Retirement Benefits Counselor

Agency

Dept of State Treasurer

Division

Retirement Division

Job Classification Title

Program Coordinator III (S)

Position Number

60009215

Grade

NC12

About Us

Our mission is to preserve, protect and sustain the state’s pension and healthcare plans, generate investment returns in excess of comparable public pensions, properly account for and report on all funds that are deposited, invested, and disbursed through the North Carolina Department of State Treasurer, assure the financially sound issuance of debt for state and local governments, maintain the state’s “AAA” bond rating, and provide exemplary service across all divisions of the Department.

Description of Work

The primary purpose of this position is to assist active & retired state and local government employees, beneficiaries, employers and agencies with retirement and benefit inquiries by counseling and educating them on benefit programs administered by the Retirement Systems Division and with explaining statute details and legislative interpretations. This section receives phone calls and e-mails from employees and employers from all around the state regarding all the different retirement systems and responds to a variety of calls and e-mails from simple, moderately complex to very complex questions. These Counseling Center Counselors are trained as subject matter experts regarding all matters retirement and are equipped to handle even the most complex situations that require additional research and follow up, with an awareness toward customer service.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

This role requires: 50% Public Contact/Retirement Counseling:
• Explains and applies interpretations of laws, codes, AG opinions and
procedural guides related to the Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement
System, Local Governmental Employees’ Retirement System, former Law
Enforcement Officer’s Retirement System, Separate Insurance Benefits Plan for Law Enforcement Officers, Register of Deeds’ Supplemental Pension Fund and the Disability Income Plan of North Carolina, Legislative Retirement System, Legislative Retirement Fund, Consolidated Judicial Retirement System, National Guard Pension Fund, and the Supplemental Retirement Income Plan.
• Assesses individual member situations while applying current statute
regulations and communicating the appropriate decision to involved parties;
scope includes over 900,000 active, inactive, and retired members, and over
1,500 employers.
• Acts as a liaison between other sections and our members, beneficiaries,
human resource departments, agencies, and others that contact the Retirement Systems Division.
• Educates, assists, counsels, and advises members, their dependents, and/or
other involved parties of the benefits programs to determine entitlement,
eligibility, timing, privileges, obligations, options and benefits, and explains the
applicable provisions.
• Objectively analyzes each member’s situation, selects and applies the
appropriate regulations and formulas, and communicates the various options
available.
• Evaluates requests and problems in order to determine the member’s rights or benefits; provides counseling as to the wisdom of certain service purchases, optional payment plans, career changes, beneficiary designations, etc.
• Provides technical assistance to agencies and HR professionals in regards to
the various retirement systems such as procedural matters, reporting
requirements and supplies information to administrative and personnel officials of all agencies covered under the variety of retirement plans.
• Interprets a variety of legislation concerning retirement, depending on the date of enrollment, and the laws in place at that time.
• Provides advice to members in a variety of organizational structures requiring
knowledge of personnel regulations and practices, payroll policies, salary plans and the earning of sick, vacation, bonus, and longevity earnings.
20% Research:
• Researches complicated benefit provisions regarding statutory and regulatory changes since these changes are cumulative in effect resulting in the date an event occurs may cause the answer to be different than if the event had
happened at an earlier or later date.

• Researches more complex cases and responds via e-mail and/or phone call

• Researches open cases by working with other departments to understand TATs and responds back to member or employer via e-mail and/or phone call.
20% Training:
• Must pass and complete the mandatory 8-week new hire training class
followed by on-going quarterly refresher trainings and assessments, quarterly
knowledge assessments and on-going training classes as assigned by the
Learning and Development department and as requested by leadership, a 3-day
Customer Service Quality Phone Interaction Skills training and pass on-going
weekly quality assessments from randomly pulled call recordings.
• Must complete a 9-month re-assessment followed by a 4-week Disability
training class within the first 18 months of employment.
• Cross-trains in other departments to assist the division as needed and to
strengthen the skills of the Member Services department as a whole.
• Assists with shadowing, mentoring and quality training of new personnel.
10% other:
• Performs additional duties as assigned to meet department and division needs.

Recruitment Range - $47,703 - $55,209

Each employee will have the opportunity to work remote AFTER orientation &
completion of training classes, based on competencies displayed. Remote work is rotational on a 2-week basis.

Minimum Education and Experience
Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of
education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may
qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related
experience, OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience
Equivalency Guide for details.

Bachelor’s degree from an appropriately accredited institution and two (2) years of experience related to the area of assignment; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

Important: This posting closes at 11:59:59 PM the night BEFORE the End Date

If you have student loans, becoming a state employee includes eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Visit https://studentaid.gov/ to learn more.

This position currently qualifies for a hybrid telework option with routine office
and remote workdays. The NC Department of State Treasurer trusts our
employees to be self-motivated and successful in hybrid/remote roles. Telework options are subject to change at the discretion of management. 

NC State Health Benefits:
The State of North Carolina offers excellent comprehensive benefits.  Employees can participate in health insurance options, standard and supplemental retirement plans, and the NC Flex program (numerous high-quality, low-cost benefits on a pre-tax basis).  Employees also receive paid vacation, sick, and community service leave.  In addition, paid parental leave is available to eligible employees.  

Visit the website for State Benefits

Supplemental and Contact Information

The North Carolina Department of State Treasurer (DST) is an Equal Opportunity Employer that embraces an Employment First philosophy, which consists of complying with all federal laws, state laws, and Executive Orders.  We are committed to reviewing requests for reasonable accommodation at any time during the hiring process or while on the job.  For more information about DST: NCTreasurer | NC Treasurer.

DST uses the Merit-Based Recruitment and Selection Plan to fill positions subject to the State Human Resources Act with the most qualified individuals.  Hiring salary will be based on relevant qualifications, internal equity, and budgetary considerations pertinent to the advertised position.

In accordance with the Governor’s Executive Order 303, our agency supports second-chance employment for individuals who were previously incarcerated or justice-involved.  We invite all potential applicants to apply for positions for which they may be qualified.

Application Process
Be sure to complete the application in its entirety.   Resumes will not be accepted in place of completing this application. 

• Information should be provided in the appropriate areas, to include the following: Education, including high school and all degrees obtained, Work Experience, and Certificates & Licenses. It is critical to our screening and salary determination process that applications contain comprehensive candidate information.
• Answers to Supplemental Questions are not a substitute for providing all relevant information within the body of your application. To receive credit for the supplemental questions, you must provide supporting information within the "Work Experience" section of the application to support your answers.
• Applicants may be subject to a criminal background check. All candidates selected for positions considered "Positions of Trust" will be subject to a criminal background check.
• Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information regarding the status of your application over the phone. To check the status of your application, please log in to your account.  Upon the closing date, applications are "Under Review" and will be screened by Human Resources for qualified applicants. The hiring process may take several weeks.
• Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.  Transcripts and degree evaluations may be uploaded with your application. The State of North Carolina/Office of State Human Resources uses the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) as a referral resource for applicants who need to have their credentials certified as equivalent.
• For a list of organizations that perform this specialized service, please visit the NACES membership website at https://www.naces.org/members. 

Degree/College Credit Verification

Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.  Transcripts, degree evaluations, and cover letters may be uploaded with your application.

Veterans’ and National Guard Preference

• Applicants seeking Veteran's Preference must attach a DD-214 Member-4 Form (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to their applications.
• Applicants seeking National Guard Preference must attach an NGB 23A (RPAS), along with the state application, if they are a current member of the NC National Guard in good standing. 
• Applicants who are former members of either the NC Army National Guard or the NC Air National Guard, with honorable discharge and six years of creditable service, must attach a copy of the DD 256 or NGB 22, along with the state application.

ADA Accommodations

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), DHHS is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, DHHS will ensure that people with disabilities, or known limitations covered by the PWFA, are provided with reasonable accommodation.  If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the person indicated below.

Background Check

• The selected candidate will be subject to a criminal history background check through Castle Branch.
• One or more of the following may also be reviewed, depending on the nature and requirements of the position: employment history, professional references, credit history, and educational verification (i.e., degree, license, or official transcript).
• The selected candidate will be required to pass the background check to the satisfaction of the North Carolina Department of State Treasurer. All offers of employment are conditional until the satisfactory completion of the background check.

EEO Statement

The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and is dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs, observances, and practices.

Contact Information: 

If there are any questions about this posting, other than your application status, please email the NC Department of State Treasurer at HR@nctreasurer.com.

Minimum Education and Experience

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.

EEO Statement

The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs, observances, and practices.

Recruiter:

Leonard C Harper

Recruiter Email:

HR@nctreasurer.com