Human Resources Assistant (Employee Benefits) – HR Navigator

Summary

HR Navigator supports the VA Medical Center by providing in-person onboarding assistance, employee HR support, benefits education, and HR systems processing. The role ensures timely hiring, accurate HR data, regulatory compliance, and quality customer service. The position is aligned to the local strategic unit and located on-site, offerin direct HR navigation support to staff, managers, and leadership.

Duties

• The Human Resources (HR) Navigator serves three primary functions: (1) As a centralized onboarding and workforce navigation resource within the
• Veterans Health Administration (VHA); (2) providing Tier 1 HR support to current employees, connecting customers with appropriate HR teams responsive to customers' queries; and (3) providing education, researching and correction of discrepancies, and full range assistant level support for benefits and leave programs across the facility.
• The role ensures timely hiring, regulatory compliance, workforce readiness, benefits enrollment education, HR system data accuracy and positive employee experiences for the on-site workforce it serves.
• Major duties include, but are not limited to the following:
• Onboarding and Pre-Employment Coordination
• Serves as the primary point of contact for selectees from tentative job offer through Entry on
• Coordinates pre-employment steps with new hires.
• Helps new employees submit required forms and completes pre-hire checks.
• Supports scheduling and communication throughout the onboarding process.
• Monitors and tracks onboarding progress, identifies delays, and ensures timely completion of requirements.
• Supports the completion of pre-employment requirements such as background checks, fingerprinting, physical exams, drug testing, and driving record reviews, and helps new hires finish any additional steps needed before starting work.
• HR Support & Customer Service Conducts New Employee
• In-Processing and prepares first-day documentation. Serves as an on-site
• HR customer support representative handling inquiries via walk-in, phone, email, and ticketing systems. Provides assistance with pay processes, payroll briefings, tax withholding, and direct deposit. Reviews employee records, identifies discrepancies, and gathers information for resolution. Provides assistance to employees regarding
• HR-related questions and processes. Helps resolve basic
• HR issues and directs employees to the correct resources. Submits and tracks payroll service requests. Screens and resolves routine
• HR inquiries and refers complex issues to
• HR Specialists. Benefits Program Support
• Provides guidance and support to employees on their federal benefit programs, including health insurance, life insurance, dental and vision coverage, retirement savings plans, childcare assistance, and transit benefits.
• Meets with employees to explain benefits options and provide individualized guidance.
• Conducts new hire benefits enrollment, reviews forms for accuracy, and uploads required documentation.
• Season communications and enrollment activities. Assists employees with benefits-related changes tied to qualifying life events. HR Systems Processing
• Uploads and verifies documentation in
• HR systems and the electronic Official Personnel
• Folder (eOPF). Uses
• HR systems to submit tickets, process benefits updates, and maintain
• HR data accuracy. Ensures records and documentation meet compliance requirements. Promotion
• Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work
• Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8am-4:30pm
• Compressed/Flexible: May be available and will be discussed with the hiring office. Telework: This position may be authorized for telework. Telework availability depends on location and service line and is not guaranteed. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Human Resources Assistant (Employee Benefits)
• HR Navigator/PD99250-S and PD99251-S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

• You must be a U.S.
• Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process.
• In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment.
• The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
• Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Physical
• Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical activity, including walking throughout the facility to escort candidates and employees to various locations, standing for extended periods during onboarding activities, and navigating between offices and service points.
• These physical demands are essential to performing the in-person components of the role.
• The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment.
• A pre-placement physical examination is not required.
• Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents).
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of
• Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will 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
• Upon completion of your probationary period period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Required Documents

• To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
• The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former
• Federal employees), documentation to support Veterans
• Preference claims, or
• ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced
• Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information. Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (VA) License Other (1) PCS Orders Performance Appraisal Proof of Marriage Status Resume Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript
• Veterans' Preference: Since the Direct-Hire Recruitment
• Authority is being used, traditional
• Veterans' Preference rules do not apply. Qualified veterans will, however, be given full consideration for this position. Veterans and Transitioning Service
• Members: Please visit the VA for
• Vets site for career-search tools for
• Veterans seeking employment at
• VA, career development services for our existing
• Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members. It is the policy of the
• VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care
• Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all
• HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons.
• Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted.
• HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service.
• HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in
• VHA locations or who come into contact with
• VA patients or other
• HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and
• VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all
• VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any
• Or all of their work at these facilities.
• HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students.
• HCP also includes
• VHA personnel providing home-based care to
• Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside
• VA medical facilities. Placement
• Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.