JOB TITLE: DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR MEMBER AND PARTICIPANT SERVICES, SERS

JOB CODE: 09520

DEFINITION: This is highly responsible administrative and managerial work overseeing the administration of the defined benefit, 401(a) defined contribution, and 457 deferred compensation plans in the State Employees’ Retirement System (SERS).

The employee in this job is responsible for administering, representing, and advising on the defined benefit, defined contribution, and deferred compensation plans; and for overseeing (or administering) the eligibility, enrollments, and plan changes for the Retired Employees Health Program (REHP). Work involves serving as a liaison and senior advisor to the SERS Board and relevant board committees; developing policies related to member and participant services; collaborating with the legislature and Governor’s Office on legislative matters, such as developing and revising legislation, and making recommendations on proposed legislation; developing policy and advising on all and collaborating with the Executive Director in defining and executing new strategic initiatives impacting the defined benefit, defined contribution, and deferred compensation plans. Work also involves ensuring timely and accurate reports of member, participant, and employer data; maintaining accurate data in member, participant, and employer accounts; ensuring timely and accurate benefit determinations and payments; and ensuring communications, information, and education for member and participant services is accurate and consistent with laws, regulations, policies, and procedures. Supervision is exercised over professional staff. Work is performed with considerable independence under the general direction of the Executive Director, who reviews work through conferences and reports to ensure adherence to program goals and objectives.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: (NOTE: The examples of work are representative of the work, but every position classified to this job may not perform all examples of work listed. Conversely, this is not an all-inclusive list of work examples.)

• Directs the entire member and participant services program for the State Employees’ Retirement System (SERS).

• Administers the eligibility, enrollments, and plan changes for the Retired Employees Health Program (REHP) in coordination with the Governor’s Office of Administration and the Pennsylvania Employees Benefit Trust Fund (PEBTF) for eligible SERS annuitants.

• Develops and presents policy recommendations to the Executive Director and the SERS Board, and advises on all member and participant matters.

• Researches and provides members of the General Assembly with information on the impact of proposed legislation.

• Directs the development of procedures to implement legislative provisions impacting member and participant services.

• Oversees, monitors, and enforces contractual compliance of the Third-Party Administrator (TPA) in the administration of the defined contribution and deferred compensation plans.

• Confers with enterprise information technology and human resource (HR) groups concerning the interrelationships of commonwealth HR, payroll, and accounting systems, and the impact policy and system changes will have on the retirement system.

• Responds to technical and administrative inquiries from SERS Board, commonwealth officials, actuarial, investment, or other consultants, and other agencies on matters related to the defined benefit, defined contribution, and deferred compensation plans.

• Performs the full range of supervisory duties.

• The employee in this job participates in the performance of subordinates’ work consistent with operational or organizational requirements.

• Performs related work as required.

ENTRY LEVEL KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of financial management.

• Knowledge of effective customer service techniques.

• Knowledge of the principles and methods of managing a communications program.

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of employee supervision.

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret written and numerical information.

• Ability to interpret and apply legislation.

• Ability to communicate effectively orally.

• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: (NOTE: These are expected of an employee performing the work of this job at the full performance level. These are not used for merit system evaluation or examination purposes and are not position-specific performance standards.)

• Knowledge of the State Employees’ Retirement Code.

• Knowledge of pension management.

• Knowledge of the defined benefit, defined contribution, and deferred compensation plans.

• Ability to identify, develop, and present recommendations and solutions to retirement system challenges and problems.

• Ability to analyze, develop, modify, and coordinate comprehensive management and administrative practices and systems for the department to implement agency priorities, initiatives, and policies.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: (NOTE: Based on the Entry Level Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities)

• Seven years of managerial or consultative experience which includes two years of supervisory experience in a pension, benefit, insurance, finance, or related program; and a bachelor’s degree;

or

• An equivalent combination of experience and training which includes two years of managerial or consultative experience and two years of supervisory experience in a pension, benefit, insurance, finance, or related program.