Job Description

SENIOR RETIREMENT PROGRAM SPECIALIST

Open to the Public

Applications will be accepted from Monday, February 10, 2025 thru Sunday, February 23, 2025.

THE OPPORTUNITY
OCERS is seeking a Senior Retirement Program Specialist who will be responsible for providing accurate, complete, and up-to-date information to retirement system members, representatives of outside agencies and members of the public. This position is responsible for facilitating presentations in front of various groups and organizations and reviewing and processing the most complex inquiries and claims in accordance with the County Employees Retirement Law of 1937 and other applicable state and federal laws related to retirement. This position may act as a lead and assist with planning and organizing special projects to meet division goals.

 
WHO WE ARE
Established in 1945, the Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS) provides retirement, death, disability and cost-of-living benefits to retirees of the County of Orange and certain County districts. Serving approximately 55,000 members, OCERS is governed by a ten-member Board of Retirement that is responsible for managing a $24 billion dollar fund. For more information about OCERS, please click   here .

 
Mission

OCERS' mission is to provide secure retirement and disability benefits with the highest standards of excellence.

 

Vision

OCERS' vision is to be a trusted partner providing premier pension administration, distinguished by consistent, quality member experiences and prudent financial stewardship.



Values

• Open and Transparent
• Commitment to Superior Service
• Engaged and Dedicated Workforce
• Reliable and Accurate
• Secure and Sustainable

CORE COMPETENCIES
The most qualified candidates will have extensive experience in the key competencies noted below.

 
Retirement Customer Service Expertise
Demonstrated Experience:

• Understands, anticipates and meets the needs of OCERS members and external customers
• Solicits feedback and translates the voice of OCERS members into business improvements
• Excellent public speaking and presentation skills, with proven experience presenting to a wide range of audiences, from small team meetings to large seminars and health fairs
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to maintain a professional and courteous demeanor in all forms of communication (in-person, telephone, email)
• Consistent ability to remain calm and professional in high-pressure or emotionally charged situations
• Detail oriented with a high level of accuracy
• Maintains a high level of confidentiality

Analysis/Problem Resolution/Results Oriented
Demonstrated Experience:

• Effectively analyzes problems and readily commits to action and develops responses that increase productivity and effectiveness
• Identifies opportunities for continuous improvement and integrates new approaches to solving problems
• Performs complex record keeping
• Works independently

Technical/Computer/Office Skills
Demonstrated Experience:

• Reflects proficiency in current computer systems/programs, which holds and manages pertinent information, creates documents and spreadsheets and maintains calendars
• Performs complex benefit calculations
• Produces reports using various software programs

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Four years of experience which demonstrates the application of those knowledges and abilities listed as minimum qualifications; two years of which must be technical level experience in a retirement, insurance, or government benefit program, or in a personnel system which involves retirement benefit experience.

 
College level education or training directly related to such work may be substituted for up to one year of the required experience at the rate of three semester units equaling one month experience and one hour of training equaling one hour of experience.

 
College level education beyond the bachelor degree which is directly related to the position may be substituted for up to an additional year of required experience at the rate of three semester units equaling one month of experience. Certification as an Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) may be substituted for up to an additional year of the required experience.

Please click  here to view the minimum qualifications and education substitution criteria.

 
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
The ideal candidate will possess intermediate to advanced computer skills in Word, Excel, Outlook, and Access, establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with peers, supervisors, managers, government officials, and the public, and think logically and organize thoughts and work priorities to accomplish work efficiently and in a timely manner. The successful candidate must be able to work independently and possess excellent oral and written communication skills. The ideal candidate must be comfortable acting in a leadership role and must be highly organized, detail oriented and able to handle multiple competing tasks and deadlines.

 
KNOWLEDGE OF

• Retirement, benefit, insurance or personnel practices and procedures
• Data base management systems; communication techniques required for transmitting information including conducting interviews, directing group discussions and preparation of oral and written reports
• Federal and state laws and regulations that impact the retirement system and retirement benefits

ABILITY TO

• Understand, interpret and apply laws, statutes, rules and regulations pertaining to the retirement benefits system
• Communicate clearly and effectively at all organizational levels and in situations requiring tact and sensitivity
• Prepare and present effective oral and written communications with a variety of agencies and individuals
• Prepare and present seminars involving public speaking; plan and organize a multi-faceted workload, and coordinate activities with appropriate staff and department sections
• Provide technical training and support to others within the department and have the ability to remain calm in stressful situations

RECRUITMENT PROCESS

OCERS Human Resources Department screens all applications and supplemental information materials to identify qualified candidates.  Applications submitted without completed supplemental information form will be disqualified from further consideration.  After screening, candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be referred to the next step in the recruitment process. All candidates will be notified via email of their status in the process.


Applications Appraisal Panel (AAP)  | Application Rating (Refer/Non-Refer): Application material will be rated by a panel of job knowledge experts for those qualifications most needed to perform the duties of the job. The more qualified candidates will be referred to the next step. All notifications regarding this recruitment will be sent via e-mail.


Qualifications Appraisal Panel (QAP)  | Application Rating (Weighted 100%): Candidates will be interviewed and rated by a panel of job knowledge experts. Each candidate's rating will be based on responses to a series of structured questions designed to elicit the candidate's qualifications for the job.


Based on OCERS needs and the number of applications received, the selection procedures listed above may be modified and all affected candidates will be notified. Only the most successful candidates will be placed on the eligible list.

 
ELIGIBLE LIST
After all the selection procedures have been completed, OCERS Human Resources department will establish an eligible list of qualified candidates for the OCERS location  ONLY .

 
HOW TO APPLY

• Only on-line applications with the completed supplemental questions will be accepted
• E-mail is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is on your application and only use one email account
• Your application should highlight all of the areas in which you have developed expertise, matching your professional experience with the specific qualifications listed above
• You may apply on-line at the OCERS Website:
• For specific information pertaining to this recruitment please contact Sarah Abrahamson at (714) 569-4818 or e-mail sabrahamson@ocers.org. 
• Do not submit your resume to this email address as it will not be considered in lieu of the required application process.

This class is the professional level of the Retirement Program Specialist series. Incumbents are required to have an in-depth knowledge of the legal, organizational and financial areas underlying employee benefit plans.

 
EMAIL NOTIFICATION
Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is included in our application and use only one email account. NOTE: User accounts are established for one person only and should not be shared with another person. Multiple applications with multiple users may jeopardize your status in the recruitment process for any positions for which you apply.  Candidates will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via email through the GovernmentJobs.com site. Please check your email folders, including spam/junk folders, and/or accept emails ending with "governmentjobs.com" and "ocers.org." If your email address should change, please update your profile at  . 

 
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Click here for additional Frequently Asked Questions.

OCERS, as an Equal Employment Opportunity employer, encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

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