Not Required

Duties

Apply medical expertise to evaluate a wide range of disability claims, including precedent-setting and difficult cases.,Review and render decisions on medical records, diagnostic tests, and physician notes to determine disability status, severity, and impact on job performance.,Ensure compliance with laws, court decisions, and government policy in the administration of retirement, health, and life insurance benefits.,Supervise and review the work of subordinate Medical Specialists handling complex disability cases.,Plan and direct the work of the assigned office.

Requirements

Must be a U.S. Citizen or National Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/Home/Registration) Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation May be required to successfully complete a probationary period Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin Complete the initial online assessment and USAHire Assessment, if required. You will be required to report to an OPM assigned office. This position is not eligible for inclusion in a bargaining unit

Qualifications

Basic Education Requirement: You must have a Bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree: major study in an academic field related to the medical field, health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of this Medical Specialist position. This degree must be from an educational program from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained. For the GS 13: You must have one year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the private or public sector) performing the following: Applying medical knowledge to evaluate and adjudicate disability, retirement, health, or life insurance benefit claims, including complex or non-routine cases; AND Reviewing and analyzing medical records, such as physician notes, diagnostic test results, and supporting documentation, to determine the presence, severity, and functional impact of medical conditions; AND Rendering initial determinations or recommendations on benefit eligibility based on applicable laws, regulations, and medical evidence; AND Providing technical guidance or oversight to staff or peers involved in medical or disability claims adjudication; AND Coordinating with internal and external stakeholders to resolve benefit-related issues. You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

This position has a basic education requirement listed under the Qualifications section of this announcement.

Other Information

Incentive payments may be considered. Current OPM employees may qualify as an exception. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across OPM. If you are unable to apply online and would like to request information about the Alternate Application process, please use the contact information at the bottom of this announcement. Career Transition Assistance Programs: These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position (obtain score of 85 or higher on the assessments) and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp. Reasonable Accommodation Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended and Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a reasonable accommodation in your online application. Requests for Reasonable Accommodations for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for Reasonable Accommodation must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodations 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 Reasonable Accommodation, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Reasonable_Accommodations_for_USA_Hire 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.