assessing complex benefits issues and programs within Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition (OBIEE)/Datamart System to generate reports to help with these analyses.

15. Develops, administers, and evaluates programs designed to develop employees and manage learning. Recommends training for staff on various benefits and financial literacy programs; secures presenters, coordinates training sessions, and tracks attendance. Promotes retirement financial literacy training subjects as CSRS, FERS, financial planning, personal budgeting, estate planning, retirement gaps, mortgage financing, etc. Researches federal and private sources to support the financial literacy and training programs.

16. Plans health and wellness programs, open season health fairs, for all employees. Coordinates with FOH and FEHB account representatives to secure health and wellness program events and speakers. Responsible for event logistics including all communications to FOH, FEHB account representatives, and employees.

17. Makes recommendations for individual employee training and provides guidance to managers in support of supervisors who are undergoing Employee Relations issues with subordinates. Assists supervisors with identifying employee training needs, researches and makes suggestions on training options.

18. Audits employees’ eOPF and analyzes information to establish creditable service, calculates service computation dates for leave and retirement, and updates service computation dates in FPPS. Advises employees on the buyback of creditable time for retirement. Provides technical expertise on complex retirement coverage issues, determines correct retirement coverage code and contributions, provides estimates for civilian and military deposits, redeposits, and survivor benefits. The incumbent also assists employees with completing and submitting deposit forms to OPM.

19. The incumbent also performs other related duties to support the OHR office and mission not limited to verifying employment, processing direct deposit, and tax forms, completes character and fitness forms for bar requests, student loan forgiveness program employment forms, etc. and backing up other HR employees.

Evaluation Factors:

A successful candidate must present evidence of experience in the following areas:

In-depth knowledge of and skill in applying a wide range of human resources concepts, principles, laws, regulations, and practices. Comprehensive knowledge of and skill in applying federal laws, regulations, and practices governing health and life insurance, retirements, leave administration, awards, and other benefits entitlements.

Demonstrated ability to provide advice and counsel concerning all aspects of employee benefits, leave, retirement, and awards programs to executives, managers, and employees.

Demonstrated ability to develop professional working relationships with individuals and organizations throughout the agency and with other relevant organizations. Demonstrated ability to communicate successfully verbally and in writing.

Ability to work with a team, including the ability to plan and schedule work, define and streamline processes, produce results, and direct and develop team members.

Demonstrated ability to communicate successfully verbally and in writing in order to provide authoritative advice and guidance on federal benefits, leave, retirement, and awards programs.

Knowledge of recruitment and retention processes

Qualification Requirements:

For the PDS-12 (GS-12 equivalent): Your resume and work experiences must show that you have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal service or equivalent and it must include:

- Experience with federal employee benefits, leave, retirement, and awards programs;

- Experience providing guidance to employees on federal benefits, leave, retirement, and awards programs;

- Experience developing and conducting information or orientation programs for management and employees on federal benefits, retirement, leave, and awards programs

- Interpreting and applying human resources laws, regulations, principles, practices, policies, methods, and techniques related to strategic human capital management and competency modeling.

- Specialized experience, knowledge, and skill in applying federal laws, regulations, and practices governing federal position classification.

- Proven ability to establish and maintain professional working relationships with individuals and organizations across the agency and with external relevant organizations.

- Demonstrated excellence in both verbal and written communication.

- Experience with user access management (adding, removing, modifying) in FPPS, OBIEE, QuickTime, and WTTS information systems.

- Demonstrated ability to provide comprehensive advice and counsel on all aspects of assigned human resources programs and operations to executives, managers, and employees.

For the PDS-13 (GS-13 equivalent): Your resume and work experiences must show that you have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal service or equivalent and it must include:

- Experience providing authoritative advice and guidance on federal employee benefits, leave, retirement, and awards programs;

- Experience explaining the features of various federal employee benefits, leave, retirement, and awards programs;

- Experience developing and conducting information or orientation programs for management and employees on federal benefits, leave, retirement, and awards programs;

- Experience researching regulations and other pertinent directives to make recommendations to improve federal employee benefits, leave, retirement and awards programs

- Experience with complex regulations and other pertinent laws that affect employees that are/were enrolled in the District of Columbia Government and/or under the DC Defined Contribution Plan; determines creditable service and corresponding effects on Federal benefits

How you will be evaluated: Your application package includes your résumé and required supporting documents. Please ensure your résumé includes detailed information to support your qualifications for this position; failure to provide sufficient evidence in your résumé may result in a rejection of your application package.

How to apply: For consideration applicants must submit the required documents listed below. Failure to submit will result in an incomplete application. Please upload the required documents as one PDF attachment.

Please ensure your application package includes detailed information to support your qualifications for this position. Failure to provide sufficient evidence in your application package and requested supporting documents can result in a rejection of your application package. Your application package should include the following:

For consideration, you must provide a complete application package, which includes:

· Resume must not exceed 5 (five pages), and should not cover more than the most recent 5 (five) years of experience.

· Most recent performance evaluation.

· A list of three professional references with a brief description on how each reference is able to attest to your skills/experience

o Please include the name, email and telephone number and the relationship (i.e. Direct Supervisor, Indirect Supervisor, Mentor etc.)

Please send your application package in 1 PDF file if able. Applications MUST be emailed to PDSHRMailbox@pdsdc.org. To ensure your application receives proper consideration, the subject line of your application email MUST include the job announcement number and the position title (i.e. PDS-2026-13: Human Resources Specialist (Benefits)).

All application materials become property of PDS and will not be returned. PDS will not accept application packages by postal mail, fax, or personal delivery.

For applicants with disabilities, this organization provides reasonable accommodations which will be decided on a case-by-case basis. To request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or interview process, please email your request to the Office of Human Resources at HR@pdsdc.org. Applicants with Federal Benefits and Retirement Systems experience are strongly encouraged to apply.

Rating: Your application package will be evaluated in the following areas: Technical, Analytical, and Communication. Your application package will be rated and ranked among others, based on your experience, education, training, performance appraisal, and awards relevant to the duties of this position. Your rating can be lowered if your application package is not supported by the supporting documents.

Referral: If you are among the top qualified candidates, your application package will be referred to a hiring manager for consideration, at which time you may be invited to participate in a selection interview.

Interview Structure: Those who are selected for interviews will be required to interview via WebEx and/or in person. PDS reserves the right to conduct interviews prior to the closing date of the announcement.

Benefits: PDS is funded by federal appropriations, and employees are entitled to participate in federal

benefits plans, federal retirement systems, and the workers compensation program. Transferring federal

employees will receive recognition of creditable federal service for leave accrual and retirement (if applicable)

purposes. Benefits include:

§ Federal Employees Retirement Systems (retirement annuity)

§ Thrift Savings Plan (similar to a 401K program)

§ Federal Employees Health Benefits (health insurance)

§ Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (life insurance)

§ Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program

§ Flexible Spending Accounts (for health care and dependent care)

§ Long Term Care

§ Transportation Subsidy

§ Employee Assistance Program

§ Federal Occupational Health (access to health clinic and services)

Telework: This position is eligible for telework in accordance with the organization’s policy.

For applicants with disabilities, this organization provides reasonable accommodations which will be decided on a case-by-case basis. To request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or interview process, please email your request to the Office of Human Resources at .

PDS is an Equal Opportunity Employer and an e-Verify Participating Agency

Pay: $99,200.00 - $137,624.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Commuter assistance
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Application Question(s):

• Do you have experience applying human resources concepts, principles, laws, regulations, and practices in the administration of federal employee benefits programs?

Work Location: In person