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
Main Purpose of Job
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).
POSITION DUTIES
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) 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 Savings Expo 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.
LIMITATIONS ON SELECTION
ONLY current MSRA employees in the Administration Division may apply for this position.
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 and 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.
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.
