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RETIREMENT BENEFITS SPECIALIST ADVANCED/LEAD

Recruitment #22-000983-0001

Introduction

The Maryland State Retirement Agency (“Agency”) is the administrator of the Maryland State Retirement and Pension System (“System”). The System is a defined benefit pension plan covering governmental employees within the State of Maryland. The System has over 400,000 participants (customers), including 192,000 members who are actively employed and enrolled, 170,000 payees who receive a monthly retirement benefit payment, and 40,000 vested members who are no longer actively employed but who have earned a benefit that will become payable at a future date.

The agency is seeking to fill a Retirement Benefits Specialist Advanced position within its Member Services Unit.  NOTE: This position is open only to current MSRA employees in the Administration Division.

GRADE

17

LOCATION OF POSITION

120 East Baltimore Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21202

POSITION DUTIES

The main purpose of the Retirement Benefits Specialist (RBS) is to be the human interface between the Retirement Agency and its members, retirees, beneficiaries, and participating employers. As a RBS Advanced, an employee may be rotated between duties, including but not limited to, assisting customers in the Unit’s reception area, assisting customers on the telephone in the Unit’s Contact Center, assisting customers face-to-face in the Unit’s counseling area, and assisting customers by responding to written correspondence (emails and letters).

The RBS Advanced classification is required to travel to off-site locations to serve as the Agency’s representative and presenter for Pre-Retirement Seminars, to represent the Agency at conferences (e.g., Maryland State Educators’ Association, Maryland Municipal League, Maryland Association of Counties, etc.), and to represent the Agency when an employer requests that an employee attend ad hoc meetings (e.g., decision to join the System, decision to transfer plans among the System, decision to accept an early retirement incentive, etc.) to answer questions raised by the employer’s employees. 

The RBS will participate with the Maryland Supplemental Retirement Plans in attending the First Steps presentations.  The platform of seminars may expand, for example, new employee orientation regarding the benefits of being a member of the State Retirement and Pension System. Webinars are included in the repertoire of presentations conducted by the RBS Advanced.

An Advanced RBS must be able to provide his/her own transportation if a State car is not available. Reimbursement follows the state mileage and/or expense policy.  There is no reimbursement for a rental car.  The ability and willingness to travel to locations throughout the entire State of Maryland is required, including instances of overnight stays.

In all of these roles, the RBS Advanced is expected to demonstrate excellent customer service skills, expert level knowledge of the laws, regulations, policies, and procedures guiding the provision of pension benefits to customers, and clear communication skills. The RBS Advanced must be adept at listening to the customers and identifying their needs, applying their knowledge of the System to analyze how to best address those needs, and clearly and concisely communicating information back to the customers to ensure that they understand their pension benefits and understand what options they may have to resolve their questions/issues, and what steps they need to take to help in the resolution of their questions/issues.

Additionally, a RBS Advanced must display excellent group presentation skills, including confidence, energy/enthusiasm, read the audience and tailor presentation accordingly, control the presentation by managing the audience, and clearly and completely communicating the presentation’s information.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

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.

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS

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.

SELECTION PROCESS

Please make sure that you provide sufficient information on your application to show that you meet the minimum requirements for this recruitment. All information concerning your qualifications must be submitted by the closing date. We will not consider information submitted after this date.

Successful candidates will be ranked as Best Qualified, Better Qualified, or Qualified and placed on the employment (eligible) list for at least one year. This list will be used by the hiring agency to select employees.

For education obtained outside the U.S., a copy of the equivalent American education as determined by a foreign credential evaluation service must accompany the application.

EXAMINATION PROCESS

The examination will consist of a rating of your education, training, and experience as presented on your application an as they related to the requirements of the position. You may be asked to complete a supplemental questionnaire. The supplemental questionnaire may be used as part of the rating process. Therefore, it is important that you provide complete and accurate information on your application.  Please report all education and experience that is related to this position. 

BENEFITS

FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS

The online application process is STRONGLY preferred. If online access is not available, you may mail a paper application and supplemental questionnaire (if applicable) to:

DBM Recruitment & Examination Department 
301 West Preston Street, Room 608 
Baltimore, MD 21201 

All mailed documents must include the applicant's name and the job number and must be received by the closing date.   Resumes will NOT be accepted in lieu of completing the application.  For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact the DBM Recruitment and Examination Division at Application.Help@maryland.gov or 410-767-4850, MD TTY Relay Service 1-800-735-2258.  TTY  Users: call via Maryland Relay.
  
As an equal opportunity employer, Maryland is committed to recruiting, retaining, and promoting employees who are reflective of the State’s diversity.  People with disabilities and bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.

We thank our Veterans for their service to our country and encourage them to apply.




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