Employee Benefits Investigator

Summary

EBSA plays a vital role in protecting the retirement, health, and other job-based benefits of America's workers, retirees, and their families. We issue effective regulations, offer comprehensive education and assistance to workers, plan sponsors, fiduciaries, and service providers, and rigorously enforce the law. We serve workers, families, and the broader employee benefits community by protecting the security and integrity of the nation's benefit systems.

Duties

This position is located in the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), Office of Enforcement (OE), Division of Investigative Strategies (DIS). DIS's primary mission is to conduct, develop, and pursue complex investigations, with a focus on identifying new investigative approaches, issues, plans, templates, and strategies that EBSA field offices can use to pursue similar cases in the future. As an Employee Benefits Investigator, you will be expected to identify trends, emerging issues, and areas of enforcement and the employee benefits industry, and to work with legal, health, and financial experts to transmit strategies, approaches, targeting techniques, and lessons learned throughout the agency. Selectee(s) will report to an assigned DOL office location on a regular basis and be eligible for telework as determined by agency policy. This is not a remote position. Offices are located in Boston, MA; New York, NY; Philadelphia, PA; Silver Spring, MD; Washington, DC; Atlanta, GA; Plantation, FL; Chicago, IL; Fort Wright, KY; Kansas City, MO; Dallas, TX; Pasadena, CA; San Francisco, CA; and Seattle, WA. Selectee will report to National Office or Regional Office, as appropriate. The advertised salary reflects the pay range for the above locations. Upon selection, salary will be set in accordance with the selectee's assigned duty location. Major duties include but are not limited to: Apply advanced knowledge of the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA)'s enforcement policies and procedures and the employee benefits industry to enhance the targeting and correction of Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) violations. Provide analytical comments and position papers that address the impact of policy, regulatory, and legislative changes, and court decisions on the EBSA enforcement program. Serve as a technical expert and policy advisor regarding the investigation processes and strategies for the EBSA investigations, the enforcement program, education, and compliance initiatives. Participate in major, complex, multi-jurisdictional, high visibility, sensitive, and high impact investigations, with broad impact. Leads investigations turned over to the team due to its unique conditions. Independently research issues and prepare materials such as outlines, speeches, slide presentations, and talking points for the Chief and the Director of Enforcement. Develop written guidance and training materials and present training related to ERISA enforcement changes, processes, and policies. Prepare regional or national office training sessions, including slides exhibits, background materials and outlines. Develop investigative models, techniques, and guidelines for use by investigators. Work with investigative staff and staff officials in EBSA, DOL, other governmental agencies, and the private sector in order to gather and obtain information. Develop close and cooperative working relationships with other DOL components, other Federal agency senior and executive staff authorized to investigate ERISA and/or criminal matters, and State agencies that have authority to conduct investigations related to ERISA covered plans within their respective states. Independently carry out enforcement projects/investigations of continuing duration in an acceptable manner and completes them within established time frames. Provide guidance and training on the assigned project to national and regional office personnel. Qualifications

You must meet the Specialized Experience to qualify for this position as described below. 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. For this position, the next lowest grade is the GS-13. Qualifying specialized experience for this position includes meeting 4 of 5 of the following: Experience analyzing complex legal, regulatory, or compliance issues involving health or financial matters, such as ERISA, Federal securities laws, tax laws, banking laws, or other financial services-related laws; or HIPAA, MHPAEA, Affordable Care Act provisions, or other health plan laws, policies, and regulations. Experience applying civil investigative techniques to ERISA-covered health or retirement service providers, including reviewing plan documents, financial records, claims data, service provider arrangements, fiduciary practices, insurance products, or other plan-related transactions to identify potential violations. Experience developing or applying investigative methodologies for complex health or financial practices, including investigations involving health ERISA compliance, mental health parity, claims administration, plan funding, fiduciary decision-making, service provider compensation, investment practices, or prohibited transactions. Experience providing technical guidance, recommendations, training, or written analysis to investigators, attorneys, managers, or other stakeholders on health or financial investigations involving ERISA-covered service providers, including findings, corrective actions, enforcement strategies, or policy implications. Experience coordinating or supporting enforcement matters involving health or financial issues with internal or external partners, such as legal counsel, Federal or State agencies, plan officials, fiduciaries, service providers, insurers, or other regulated entities.

How You Will Be Evaluated

Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to evaluate your qualifications. You may preview application questions for this vacancy here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13088355 SME Resume Panel Review Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) will review your resume to assess your technical qualifications based on the competencies listed below. Applicants who meet the required qualifications will advance to the next stage of the hiring process. For each below competency, SME(s) will provide a rating of 0-Not Applicable, 1-Awareness, 2-Basic, 3-Intermediate, 4-Advanced, or 5-Expert based on the content of your resume. Evaluation Factors (Competencies) - All qualified applicants will be evaluated on the following key competencies: Interpersonal Skills Problem Solving Technical Competence Written Communication The information you provide may be verified by a review of your paid, unpaid, and volunteer, as it demonstrates the competencies or skills required for the position to be filled. Your evaluation may include an interview, reference checks, or other assessment conducted by HR specialists, subject matter experts, or panel members and may include other assessment tools (ex. interview, structured interview, written test, work sample, etc.). INFORMATION FOR ICTAP/CTAP ELIGIBLE(S) ONLY: If you are eligible for special priority selection under ICTAP/CTAP, you must be well-qualified for the position to receive consideration. ICTAP/CTAP eligible(s) will be considered well-qualified if they attain at least a rating score of 85 in a numerical rating scheme. Be sure to review the eligibility questions to reflect that you are applying as an ICTAP or CTAP eligible and submit supporting documentation. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. Other Information

The mission of the Department of Labor (DOL) is to protect the welfare of workers and job seekers, improve working conditions, expand high-quality employment opportunities, and assure work-related benefits and rights for all workers. Refer to these links for more information: GENERAL INFORMATION, REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS, ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION, FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES As a condition of employment, all personnel must undergo a background investigation for access to DOL facilities, systems, information and/or classified materials before they can enter on duty: BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION This position is inside the bargaining unit. If the duty location is within the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, the position will be included in the Local 12, AFGE bargaining unit. If the duty location is outside the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, the position will be included in the NCFLL bargaining unit. This position is inside the bargaining unit. If this position is an investigator position, it falls under the National Union of Labor Investigators (NULI). If the position is not an investigator position and the duty location is within the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, the position will be included in the Local 12, AFGE bargaining unit. If the position is not an investigator position and the duty location is outside the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, the position will be included in the NCFLL bargaining unit. For more information, Click here for Career Ladder Promotion Information For more information, click Telework Position Information. This is not a remote work position. The selectee will report to an assigned DOL office location on a regular basis and is eligible for participation in telework as determined by management in accordance with DOL policy. Based on agency needs, additional positions may be filled using this vacancy. The Department of Labor may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities, currently offered by the Federal government to attract highly qualified candidates. Click here for Additional Information. The Fair Chance Act (FCA) prohibits Federal agencies from requesting an applicant's criminal history information before the agency makes a conditional offer of employment. If you believe a DOL employee has violated your rights under the FCA, you may file a complaint of the alleged violation following our agency's complaint process Guidelines for Reporting Violations of the Fair Chance Act. Note: The FCA does not apply to some positions specified under the Act, such as law enforcement or national security positions.