Retirement Manager

City of Alexandria, Virginia; Alexandria (VA); On-site; USD 74,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Alexandria, Virginia, is seeking a personable Retirement Manager to lead the Pension and Payroll Division and supervise a team of four Retirement Specialists. This role supports the employee/employer pension board, administers investments, and may serve as Retirement Administrator in their absence.

Ideal candidates bring strong supervisory, analytical, and customer service skills, with experience in state retirement plans and a forward-thinking approach to technology.

Qualifications

• Minimum four-year college degree and five years of related experience or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Five years of experience with benefit design and plan administration in defined benefit and defined contribution plans; senior-level management experience.
• Experience working with collective bargaining agreements; or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Responsibilities

• Trains, guides, reviews, coaches, motivates staff.
• Supports operational, technical, and organizational administration of nine retirement plans.
• Develops and maintains internal controls to detect and prevent errors.
• Acts as liaison to third-party administrators and City staff.
• Assists in preparing exhibits for the ACFR and Internal Auditor.
• Provides counseling and education to employees on retirement plans.
• Coordinates and leads retirement workshops and training.
• Counsels retirees and terminating employees on retirement options.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Customer service experience

Financial analysis

Tech-savvy

Education

Bachelor's degree / four-year college degree

Job description

The City of Alexandria is located in northern Virginia and is bordered by the District of Columbia (Potomac River), Arlington and Fairfax counties. With a population of approximately 150,000 and a land area of 15.75 square miles, Alexandria is the seventh largest city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Alexandria has a vibrant waterfront and is a unique and historic place to live and work. About one-quarter of the City’s square miles have been designated as a national or local historic district. We proudly embrace our rich history and seize the endless opportunities that lie ahead. If you are interested in working for the vibrant City of Alexandria, we invite qualified candidates to apply for the Retirement Manager position.

An Overview

The City of Alexandria’s Finance Department is looking for a personable, collaborative, detail-oriented Retirement Manager to join our team. As a member of the Pension and Payroll Division, the Retirement Manager provides staff support to the employee/employer pension investment board in administering the investments of the public safety and supplemental defined benefit contribution plan. Under the guidance of the Retirement Administrator, this position will supervise a team of four Retirement Specialists. In the absence of the Retirement Administrator, this position will serve as the Retirement Administrator.

What You Should Bring

The ideal candidate is a people-oriented, self-motivated professional, who can also manage critical details and perform financial analysis. Additional skills and abilities include:

• Supervisory experience
• Administrative support for monthly and quarterly pension meetings
• Knowledge and experience working with state retirement and pension plans
• Strong customer service experience
• Forward thinking approach to technology
• Comfortability speaking in front of a group, conducting training and informational meetings

The Opportunity – Examples of Work

• Trains, guides, reviews, coaches, motivates staff
• Supports all aspects related to operational, technical, and organizational administration of the nine retirement plans;
• Develops, reviews, implements, and documents internal administrative procedures;
• Develops and maintains strong internal controls to detect and prevent errors in transactions and calculations;
• Acts as liaison to third-party administrators and other City support staff (ITS & Payroll);
• Supports the City’s liaison to the investment consultant and investment manager;
• Administrative support for the 4 investment board
• Reviews data and benefit calculations;
• Supports the Retirement Administrator in the preparation of exhibits for the ACFR and Internal Auditor;
• Maintains compliance with relevant Federal, State, and local regulations/guidelines
• Maintains strong working relationships with professionals inside and outside the organization; serves as the primary contact for vendors and other city departments
• Provide counseling and education to employees on the City’s retirement plans
• Coordinates and leads retirement workshops & training
• Counsels prospective retirees and terminating employees on retirement options, coordinates preparation of required applications for the distribution process
• Assists in interpreting laws, regulations and policies, and assists in the review and updates of plan documents and collective bargaining agreements;
• Cover the duties of the Retirement Administrator when they are absent.
• Performs related work as required.

About The Department

The City of Alexandria's Finance Department is a fast-paced, diverse, and customer service focused operation that is responsible for: the assessment, collection, and enforcement of all City taxes, the management of cash flow and investments, accounting for and reporting the City’s financial position, processing payroll, executing a fair and competitive procurement environment, assessing all real and personal property in the City, managing the City’s risk and safety programs, and managing the City’s pension plans. The Finance Department has seven divisions and in fiscal year 2027 is operating with a total budget of $16.6 million and 107 FTE positions.

The Finance Department is committed to providing equitable, customer-focused service that treats all employees, residents, and business owners with professionalism, fairness, compassion, and respect, while fostering trust through inclusive, accessible, and transparent financial practices.

Minimum & Additional Requirements

Minimum four-year college degree and five years of related experience or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Preferred Qualifications

Five years of experience with benefit design and plan administration in defined benefit and defined contribution plans; two or more years of senior-level management experience; five to six years of experience in retirement plan administration; experience working with collective bargaining agreements; or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Notes

This position requires successful completion of pre-employment background checks including but not limited to a criminal background check. The selection process for this position may include a phone or virtual interview, in-person interview, and/or written examination.

Salary

The starting salary range for this position is $74,423.18 to $99,692.06 based on qualifications and experience.

The City of Alexandria is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in its workforce. All qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, military status, or disability.

We are proud to welcome you to explore the City of Alexandria's excellent benefits and programs!

The benefits referenced on this site, may be changed from time to time without notice. Temporary and some part-time positions are not eligible for these benefits. For further information, please contact the Talent Acquisition Team of Human Resources at [e-mail].