02/24/2006 09553

RETIREMENT TECHNICIAN SUPERVISOR

DEFINITION: This is technical and supervisory work overseeing the processes related to the calculation of retirement accounts or the communication of comprehensive benefits information to active and annuitant members within the State Employees' Retirement System, the Public School Employees' Retirement System, and the Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement System.

An employee in this job supervises Retirement Technicians and Trainees involved in determining retirement benefit payments, processing retirement applications, and maintaining retirement accounts; or communicating benefits information to members, reporting units, agency personnel offices, external organizations and legislators. Work involves assigning and reviewing work, preparing and conducting performance evaluation reviews, establishing section objectives and standards, and developing and maintaining all operating procedures and processes within the section. Work is performed under general supervision and is reviewed for adherence to established standards, rules, and regulations.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: Performs technical and supervisory duties in the communication of comprehensive benefits information to active and annuitant members or in the processing of individual retirement applications, benefit payments, and maintenance of retirement accounts.

Provides guidance to technical staff in the interpretation and communication of the provisions of the Retirement Code, rules, regulations, and legal opinions as they apply to benefit payments and member accounts.

Analyzes statistical information to identify necessary system and technology changes.

Monitors and analyzes current work flows and procedures and recommends and implements changes as necessary.

Prepares reports and statistical data as needed.

Reviews and analyzes operating needs, procedures and processes and prepares recommendations and justification for budget requests, personnel actions, and changes in operational needs.

Develops and maintains procedures manuals for all processes within the section.

Supervises employees who analyze information and prepare responses to complex inquiries from agency personnel offices, members, school districts, attorneys, legislators, and the general public.

Supervise employees who provide member service support via telephone or personal contact.

Plans, organizes, and assigns work, determining work priority and reviewing work performance of staff to ensure that performance standards are met and quality service is provided to its members.

Conducts on the job training, evaluates training needs, and requests further training or educational courses for staff. Prepares and monitors training plans for Retirement Technician Trainees.

Supervise employees who perform complex retirement calculations and work in other related occupational areas as required.

Performs the full range of supervisory functions.

Employees in this job may participate in the performance of their subordinates’ work consistent with operational or organizational requirements.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of the provisions of the Retirement Code.

Knowledge of basic math and the ability to apply mathematical formulas to the calculations/adjustments of retirement benefits.

Knowledge of basic computer applications.

Ability to apply automated technology to retirement processing functions.

Ability to interpret and apply the policies, procedures, regulations, legal opinions, legislative changes and Retirement Code in the determination and calculation of retirement benefits.

Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing.

Ability to learn to plan, organize, and direct the work of subordinates.

Ability to learn to evaluate employee performance.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers, members, school districts, agency personnel offices, legislators, administrative officials, and the general public.

Ability to learn to analyze reports, terminal display data, retirement forms, employer data, and other data related to a member's account.

Ability to gather, assemble, correlate, and analyze facts and data and to devise solutions to administrative issues and problems.

Ability to exercise judgment and discretion in interpreting procedures, and policies that are subject to misunderstanding.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: One year of experience as a Retirement Technician;

                                                                                                                                     or

An Associate Degree and one year of technical experience in a pension system or related occupational area applying mathematical formulas and principles;

                                                                                                                                    or

Three years of experience in technical work in a pension system or related occupational area, which includes two years of experience applying mathematical formulas and principles;

                                                                                                                                   or

An equivalent combination of education, experience, and training which includes two years of experience applying mathematical formulas and principles in a pension system or related occupational area.