Retirement and Benefits Specialist 1

State of Alaska; Juneau (AK); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Alaska seeks a Retirement and Benefits Specialist 1 to support the Survivor Unit Team in processing death benefits for multiple retirement systems. The role assists spouses or beneficiaries of recently deceased members with monetary and health benefits, under supervision.

The position emphasizes customer service, flexibility, and strong KSAs to ensure accurate, timely processing. The department focuses on delivering excellent service to its member community from the sixth-floor

Qualifications

• Combination of education and/or experience providing competencies in KSAs as described.
• Education, licenses, certifications and related duties to support competencies.

Responsibilities

• Assist survivors in receiving death benefits for PERS, TRS, JRS, NGNMRS, EPORS, the Defined Contributions Plans, SBS and DCP.
• Support spouse or beneficiary of a deceased member under supervision.
• Interpret and apply retirement and benefits rules and regulations.

Skills

Customer service

Flexibility

Reading comprehension

Analytical thinking

Arithmetic

Computer skills

Oral and written communication

Reasoning

Education

Post-secondary education or equivalent

Tools

Databases

Automated systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

Retirement and Benefits Specialist 1 (02-8126) | Workplace Alaska page has loaded.

This position is open to Alaska Residents only. Please check our residency definition to determine if you qualify.

What You Will Be Doing

This position will serve as a Retirement and Benefits Specialist 1 for the Survivor Unit Team. The supervisor of a team assists a spouse or beneficiary of a recently deceased member in receiving monetary and/or health benefits. The team processes death benefits for the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), Teachers' Retirement System (TRS), Judicial Retirement System (JRS), National Guard Naval Militia Retirement System (NGNMRS), Elected Public Officials Retirement System (EPORS), the Defined Contributions Plans, Alaska Supplemental Benefits Annuity Plan (SBS) and Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP).

Our Organization, Mission, and Culture

The Division of Retirement and Benefits administers the State of Alaska and political subdivision retirement and benefit plans. Our focus is to deliver excellent, accurate, and timely service to our member community.

The Benefits of Joining Our Team

The satisfaction of working together to assist our members during a difficult transition.

The Working Environment You Can Expect

The workspace is located on the sixth floor of the State Office Building in downtown Juneau. The hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Who We Are Looking For

We are interested in candidates who possess some or all of the following position specific competencies:

• Customer Service: Anticipates and meets the needs of both internal and external customers. Delivers high-quality products and services; is committed to continuous improvement.
• Flexibility: Is open to change and new information; rapidly adapts to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles.
• Reading Comprehension: Understands and interprets written material, including technical material, rules, regulations, instructions, reports, charts, graphs, or tables; applies what is learned from written material to specific situations.

Minimum Qualifications

Competency Based Minimum Qualifications Instructions

This job class uses competency based minimum qualifications. Please ensure your application (through work history, volunteer experience (duties summary), training, education, licenses, certifications, etc.) supports how you have gained the knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors (competencies) and that you possess the minimum required competencies for the job class.

Competency Description The competency description(s) listed below have been designed to promote a common understanding of the essential elements of the job class. They highlight the more general and customary knowledge, skills, abilities (KSAs), tasks, and behaviors used to describe the competency. They typically list expectations, as opposed to specific tasks, and are to be used only as parameters and guidelines. A competency’s description is not intended to exclusively define every KSA, task, and behavior needed to successfully meet the competency, but rather to provide the manager/agency with a broad reference of options as to how an applicant can meet the job expectation.

Any combination of education and/or experience that provides the applicant with competencies in

• Analytical Thinking/Problem Solving: uses a logical, systematic, sequential approach to address problems or opportunities or manage a situation by drawing on one’s knowledge and experience base and calling on other references and resources as necessary.
• Arithmetic: Performs computations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division correctly using whole numbers, fractions, decimals, and percentages.
• Computer Skills: Uses computers, software applications, databases, and automated systems to accomplish work.
• Oral and Written Communication: Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral and written presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.
• Reasoning: Identifies rules, principles, or relationships that explain facts, data, or other information; analyzes information and makes correct inferences or draws accurate conclusions.

Equivalent to those typically gained by:

Any combination of preparatory post-secondary education and/or experience in public or business administration providing administrative or technical support to management in running an organization/enterprise which required some application of guidelines and policies to meet assigned responsibilities.

Special Note:

“Competencies” means a combination of interrelated knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors that enable a person to act effectively in a job or situation.

“Typically gained by” means the prevalent, usual method of gaining the competencies expected for entry into the job.

“Training” and “education” in this guidance are synonyms for the process of acquiring knowledge and skills through instruction. It includes instruction through formal and informal methods (such as classroom, on-line, self-study, and on-the-job), from accredited and unaccredited sources, and long-duration (such as a post-secondary degree) and short-duration (such as a seminar) programs.

Special Instructions for Foreign Education

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above requirements, if applicable. If utilizing this education you must show that the education credentials have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs; or an accredited U.S. state university reports the other institution as one whose transcript is given full value, or full value is given in subject areas applicable to the curricula at the state university. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.

EEO Statement

The State of Alaska complies with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Individuals with disabilities, who require accommodation, auxiliary aides or services, or alternative communication formats, please call 1-800-587-0430 or [phone] in Juneau or TTY: Alaska Relay 711 or 1-800-770-8973 or correspond with the Division of Personnel & Labor Relations at: P.O. Box 110201, Juneau, AK 99811-0201. The State of Alaska is an equal opportunity employer.

Additional Required Information

At time of interview

• Copies of the last two (2) performance evaluations, or two (2) letters of reference from a supervisor,
• Copies (not originals) of official college/university transcripts (only if using post-secondary education as part of your application package to meet minimum qualifications),
• A list of at least three professional and/or academic references, including the following required contact information:
  • Reference Name,
  • Reference relationship (ex: Supervisor, former supervisor, high-school math teacher, accounting professor, co-worker, etc…),
  • Reference email(s), and
  • Reference phone number(s).

Contact Information

Kenneth Woodbury

Member Benefits Processing Manager

Phone: [phone]

[e-mail]

Phone [phone] (Statewide toll-free number)
[phone] (Juneau and out-of-state callers)