BENEFITS CONSULTANT

HRA/DEPT OF SOCIAL SERVICES; World Trade Center (NY); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The New York City Department of Social Services, via the HRS Office of Benefits Administration, seeks a Principal Administrative Associate III to serve as a Benefits Consultant. You will conduct pre-retirement interviews, prepare staff for retirement, and manage records in NYCAPS and PMS while coordinating with NYCERS and the Social Security Administration.

This role requires a bachelor's degree or equivalent, supervisory experience, and strong administrative capabilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent with progressive clerical/administrative experience.
• Experience supervising staff performing clerical/administrative work.
• Experience with retirement or employee benefits processes is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Conduct pre-retirement interviews for employees requesting retirement.
• Prepare staff readiness for retirement including NYCERS processes.
• Enter service/disability retirement data into NYCAPS and update PMS.
• Draft official letters related to retirement benefits and process correspondence.
• Respond to benefits inquiries and disseminate information to relevant parties.
• Present pension/retirement benefits during orientation sessions.
• Compile retirement benefit data for reporting purposes.

Skills

Administrative experience

Supervisory experience

Data entry

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Associate degree / 60 credits

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

NYCAPS

PMS

NYCERS

Job description

APPLICANTS MUST BE PERMANENT IN THE PRINCIPAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSOCIATE CIVIL SERVICE TITLE The Department of Social Services (DSS) is comprised of the administrative units of the New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA) and the Department of Homeless Services (DHS). HRA is dedicated to fighting poverty and income inequality by providing New Yorkers in need with essential benefits such as Food Assistance and Emergency Rental Assistance. DHS is committed to preventing and addressing homelessness in New York City by employing a variety of innovative strategies to help families and individuals successfully exit shelter and return to self- sufficiency as quickly as possible. Human Resources Solutions (HRS) support the human resources needs of the Department of Social Services, the Human Resources Administration, and the Department of Homeless Services through strategic partnership and collaboration, with the goal of creating an inclusive, motivated, and client centered workforce. HRS Office of Benefits Administration is recruiting for one (1) Principal Administrative Associate III to function as a Benefits Consultant who will:

• Responsible for conducting pre-retirement assessment interviews for employees who are requesting retirement.
• Prepare staff readiness for retirement to ensure a smooth transition with the New York City Employee Retirement System (NYCERS).
• Enter personnel data related to service/disability retirement into the New York City Automated Personnel System (NYCAPS) and ensure that the information is updated into the Payroll Management System (PMS).
• Draft official letters/memos and process correspondence related to employee benefits, such as, disability retirement, service retirement, the Management Benefits Fund, and the Social Security Administration; will enter records into the Unit’s programmatic database and citywide systems in order to reflect employees’ retirement status; processing updates, when necessary.
• Respond to benefits-related inquiries utilizing the latest information and resources obtainable from ancillary City agencies.
• Disseminate appropriate information to necessary parties.
• Conduct presentations of pension/retirement benefits during New-Start Orientation sessions.
• Compile statistical data for reporting purposes as they regard employee retirement benefits.

Hours/Schedule: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

PRINCIPAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSOC - 10124

Minimum Qualifications

• 1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and two years of satisfactory full-time progressively responsible clerical/administrative experience, one year of which must have been in an administrative capacity or supervising staff performing clerical/administrative work of more than moderate difficulty; or
• 2. An associate degree or 60 semester credits from an accredited college and three years of satisfactory full-time progressively responsible clerical/administrative experience including one year of the administrative supervisory experience described in "1" above; or
• 3. A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent approved by a state’s department of education or a recognized accrediting organization and four years of satisfactory full-time progressively responsible clerical/administrative experience including one year of the administrative supervisory experience as described in "1" above; or
• 4. Education and/or experience equivalent to "1", "2", or "3" above. However, all candidates must possess the one year of administrative or supervisory experience as described in "1" above. Education above the high school level may be substituted for the general clerical/administrative experience (but not for the one year of administrative or supervisory experience described in "1" above) at a rate of 30 semester credits from an accredited college for 6 months of experience up to a maximum of 3 year.

55a Program

This position is also open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program. Please indicate at the top of your resume and cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position through the 55-a Program.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.

Residency Requirement

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.