Retirement Benefits Specialist II

Position Information

Bring your communication, problem-solving, and office management skills to Sonoma County Employees' Retirement Association (SCERA) !

Starting salary up to $40.37/hour ($84,257/year) and a competitive total compensation package!*

What We Offer

Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better our communities. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:

• Hybrid Telework - A schedule that meets the needs of our staff, department operations, and the communities we serve may be available depending on the assignment
• Salary Advancement - A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
• Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
• County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
• Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement health insurance/benefits
• Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
• Paid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
• Student Loan Debt Relief – County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education
  
  

Join Our Team

We value customer service, collaboration, professionalism, consistency, proactive planning, flexibility, and innovative problem-solving. We are committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace, where individuals from all backgrounds are welcomed, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential.

Responsibilities

SCERA is a small office with fifteen full-time equivalent positions. This Retirement Benefits Specialist II position works in a team environment with a Senior Retirement Benefits Specialist, a Retirement Benefits Specialist, and a Member Services Manager. This position will report to the Member Services Manager and will advise members on the application process for retirement benefits as well as review and process member applications for benefits such as deferred retirement, disability retirement, and general retirement. Additional responsibilities include:

• Determining eligibility for retirement benefits
• Calculating retirement benefits based on factors such as service credits, purchasing contracts, retirement programs, and reciprocity agreements with other agencies
• Maintaining and updating member files
• Creating retirement benefit communications for newsletters and other publications for SCERA
• Providing information to active members regarding retirement, service purchases, and disbursement of funds
• Reviewing and processing beneficiary change forms
• Preparing and delivering presentations to various groups of members
• Providing backup support for the receptionist
  
  

The Ideal Candidate Will Be a Team Player Who Is Eager To Collaborate And Create Effective Relationships With SCERA Personnel And Plan Members. They Will Be Able To Work Well Within a Small Team Environment As Well As An Independent Self-starter. They Will Also Possess Many Of The Following

• Generalized office experience including experience working with computerized systems such as Microsoft office, and the ability to learn and understand highly specialized pension software
• Some experience giving presentations and/or explaining policies and/or regulations
• Some experience determining benefit eligibility and/or working with various benefit programs
• The ability to apply legal requirements of the Government code to member scenarios
• An understanding of mathematical formulas to calculate retirement benefits
• Acute attention to detail, as well as the mathematical ability to calculate and validate benefit and service purchase computations
• The ability to communicate complex concepts in clear terms to individuals or groups with varying levels of knowledge
• Experience with the use of electronic information systems and software solutions for pension administration
• The ability to work through a caseload with support from management, including asking questions to ensure their work product is accurate and reliable
• A desire to work in and serve the public sector
  
  

Please note: The position advertised on this announcement does not require possession of a valid California Driver’s License.

• Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Service Employees International Union Local 1021 Memorandum Of Understanding (SEIU MOU) and our Employee Benefits Directory .
  
  

This recruitment is being conducted to fill a Retirement Benefits Specialist II position in the Sonoma County Employee Retirement Association (SCERA). This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire be completed.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience & Education: Any combination of academic coursework and/or training that would provide the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, this would include college-level coursework in public administration, communications, business administration, management, benefits administration, finance, accounting, economics, paralegal, human resources, or related fields, and one year of responsible office support work experience involving contact with the public, the use of advanced elements of word processing, spreadsheet, pension system administration, and presentation software, and/or the review or preparation of legal documents, OR one year of experience equivalent to that of a Retirement Benefits Specialist I. Some experience in communications, bookkeeping, accounting, workers' compensation, disability benefits, employee benefits, or insurance benefits is desirable.

License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

Working knowledge of: County Employees Retirement Law of 1937; the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013; policies and regulations related to pensionable compensation and retirement benefits processing; information gathering techniques, business and legal writing formats; interviewing techniques; the use of electronic information systems and pension administration software systems; office support and SCERA practices, procedures, programs, services, policies, and regulations; the purpose and processing of diverse forms and documents; English grammar, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation, and composition; basic mathematics; methods and techniques used in researching, proofing, evaluation, gathering, organizing, presenting, and arranging data.

Ability to: communicate effectively orally and in writing; understand and apply specific rules, codes, regulations, procedures, policies, and precedents; use reference material; select, interpret, and explain regulations and procedures; speak effectively in public; work effectively under deadlines; follow written and oral instructions; locate, identify, and correct technical inaccuracies; use independent initiative and discretion in organizing work and carrying out instructions; establish and maintain effective work relationships with other employees and the public; work effectively with individuals in sensitive and stressful circumstances; establish, organize, and revise the maintenance of SCERA files; research, proof, audit, evaluate, gather, organize, and arrange diverse information; prepare materials, including graphs, charts, statistical statements, specifications, purchase orders, reports, and standardized forms; independently research and prepare correspondence in answer to inquiries about SCERA records, programs, services, and regulations; maintain and process a variety of records and transactions; make accurate and rapid mathematical calculations; assist with the development and implementation of procedures; serve as a technical resources for staff; work independently and collaboratively in performing assignments and in resolving problems and deviations; use electronic equipment and pension administration software systems; and enter data accurately.

Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
• You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
• You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.
  
  

Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire be completed.

Responses to supplemental questions will be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state, "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.

The Selection Procedure Will Consist Of The Following Examination

An Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.
  
  

Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination which evaluates the education, training, experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, and other qualifications that you demonstrate in your application and/or response to the supplemental questionnaire. Please be aware that resumes and cover letters are not typically evaluated in the Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.

Additional Information

A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.

Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.

How To Apply

Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org . Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be received by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

HR Analyst: DP

HR Technician: RR