Retirement Benefits Specialist

Supplemental Information

Why work for TRSL?

• Service

• All Louisianans have benefited from teachers that inspire and encourage us. At TRSL we give back to our state's teachers by providing retirement security and excellent service.

• Culture

• We value and support employees through open communication, professional development, recognition, and by creating a sense of community.

• Growth

• TRSL encourages professional growth in a number of ways including professional development plans and career progression groups through SCS. We also offer financial assistance for professional certifications and postsecondary/graduate-level courses.

• Benefits

• TRSL offers a generous benefits package including: a defined benefit pension plan, health insurance that is also available post-retirement, at least 10 paid holidays, sick and annual leave that rolls over from year to year, paid or time off accrued for hours worked over 40 per week, a deferred compensation plan, a flexible benefits plan, alternate work schedules, work from home, etc. Work from home may be an available benefit for certain TRSL positions upon meeting the requirements for TRSL's telework policy.

• Location

• TRSL is conveniently located near the I-10 / I-12 split on Essen Lane, away from the congestion of downtown Baton Rouge.

This vacancy may be filled as a Probational, Promotion, or Detail to Special Duty. Detail to Special Duty may be required for a trial period prior to promotion consideration. Current classified permanent status employees may be required to accept a Probational Appointment.

No Civil Service test scoreis required in order to be considered for this vacancy.

This position has a Special Entrance Rate (SER)

Retirement Benefits Specialist (AS-617) has a starting rate of $2,166.40 (bi-weekly)

SUMMARY OF DUTIES

This position serves as a trainer and expert in developing and implementing a training program for the staff of the Retirement Department as well as an expert in content with the capability to assist all areas within the Retirement Department. It also updates and review written procedures and solve technical issues and problems that arise pertaining to daily retirement processing.

Please click the job title

Retirement Benefits Specialistto review specific information on the salary range, minimum qualifications and job concepts.

Applications submitted without the education and /or work experience sections completed will be considered incomplete andwill notbe considered. Resumeswill notbe accepted in lieu of an application listing complete work experience and education.

Applicants who are qualifying for the position based on college training or receipt of a baccalaureate degree should attach a copy of their college transcript to their online application in order to verify credentials. Transcripts may also be faxed, mailed, or emailed to the contact information below and must be received by the closing date of this posting. An official transcript is required upon hire.

Applicants with international degrees mustprovide an equivalency evaluation and a copy of their transcripts at the time of application.

To apply for this vacancy, click on the "Apply" link above and complete an electronic application which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process.Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page.

To view and apply to any of our other postings we currently have available, clickHERE

For further information about this vacancy contact:

ArickaHart

• Human Resources

Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana

P.O. Box 94123

Baton Rouge, LA 70804

Fax:225-922-2579

Email: aricka.hart@trsl.org

TRSL is a Substance Abuse and Drug-Free workplace. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, TRSL is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace prohibiting discrimination on the basis of any non-merit factor.

TRSL is a State as a Model Employer (SAME) agency that supports improved employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

All prospective new hires will be subject to employment eligibility verification via the Federalgovernment's E-verifysystem.

Minimum Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

A baccalaureate degree plus three years of professional level employee benefits experience.

SUBSTITUTIONS:

Six years of full-time work experience in any field may be substituted for the required baccalaureate degree.

Candidates without a baccalaureate degree may combine work experience and college credit to substitute for the baccalaureate degree as follows:

A maximum of 120 semester hours may be combined with experience to substitute for the baccalaureate degree.

30 to 59 semester hours credit will substitute for one year of experience towards the baccalaureate degree.

60 to 89 semester hours credit will substitute for two years of experience towards the baccalaureate degree.

90 to 119 semester hours credit will substitute for three years of experience towards the baccalaureate degree.

120 or more semester hours credit will substitute for four years of experience towards the baccalaureate degree.

College credit earned without obtaining a baccalaureate degree may be substituted for a maximum of four years full-time work experience towards the baccalaureate degree. Candidates with 120 or more semester hours of credit, but without a degree, must also have at least two years of full-time work experience to substitute for the baccalaureate degree.

An International Foundation for Retirement Education (INFRE) or a Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) or Certified Retirement Counselor (CRC) certification will substitute for one year of the required experience.

NOTE:

Employee benefits experience is defined as eligibility and/or benefit determination for regular or disability retirement, deferred compensation, survivor benefits, health insurance, or workers compensation; or responsibility for assisting or advising employees about their employee benefits.

NOTE:

Any college hours or degree must be from an accredited college or university.

Job Concepts

FUNCTION OF WORK:

To serve as a technical expert performing highly-specialized tasks in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations governing statewide retirement systems, or to serve as a program expert for a specialized information, education and/or training program within a statewide retirement system.

LEVEL OF WORK:

Expert

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

Functional over lower-level Retirement Benefits personnel.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:

Functional over lower-level Retirement Benefits personnel.

LOCATION OF WORK:

Statewide Retirement Systems

JOB DISTINCTIONS:

Differs from Retirement Benefits Analyst 4 by the presence of serving as a technical expert for retirement systems or by serving as a program expert for a specialized information, education and/or training program within a statewide retirement system.

Differs from Retirement Benefits Supervisor by absence of direct supervisory responsibility.

Examples of Work

EXAMPLES BELOW ARE A BRIEF SAMPLE OF COMMON DUTIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS JOB TITLE. NOT ALL POSSIBLE TASKS ARE INCLUDED.

Serves as a technical expert performing in-depth/expanded activities in programs requiring advanced knowledge, skills and abilities (i.e., process analysis teams).

Oversees programs, special projects, and/or serves as subject matter/content expert in one or more areas involving the interpretation, investigation development, application and resolution of complex retirement statute, regulation, policy or legislative issue.

Tests and evaluates computer program performance in relation to department goals and services; provides recommendations for improvement.

Designs, develops and delivers formal training to analysts of varying levels and adapting materials and methods of presentation.

Develops highly complex, technical presentations, technical communications, documents, procedural manuals and evaluation instruments.

Oversees re-computations of retirement benefits due to special circumstances--litigation, tax law changes, etc.

Confers with school boards, colleges and universities, vocational and technical institutes, state agencies, other retirement systems and individual members on retirement-related matters requiring expert-level consultation.

Prepares resources explaining the provisions of the Retirement System laws, rules and regulations and the method of computation to determine eligibility and retirement allowances, including newsletter articles related to complex retirement statutes and changes in policies and procedures.

Develops oral and visual presentations concerning the retirement system for large groups of agency administrators and active and retired members, in the form of Pre-Retirement Workshops, including financial and estate planning and social security benefits, as well as Mid-Career seminars, and individual counseling sessions.

Defines and conceptualizes information and education objectives of the retirement system. Initiates surveys to determine immediate and long-range training and development needs of the retirement system.

Serves as liaison between the Retirement System and other state agency administrators, parish school superintendents, business managers, human resources directors, payroll officers, school officials, and BESE board members by coordinating requests for services and assisting in solving problems relative to reporting procedures, correcting reporting errors and assuring compliance with laws and board policy statements and interpreting laws and board policy statements.

Reviews legislation, board policy statements, court judgments and decisions, Attorney General's opinions and administrative decisions for interpretation and representation to membership. Composes correspondence and newsletter articles related to complex retirement statutes and changes in policies and procedures.

Conducts Employer Procedures Manual training workshops for reporting agencies to assist those agencies in maintaining compliance with laws governing the retirement systems.

Represents management personnel at local, regional, and statewide meetings, including but not limited to assisting management during legislative session on special projects or representing the retirement system in court cases.

Conducts program evaluation to ensure that the information disseminated is accurate and is utilized by members and agencies in obtaining the best possible benefits.

Makes budget recommendations by evaluating needs, preparing narratives, projecting costs, determining necessary adjustments and approving and reviewing expenditures.

Travels statewide conducting oral and visual presentations concerning the retirement system for large groups of agency administrators and active and retired members, in the form of Pre-Retirement Workshops including financial and estate planning and social security benefits, as well as Mid-Career seminars, and individual counseling sessions concerning membership requirements, eligibility for benefits, current legislation, reporting of employee and employer contributions, and other financial matters.

Keeps abreast of current legislation from bill introduction through hearings until final disposition by the legislature.

Investigates complaints encountered in the field and from in-office contacts and responds to involved members or agencies.

Assists Retirement System departments as required through in-office telephone calls, personal interview and correspondence with members and agencies.