Human Resource Benefits Specialist

Cherokee Federal•Washington, DC

About The Position

The Human Resources Benefits Specialist provides technical guidance and support on federal employee benefits programs, including health and life insurance, retirement systems, and the Thrift Savings Plan. This role advises employees and management on benefits eligibility, enrollment, and retirement planning while ensuring compliance with federal laws, regulations, and agency policies. The Specialist supports benefits processing, maintains official personnel records, and delivers individualized counseling to employees throughout their employment lifecycle.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required
Minimum of two (2) years of relevant work experience
Three (3) to five (5) years of Federal benefits experience required
Current OPM Delegated Examining (DE) Certification or ability to obtain within one year of hire
Knowledge of federal staffing, recruitment, and position classification principles, laws, and regulations
Familiarity with automated HR systems; experience with USA Staffing preferred
Ability to learn and effectively use Personnel Tracking Systems (PTS)
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Ability to analyze information and support HR processes with accuracy and attention to detail
Valid U.S. driver’s license required
Must pass pre-employment qualifications of Cherokee Federal
This position requires an active Public Trust clearance to be considered.
A government contract requires that this position be restricted to U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents. You must provide documentation that you are a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident to qualify.

Responsibilities

Advise employees on federal benefits programs including FEHB, FEGLI, TSP, and retirement systems (FERS/CSRS)
Conduct benefits briefings for new hires and assist with enrollments and qualifying life events
Provide retirement counseling, determine eligibility, compute service dates, and guide employees on TSP withdrawals and benefits continuation (e.g., COBRA, retirement options)
Review retirement applications (SF-2801/SF-3107) for completeness; verify service history against eOPF; manually calculate high-3 salary; and submit certified packages to OPM within required timelines
Conduct one-on-one retirement counseling sessions within 60 days of eligibility using GRB Platform to generate annuity estimates and benefits summaries
Maintain and update official personnel records in eOPF, ensuring accuracy and regulatory compliance
Manage FECA cases, including documentation and coordination with the Department of Labor
Provide guidance on federal benefits policies, employee rights, and regulatory updates
Utilize HR systems and tools to process benefits-related actions and maintain records
Performs other job-related duties as assigned