State of Maryland

A Retirement Benefits Specialist III is the full performance level of specialized counseling work related to the application and interpretation of laws, rules, regulations and policies governing the Maryland State Retirement and Pension System.  Employees in this classification work in a member services unit, such as counseling, correspondence, and education and training.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions, but may provide guidance to lower-level Retirement Benefits Specialists.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a Retirement Benefits Specialist Supervisor or other designated administrator.  The work requires employees to travel to various locations throughout the State and may require overnight travel.

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 Benefits Specialist I, Retirement Benefits Specialist II and Retirement Benefits Specialist III are differentiated on the basis of degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees.  The Retirement Benefits Specialist I learns to perform duties under close supervision. The Retirement Benefits Specialist II performs duties under close supervision at times and under general supervision at other times depending on the complexity of the specific duty being performed.  The Retirement Benefits Specialist III performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.  The Retirement Benefits Specialist III is differentiated from the Retirement Benefits Specialist Advanced/Lead in that the Retirement Benefits Specialist Advanced/Lead serves as the key technical and primary subject matter expert in a specific area or assigns, reviews and approves the work of and trains lower-level Retirement Benefits Specialists.

Advises prospective retirees of pension benefits and options available under specific retirement plans in order to assist them in making informed retirement decisions;

Interprets and applies applicable retirement benefits laws, rules, regulations and policies;

Prepares and makes multimedia presentations before groups of employees, employee representatives and retirement coordinators to explain Retirement and Pension System laws, procedures, and requirements;

Researches member records using computer databases and other agency systems;

Counsels members and retirees in one-on-one settings and on the telephone and performs the required follow-up to provide requested information;

Prepares and reviews correspondence in response to incoming requests;

Conducts pre-retirement seminars for plan participants at various locations throughout the State;

Completes necessary documents to ensure expeditious and effective initiation of payments to retirees;

Processes member claims for disability retirement through various administrative and medical review steps;

May train and provide guidance to lower-level Retirement Benefits Specialists;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of office procedures, business English, spelling, grammar, written correspondence and arithmetic;

Knowledge of the application of Retirement and Pension System current laws and history of past laws regarding the multiple retirement plans, rules, regulations, and policies;

Skill in identifying and correcting errors regarding information provided to customers;

Skill in interpreting, applying and explaining federal and State tax and pension laws;

Skill in providing quality customer service;

Ability to accurately analyze and address the issues presented by members and annuitants;

Ability to communicate effectively;

Ability to make presentations before small and large groups and to present information in a clear and concise manner;

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, executive staff and the general public;

Ability to exercise tact and discretion in dealing with co-workers, the general public and government officials.

Experience: Six years of experience in counseling employees or responding to inquiries in a call center relative to pension benefits and options available under a State, federal or local retirement and pension system.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and two years of experience in counseling employees or responding to inquiries in a call center relative to pension benefits and options available under a State, federal or local retirement and pension system for the required experience.

2. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Maryland Retirement Coordinator certification issued by the Maryland State Retirement Agency, 120 E. Baltimore Street, Baltimore MD, 21202, for one year of the required experience.

3. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Master’s degree in Business Management, Business Administration or Public Administration from an accredited college or university for five years of the required experience.

4. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in Financial Management classifications or Financial Management specialty codes in the Accounting and Budget field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

1. Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator’s license valid in the State of Maryland.

2. Employees in this classification must possess and maintain a Notary Public commission valid in the State of Maryland.

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.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series.  NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance level in a classification series.  In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series, an employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class, as defined by the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.