About this role

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/19/2026. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-7: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-5 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes (1) Providing direct counseling to management, employees, retirees, and family members on the Federal retirement benefit program entitlement/options; (2) Advising on various benefits programs as they relate to retirement such as Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB), Federal Employees Group Life insurance (FEGLI), Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), Office of Workers Compensation (OWCP), Federal Employee Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP); and Federal Long-Term Care Insurance Program (FEDVIP); and (3) Maintaining a thorough record of inquiries, responses, and actions.

OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have one full year of graduate level education, or have Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.). In order to be creditable under this provision, superior academic achievement must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled. S.A.A. is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership.

OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond a bachelor's degree. GS-9: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-7 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes (1) Providing direct counseling to management, employees, retirees, and family members on the Federal retirement benefit program entitlement/options and on interpretations of law, regulation, and policies; (2) Advising on various benefits programs as they relate to retirement such as Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB), Federal Employees Group Life insurance (FEGLI), Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), Office of Workers Compensation (OWCP), Federal Employee Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP); and Federal Long-Term Care Insurance Program (FEDVIP); and (3) Maintaining a thorough record of inquiries, responses, and actions to include appropriately documenting Official Personnel Files and internal filing systems to ensure retention of records.

OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or JD, if related. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond a bachelor's degree.

GS-11: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-7 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes(1) Providing direct counseling to management, employees, retirees, and family members on the Federal retirement benefit program entitlement/options and on interpretations of law, regulation, and policies; (2) Advising on various benefits programs as they relate to retirement such as Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB), Federal Employees Group Life insurance (FEGLI), Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), Office of Workers Compensation (OWCP), Federal Employee Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP); and Federal Long-Term Care Insurance Program (FEDVIP); (3) Maintaining a thorough record of inquiries, responses, and actions to include appropriately documenting Official Personnel Files and internal filing systems to ensure retention of records; and (4) Providing death-in-service counseling to beneficiaries and stakeholders.

OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; OR, have 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; OR, I have a LL.M., if related. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond a master's degree.

GS-12: For the GS-12 grade levels, candidates must possess either Criteria 1 - graduate degree and specialized experience or Criteria 2 - specialized experience to qualify for the specific grade level. At this grade level, candidates must fully meet or exceed either Criteria 1 or Criteria 2 meaning it is not appropriate to combine Criteria 1 and Criteria 2 to qualify candidates. At this grade level, applicants cannot qualify on the basis of education alone.

Criteria 1 - Graduate Education and Specialized Experience: You must have a graduate level degree or higher and three years of progressive specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level, which includes (1) Providing direct counseling to management, employees, retirees, and family members on the Federal retirement benefit program entitlement/options and on interpretations of law, regulation, and policies; (2) Advising on various benefits programs as they relate to retirement such as Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB), Federal Employees Group Life insurance (FEGLI), Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), Office of Workers Compensation (OWCP), Federal Employee Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP); and Federal Long-Term Care Insurance Program (FEDVIP); and (3) Maintaining a thorough record of inquiries, responses, and actions to include appropriately documenting Official Personnel Files and internal filing systems to ensure retention of records.

OR, Criteria 2 - Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level, which includes (1) Providing direct counseling to management, employees, retirees, and family members on the Federal retirement benefit program entitlement/options and on interpretations of law, regulation, and policies; (2) Advising on various benefits programs as they relate to retirement such as Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB), Federal Employees Group Life insurance (FEGLI), Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), Office of Workers Compensation (OWCP), Federal Employee Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP); and Federal Long-Term Care Insurance Program (FEDVIP); (3) Maintaining a thorough record of inquiries, responses, and actions to include appropriately documenting Official Personnel Files and internal filing systems to ensure retention of records; (4) Providing death-in-service counseling to beneficiaries and stakeholders; and (5) Assisting current and recently separated employees retiring with completion of the disability retirement application forms.

Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix F1; Human Resources Specialist Qualification Standards GS-0201. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.

Source listing: usajobs