Job Description
Are you seeking a career that offers stability, growth, and a tangible impact on the lives of public servants? The New York State Department of Civil Service is currently accepting applications for a Senior Pension Benefits Specialist. This is an excellent opportunity to work within a prestigious state agency while securing your own future through our comprehensive benefits package.
In this role, you will be responsible for the administration and oversight of the state's pension plans, ensuring that retirees and active employees receive accurate benefits. We pride ourselves on a collaborative work environment and offer a competitive salary scale with a defined benefit pension plan.
Key Highlights:
- Job Security: Employment with the largest employer in New York State.
- Retirement Security: Membership in the New York State Pension Plan (NYS Pension) and Deferred Compensation Program.
- Comprehensive Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance.
We are looking for a detail-oriented professional to join our team in Albany.
Responsibilities
- Administer and process pension benefit claims, retirement applications, and related inquiries in strict compliance with the New York State Retirement and Social Security Law.
- Conduct detailed eligibility reviews and perform accurate benefit calculations for retirees and applicants.
- Provide exceptional customer service and technical guidance to retirees, agency representatives, and the general public regarding pension inquiries.
- Monitor legislative updates and regulatory changes to ensure all pension policies are current and correctly applied.
- Collaborate with the Office of the State Comptroller and other state agencies on complex pension reconciliation and reporting tasks.
- Maintain and update confidential personnel and pension records within the state HR information systems.
- Assist in the training and mentoring of junior benefits staff to ensure departmental quality standards.
Qualifications
- A Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Human Resources, Finance, Public Administration, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
- Minimum of three (3) years of professional experience in pension administration, benefits management, actuarial support, or human resources.
- Strong working knowledge of New York State retirement laws, codes, and administrative procedures.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and experience with HRIS software (e.g., PeopleSoft, SAP).
- Excellent analytical skills with a keen attention to detail and accuracy in data entry and reporting.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex financial information clearly.
- Ability to handle sensitive information with the highest level of confidentiality and integrity.