Retirement Benefits Education Counselorr

Agency

Dept of State Treasurer

Division

Retirement Division

Job Classification Title

Program Coordinator IV (S)

Position Number

60009124

Grade

NC14

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

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

* This is a REPOST of position 60009124.

Previous applicants are still under consideration and do not need to reapply.*

The Retirement Systems Division is hiring Retirement Benefits Education Counselor that cares about the members and their questions and moving them to find a resolution is our top priority and what we need to add to our growing team! This is a full-time position (40 hours per week) with State Benefits, including health insurance, paid vacation, paid sick time, paid holidays, as well as retirement.

About Us

The Retirement Systems Division administers the statutory retirement and fringe benefit plans as authorized by the General Assembly of North Carolina. These include the following six major retirement plans: Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System, the Legislative Retirement System, the Local Governmental Employees’ Retirement System, the Consolidated Judicial Retirement System, the Optional Retirement Program, and Firemen’s and Rescue Workers’ Pension Fund.

The Retirement Benefits Education Counselor provides subject matter expertise on retirement benefit matters such as retirement processes, statutory provisions, communicating new policy initiatives and legislation through counseling, researching and mediating as well as by responding to time sensitive and complex inquiries from active and retired state and local employees, beneficiaries, employing agencies and the general public. Assistance is also provided by means of conducting retirement education presentations, retirement webinars and simulcasts, monthly employer training, one-on-one retirement counseling for retirement system members and employers, answering retirement and benefit related correspondence and e-mail inquiries from employers, members and beneficiaries, providing final agency decisions and processing Domestic Relation Orders, Affidavits and other legal documentation.

Duties & Responsibilities 

• Educates, counsels, and advises on the benefit programs, eligibility, options, and provisions to members, their dependents, and other involved parties of their retirement benefits over the phone, through email or in typed-written letter form, virtually through a webinar, by conducting one-on-one counseling appointments, and/or by a retirement education conference.
• Assessing situations, explains and applies interpretation of statutes as needed. 
• Receive and prepare information to respond to subpoenas that may have a variety of purposes, ensuring that proper processes are followed and review is given as necessary.
• Prepare and resolve issue relative to divorce affidavits, and domestic relations orders. 
• Position is responsible for gathering the necessary information on an overpayment situation and communicating/negotiating with the member on the payment options.
• Communicates information thoroughly and effectively in writing by composing and preparing written response to letters, emails, and telephone requests from members and agencies.
• Effectively trains and counsels others both members and other RSD staff on Orbit Self Service, understanding statutes, navigating retirement-on-line and on any other retirement/benefit issues as requested or needed.
• All other duties as assigned.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

Qualified applicants must possess, and application must clearly reflect work experience that demonstrates the following:

• Experience in researching and analyzing detailed information. 
• Experience in interpretating NC general statues. 
• Experience in understanding business requirements of retirement plans.
• Experience in counseling stakeholders through presentations and webinars.

Management Preferences

• Notary Commission obtained

Recruitment Range $50,000.00 - $65,905.00

Position is Subject under FLSA Overtime

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, years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See oshr.nc.gov/experience-guide for details.

The minimum Education and Experience is a Bachelor's degree from an appropriately accredited institution and three (3) years of experience in the program related to the area of assignment, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 

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

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