Retirement Member Services Specialist

CLASSIFICATION PURPOSE AND DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

To perform specialized employment benefits (pension and health insurance programs) administration; to process related personnel records and payroll transactions; to provide benefit information, and to perform related work as required.

This is the professional journey level class allocated only to the San Diego County Employees Retirement Association (SDCERA). Under general direction incumbents perform the more difficult interpretation of retirement/benefit law and impart information to active and retired members. Incumbents are designated as "confidential employees" and process confidential personnel, retirement, medical, and legal documents; and may participate in the county's labor relations process and planning related to employment benefits negotiations.

The complete Retirement Member Services classification series includes the following:

• Retirement Member Services Associate (Class No. 007558)
• Retirement Member Services Specialist (Class No. 007556)
• Retirement Member Services Senior Specialist (Class No. 007557)

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

The examples of functions listed in this class specification are representative but not necessarily exhaustive or descriptive of any one position in the class. Management is not precluded from assigning other related functions not listed herein if such functions are a logical assignment for the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of a job, on a case-by-case basis.

Essential Functions:

• Enrolls new hires in the retirement system.
• Processes pension, disability, and health insurance applications.
• Calculates benefit payouts and costs for service credit purchases.
• Maintains electronic personnel files and member accounts.
• Verifies payments, contributions, and deductions.
• Resolves benefit issues and problems.
• Communicates information to County departmental personnel/payroll staff, current employees, retirees, and beneficiaries who are general or safety members of the Retirement Association.
• Clarifies the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) benefits to retiring employees.
• Conducts the annual open enrollment process for the health insurance plans.
• Monitors and reconciles employee/member accounts, payroll checks, rate schedules, contributions, service credits, personal information, retirement/deferred status, reciprocity, and dissolution of marriage orders.
• Explains earnings, deductions, taxes, and other withholding information.
• Prepares and mails 1099 forms.
• Establishes electronic fund transfers and paycheck deposits.
• Obtains birth and death certificates.
• Processes address, beneficiary, and other record changes.
• Maintains technical desk manuals and related forms.
• Provides courteous, high-quality service to members of the public by personally responding to requests for service or making appropriate referrals.
• May be required to perform the functions of the lower-level classes in this series.
• Receives and coordinates the processing of retirement disability applications received from county appointing authorities and/or employees.
• Obtains and evaluates medical and legal documents and records, including personnel files, and payroll history.
• Processes information requests and subpoenas to health care providers, including employee personal physicians and the Department of Human Resources workers' compensation unit.
• Opens and maintains case files.
• Assists in scheduling and preparing for legal administrative hearings.
• Calculates disability benefits.
• Prepares information and reports to be docketed with the Board of Retirement.
• Responds to member questions and requests for forms, information, and assistance.
• Prepares correspondence, and clarifies policy and procedures.
• Assists members in navigating the SDCERA website to obtain information and forms and to use benefit calculators.
• Explains service credit purchase, vesting, and reciprocity.
• Plans and schedules retirement benefits workshops and new-hire orientation.
• Conducts information presentations.
• Prepares regular mass mailings to association members.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

• Employment benefit plans and related administrative procedures.
• Mathematics and basic statistics.
• SDCERA internal policies, operating and administrative procedures, and forms.
• Customer service and public contact methods and techniques; interviewing and benefits counseling techniques.
• Process improvement methods and techniques.
• Business English including spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Telephone, office, and online etiquette.
• Current technology and trends in the profession.
• Customer service objectives and strategies.
• Principles of supervising including planning and scheduling work; training; establishing goals; managing and reviewing performance; and counseling.

Skills and Abilities to:

• Plan, organize, and prioritize work.
• Plan, assign, and review subordinate work.
• Distinguish importance of tasks and complete work assignments in…