State of Maryland

A Retirement Benefits Specialist Advanced/Lead is the advanced or lead 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, at the advanced level of work, serve as the key technical and primary subject matter expert in a specific area, such as legislation, tax laws, communications technology and other complex, sensitive and confidential issues.   Employees in this classification, at the level of work, assign, review and approve the work of and train lower-level Retirement Benefits Specialists.  Employees in this classification, performing the Advanced and the Lead levels of work, provide direction and guidance to Agency Retirement Benefits Specialist staff.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a Retirement Benefits Specialist Supervisor or other designated agency official.  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 Advanced/Lead is differentiated from the Retirement Benefits Specialist III in that the Retirement Benefits Specialist Advanced/Lead serves either 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 while the Retirement Benefits Specialist III performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.   The Retirement Benefits Specialist Advanced/Lead is differentiated from the Retirement Benefits Specialist Supervisor in that the Retirement Benefits Specialist Supervisor has supervisory responsibility for lower-level Retirement Benefits Specialists.

(When functioning at the Advanced level)

Serves as the key technical and primary subject matter expert in a specific area, such as legislation, tax laws, communications technology and other complex, sensitive and confidential issues;

Maintains contacts with high-level executives and elected officials to discuss and resolve complex, sensitive and confidential matters;

Provides technical assistance, advice and guidance to lower-level Retirement Benefits Specialists on complex retirement matters;

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 conducts 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 assign, review and approve the work of and train lower-level Retirement Benefits Specialists;

Performs other related duties.

(When functioning at the Lead level)

Assigns, reviews and approves the work of lower-level Retirement Benefits Specialists;

Trains lower-level Retirement Benefits Specialists;

Provides technical assistance, advice and guidance to lower-level Retirement Benefits Specialists on complex retirement matters;

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 conducts 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;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of office procedures, business English, spelling, grammar 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 complex problem solving;

Skill in accurately analyzing and addressing the issues presented by members and annuitants;

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

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

Skill in providing quality customer service;

Ability to assign, review and approve work of and train lower-level Retirement Benefits Specialists;

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: Seven years of experience 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 three years of experience 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 shall be required to possess a valid 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.