SUPERVISING PENSIONS BENEFITS SPECIALIST DEFINITION:
Under the direction of a Chief, or other supervisory official in the Division of Pensions and Benefits, Department of the Treasury, supervises subordinate Pension Benefits Specialists and other technical staff of two or more bureaus or units of the Division; supervises the conduct and design of field instructional seminars on retirement, health benefits programs, or other employee benefit programs of the Division; supervises the performance of duties involving retirement, health benefits, or other employee benefit program development, administration, and compliance; supervises the review, interpretation, and revision of regulatory procedures and statutes; and/or analysis and implementation of new legislation; supervises staff and work activities; prepares and signs official performance evaluations for subordinate staff; does other related duties as required.
NOTE: The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.
EXAMPLES OF WORK:
Supervises the development and conduct of training programs for members, employers, and public officials on employee benefits and procedures.
Resolves disputes relating to eligibility for member benefits, including those involving loans, retirements, enrollments, purchase, etc.
Authorizes the processing of Board of Trustee approved determinations.
Reviews, analyzes, and interprets statutes, rules, and regulations affecting the operation of the Division; identifies concerns and impact on operations; provides recommendations for the adoption of proposed rules and regulations.
Assists in the implementation of new or revised Federal and State laws, regulations, and reporting procedures impacting pensions and benefits programs.
Participates in on-line system testing for all new legislative initiatives to ensure proper implementation of laws.
Develops, reviews, and revises Division procedures, forms, and publications; recommends changes to the Administrative Code affecting pensions and benefits programs.
Implements work plans for all activities within the Division; modifies and adopts plans, as required.
Coordinates the work of the Division with the work of the other operational and support areas, and resolves problems.
Plans work schedules and determines priorities to meet Division goals and objectives.
Reviews and evaluates productivity to identify areas for improvement, adjusts work priorities, and reallocates internal resources to meet changes in established production schedules; monitors quality of work produced or services rendered.
Acts as liaison with Treasury Management Information Systems (TMIS) and outside vendors in the design, development and enhancement of automated mainframe systems; evaluates existing systems and proposes system design changes to increase efficiency and effectiveness.
Provides assistance in case development and testifies as an expert witness on the procedures of the Division in hearings before the Office of Administrative Law, Superior Court, commissions, or boards.
Supervises the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting, and/or disciplining of employees.
Assesses the training needs of the Division and offers suggestions to improve the skill levels of employees.
Supervises the training of employees in various retirement and health benefit plans and work duties assigned.
Plans, develops, and implements new automation initiatives, including electronic filing of forms, applications, and other documents through the Internet.
Provides information used to develop the Division's budget.
Drafts correspondence of a complex nature.
Performs complex mathematical computations with accuracy.
Supervises the preparation of statistical and financial reports and other work-related studies.
Supervises the establishment and maintenance of records, files, and data resources.
Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
REQUIREMENTS:
NOTE: Applicants must meet one of the following or a combination of both experience and education. Thirty (30) semester hour credits are equal to one (1) year of relevant experience.
Eight (8) years of professional experience in the operation of a retirement, health insurance, or employee benefit program, one (1) year of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity.
OR
Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; and four (4) years of the above-mentioned professional experience, one (1) year of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity.
OR
Possession of a master's degree in Political Science, Government, Business Administration, Public Administration, Psychology, Social Work or Sociology; and three (3) years of the above-mentioned professional experience, one (1) year of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity.
NOTE: "Professional experience" refers to work that is creative, analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range and depth of specialized knowledge of the profession's principles, concepts, theories, and practices; and is performed with the authority to act according to one's own judgment and make accurate and informed decisions.
LICENSE:
Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.
KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge of the public employee retirement and health benefit programs in New Jersey.
Knowledge of Federal and State laws, regulations, and reporting procedures impacting pensions and benefits programs.
Knowledge of the methods used to collect and analyze data.
Knowledge of problem solving techniques.
Knowledge of supervisory methods and techniques.
Knowledge of management methods and techniques.
Knowledge of work planning and scheduling techniques.
Ability to interpret laws, rules, and regulations, and apply them to specific situations.
Ability to analyze problems and identify solutions.
Ability to resolve eligibility dispute claims.
Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with associates, representatives from local and state agencies, members of the public, and others.
Ability to review and evaluate productivity and identify areas for improvement.
Ability to plan and establish efficient work schedules.
Ability to supervise assigned staff and plan, organize, and implement projects within the unit.
Ability to prepare procedural, informational, and other bulletins on employee benefits.
Ability to provide technical advice and assistance on retirement and health benefit matters.
Ability to testify as an expert witness in hearings before the Office of Administrative Law, Superior Court, commissions, or boards.
Ability to prepare correspondence of a complex nature and to supervise the preparation of clear, accurate reports.
Ability to perform complex, accurate mathematical computations.
Ability to supervise the maintenance or records and files.
Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
