State of Maryland

A Retirement Associate III is the advanced or lead worker level of specialized clerical work involved in the processing of transactions requiring the application of Maryland State Retirement System laws, rules, and regulations.  Employees in this classification perform complex clerical tasks or may assign, review and approve the work of and train lower-level Retirement Associates.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a Retirement Services Specialist or higher level administrator.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Retirement Associate III is differentiated from the Retirement Associate II in that the Retirement Associate III performs complex clerical tasks or assigns, reviews and approves the work of and trains lower-level Retirement Associates while the Retirement Associate II performs the duties under close supervision at times and under general supervision at other times depending on the complexity of the specific duty being performed. 

Calculates manual retirement benefit estimates and finals by extracting pertinent data contained in manual and computer generated membership history records;

Replaces lost or stolen benefits checks;

Schedules disability hearing and implements Medical Board’s decision;

Reconciles automated and manual record keeping systems;

Maintains production records for section;

Provides guidance and training to lower-level Retirement Associates and clerks;

May assign and review the work of lower-level Retirement Associates and clerks;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of Maryland State Retirement laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures;

Knowledge of office practices and procedures, business English, spelling, punctuation, grammar and basic mathematics;

Ability to communicate effectively with employees and supervisors;

Ability to deal tactfully with employees and supervisors;

Ability to operate basic office appliances (calculators, computer terminals).

Education:   Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: Three years of clerical experience, two years of which involved the processing of transactions in a State, federal or local retirement system.

Note: Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a non-commissioned officer in Administration classifications or Administrative, Clerical, or Office Services specialty codes in the administrative support field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is not assigned to a bargaining unit, as indicated by the designation of S (Supervisor), M (Manager), T (Agency Head), U (Board or Commission Member), W (Student), X (Used by Agency or Excluded by Executive Order), or Z (Confidential).  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.  An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime as provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.