Employee Benefits Security Administration
Employee Benefits Investigator
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Summary
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.
Major 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.
Required Documents
The following documents must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the vacancy closing date. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements of time-in-grade (52 weeks at the next lower grade), time-after-competitive-appointment (90 days), and minimum qualifications (52 weeks equivalent to the next lower grade in federal service). These requirements must be met within 30 days of 10/20/2026 the announcement closing date. The following documents are required from all applicants (PLEASE READ CAREFULLY): FEDERAL STATUS APPLICANTS: When applying as a status candidate with current or former Federal Service, please provide a copy of your last or most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action which shows your appointment eligibility for the position for which you are applying. Your SF-50 must identify the highest grade you held on a permanent basis, Pay Plan/Pay Schedule, Series, Grade/Pay Band, and career status. Multiple SF-50 may be submitted to demonstrate your highest previous rate and eligibility. *WARNING: An award SF-50 (ex. cash or time off award) may not indicate grade, step, and competitive status. For current DOL employees, an award SF-50 DOES NOT indicate grade and step. Resumes are required - provide a resume either by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one from your computer and USAJOBS profile. To receive full consideration for relevant and specialized experience, please list the month, year, and number of work hours worked for the experience listed on your resume. We also suggest that you preview the vacancy questions and confirm that your resume supports your question responses. Most recent performance appraisal/evaluation signed and dated within 18 months is requested by the agency but will not disqualify candidates if not submitted. If not submitted during the application process, one may/will be requested at the time of the interview if the opportunity is extended. *In most cases, ICTAP/CTAP applicants must submit this document - please see ICTAP/CTAP links below for more details. The following documents are required (if applicable): Displaced Employee Placement Documents - Only required if requesting priority consideration under Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) Eligibility. Click/Review these ICTAP/CTAP links to confirm what must be submitted as proof that the requirement has been met. DD-214 - verifying military service, eligibility for consideration under the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA), and showing the character of discharge (ex. Member Copy 4 and 2 are acceptable vs. Copy 1 which is not acceptable to adjudicate veteran's preference) Special/Non-Competitive Appointing Authority Documents - Applicants who are eligible for consideration, and wish to be considered, under one of the following non-competitive hiring authorities must submit appropriate documentation (click on the links below to see the documentation requirements): (a) Military Spouses (MISP) (b) Other Land Management Eligible(s): a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50 or equivalent) proving your eligibility for appointment under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act. This service must have been performed in competitive service, under a time-limited appointment in a Land Management Agency, as defined by P.L. 114-328. For more information, click here. Do not upload password-protected documents. Applicants selected for employment who are not current DOL employees will be required to provide proof of citizenship, and the E-Verify system will be used to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: - your performance and conduct; - the needs and interests of the agency; - whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and - whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
How to Apply
Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or have speech disabilities, please dial 711 to access telecommunications relay services. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, including submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section. Your application and ALL required supplemental documents MUST be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the vacancy closing date to receive consideration. Important - Save your information before the 30 minute system timeout! For help, go to USAJOBS Help Center. STEP 1 - Create USAJOBS Account on www.usajobs.gov, including Resume and Saved Documents. For each employment period, include start/end month & year and note full-time or part-time (if part-time, include # of hours worked per week) otherwise, your application may be considered incomplete. NOTE: In alignment with the Presidential Memorandum titled Merit Hiring Plan, dated May 29, 2025, applicants may only submit a resume limited to two (2) pages. Only the résumé uploaded under the 'Resume" document type in USAJOBS will be reviewed. If the resume submitted exceeds two (2) pages, the application will be deemed ineligible for further consideration. STEP 2 - Complete the 1st part of the application process (USAJOBS). Once you have identified a job on USAJOBS that you wish to apply for, click on the job title and then click the Apply button. For questions about the vacancy, contact the Agency Contact at the bottom of the announcement. Proceed through the steps noted at the top of the USAJOBS page. You will be able to select a resume and documents from your USAJOBS Account that you can submit as a package as part of your DOL application. In the final step, once you have certified your application, click the Continue to agency site button. STEP 3 - Complete the 2nd part of the application process (DOL). On the Department of Labor (DOL) page, create a DOL Account if you have not already and click Apply to this vacancy. Continue through the progress steps at the top of the DOL page. The 2nd progress step is where you answer the vacancy-specific questions. The 3rd progress step Documents is where you submit the required documents (only if applicable to you) specified in the Required Documents section of this vacancy. STEP 4 - On the Review and Submit step, verify each section of your application is complete and correct. In order to submit your application, you must have a check mark next to each section listed. If there is an X, return to the appropriate section and follow the prompts. When it is ready for submission, certify your application and click the Submit Application button. STEP 5 - Edit Application as needed by 11:59 pm Eastern Time of Closing Date by returning to USAJOBS, clicking the vacancy, then Update Application. To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To view the announcement status or your application status: Visit https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/howto/application/status/. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. For more detailed information on applying for positions with DOL click here to view the U.S. Department of Labor, How to Apply website.