Retirement Technician

Alameda County; Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Job summary

ACERA is seeking a Retirement Technician to assist with enrollment and processing of retirement benefits, health and other related plans for ACERA members. The role requires careful handling of pension, disability, and death benefits and ongoing member support.

Under supervision, you will work with ACERA members to explain benefits, resolve inquiries, and maintain accurate data in the benefits systems. This position emphasizes customer service, accuracy, and teamwork within a public-sector

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Business, Public Administration, Accounting, Economics, Human Services or related field or CPEBS certificate may substitute for two years of experience.
• Experience processing and explaining employee health related benefits or pension programs is required.
• Civil Service may modify minimum qualifications; refer to announcement.

Responsibilities

• Enroll members and process retirement, health, and death benefit enrollments.
• Provide ongoing assistance to eligible ACERA members on Pension, Disability, Health and Dental plans.

Skills

Customer service

Teamwork

Information gathering

Research methods

Math calculations

English grammar

Data entry

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business or Public Administration, Accounting, Economics, Human Services or related field

Certified Employee Benefits Specialist certificate

Tools

Word processing

Spreadsheet software

Data entry systems

Job description

DESCRIPTION

THE AGENCY:
The Alameda County Employees’ Retirement Association (ACERA) is the retirement pension plan for public employees in Alameda County, California who work for Alameda County and other agencies. ACERA was established in 1948 by the Alameda County Board of Supervisors to provide retirement, disability, and death benefits to Alameda County and member district employees.
The ACERA retirement plan provides lifetime benefits to members of the retirement system who meet the minimum age and length-of-service requirements or are eligible for disability retirement. The plan is a significant and fundamental part of the comprehensive benefits package that participating employers offer to eligible employees, allowing employees to collectively invest their deferred wages to receive a secure income after retirement. ACERA also administers retiree health care and supplemental cost-of-living benefits.
MISSION:
To provide ACERA members and employers with flexible, cost-effective, participant-oriented benefits through prudent investment management and superior member services.
For more detailed information about the agency, visit: Alameda County Employees’ Retirement Association (ACERA).

THE POSITION

Under close supervision and direction from the Senior Retirement Technician, this class of Retirement Technician, conducts enrollment, processes retirement benefits and provides on-going assistance to eligible members of the Alameda County Employee Retirement Association (ACERA) participating members with Pension, Death, Disability, Health and Dental Plans and performs other related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

EITHER I:
Experience:
The equivalent of one year full‑time experience in the class of Employee Benefits Tech I with experience processing and explaining employee health related benefits in the Alameda County classified service.
OR Pattern II:
Experience:
The equivalent of two years of full‑time experience processing and explaining pension or health related benefits program in a department of a private or public organization. One year of payroll experience may be substituted for one year of benefits experience.
A Bachelor's degree with major course work in Business or Public Administration, Accounting, Economics, Human Services or related field or possession of the Certified Employee Benefits Specialist certificate may be substituted for two years of the required experience.

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

Effective customer service techniques.
Team-based work environment.
Information gathering and interviewing techniques.
Research methods.
Basic mathematical functions and computations, including calculating percentages and prorated benefit amounts.
1937 Act County Employees Retirement Law.
Word processing and spreadsheet applications and data entry skills.
Calculators and their functions.
Correct usage of English, including punctuation, spelling and grammar.

Ability to:
Listen attentively in order to discern members’ needs.
Demonstrate sensitivity and interpersonal skills when interviewing and counseling members.
Be diplomatic and tactful when dealing with a variety of people of diverse backgrounds.
Establish and maintain professional relationships with ACERA members, ACERA staff, personnel in other departments and agencies, members of the Board of Retirement and with representatives from legal, medical or consultant firms.
Work independently and in a team-based environment.
Communicate effectively in oral and written form.
Independently draft correspondence and procedures.
Research and prepare clear, concise and comprehensive reports.
Read, comprehend, interpret and apply laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
Maintain information system database through accurate input of data.
Perform a variety of mathematical computations using a calculator.
Use and/or design spreadsheet applications to automate work processes.
Function proficiently in an automated office environment.
Multi-task and prioritize work projects.

EXAMINATION COMPONENTS

The examination will consist of the following steps:

• A review of applicants' applications to verify possession of minimum requirements. Those candidates who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the examination process.
• A review of candidates' supplemental questionnaires to determine the best qualified.
• An oral interview which will be weighted as 100% of the candidates' final examination score. The oral interview may contain situational exercises.

Candidates must attain a qualifying rating of each portion of this examination.

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED EXAMINATION STEPS.

RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION PLAN

• Deadline for Filing: 5:00 p.m., Monday, August 10, 2026
• Review of Applications for Minimum Qualifications: Week of September 3, 2026
• Review of Supplemental Questionnaire for Best Qualified: By September 25, 2026
• Virtual Civil Service Pre-Recorded Oral Examination: September 25 - October 5, 2026
• Rating of Civil Service Pre-Recorded Oral Examination: By October 16, 2026
• Notification of Results: Week of October 19, 2026
• Departmental Hiring Interviews: Week of November 2, 2026

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED RECRUITMENT & SELECTION PLAN

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

Alameda County and the Human Resource Services Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination and/or selection process to accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities and/or medical conditions in accordance/compliance with the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Alameda County’s Reasonable Accommodation Policy and applicable statutes. To request an accommodation due to a disability/medical condition during this or other phases of the examination/selection process, please contact the assigned Human Resources Representative listed on the job announcement no later than the recruitment filing deadline. If this is a continuous open recruitment without a filing deadline, please contact the assigned Human Resources Representative listed on the job announcement within ten (10) business days of submitting your application. Unless your disability is readily apparent (for example, you use a wheelchair and need wheelchair-accessible spaces), Alameda County requires applicants to provide supporting documentation to substantiate a request for reasonable accommodation. In order to qualify for a reasonable accommodation, applicants must have a disability/medical condition pursuant to the ADA, FEHA and applicable statutes.

For more information regarding our Reasonable Accommodation procedures, please visit our website, https://hrs.alamedacountyca.gov.

BENEFITS

The County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall wellbeing. These benefits include but are not limited to*:

• For your Health & Well-Being
• Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
• Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
• Vision or Vision Reimbursement
• Share the Savings
• Basic Life Insurance
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees)
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
• County Allowance Credit
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Long-Term Care, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
• Employee Assistance Program
• For your Financial Future
• Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)
• For your Work/Life Balance
• 12 paid holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Catastrophic Sick Leave
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
• Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
• Child Care Resources
• 1st United Credit Union
• Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.

DISASTER SERVICE WORKER

All Alameda County employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to report to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Alameda County has a diverse workforce, that is representative of the communities we serve and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance and business need. Alameda County does not discriminate in employment on the basis of, race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non‑merit factors protected under federal, state and local law. Alameda County celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive, and welcoming workplace environment.