In the Benefits Services Division at TRS, we cultivate connection with our 2.0 million valued members by striving for excellence through counseling and administering pension benefits for retirees, active members, and employers. It is our goal to ensure our members have personalized service for pension benefits every day. Joining our fast-paced team you’ll have the opportunity to create meaningful experiences by learning the ins and outs of our business alongside a diverse committed community. Achieve your career goals at TRS while earning member trust and making a positive impact in their lives.

The Senior Director of Benefit Processing is responsible for the planning and management of the Benefit Processing department. The incumbent will plan, organize, coordinate, and monitor all activities and operations of the department, in coordination with the Chief Benefit Officer and the Deputy Chief Benefit Officer for Account Services. This position will proactively work with the Benefit Processing teams and staff, Benefit Services management, employees, and members of the executive and leadership teams.

Compensation: $166,875.00 – $222,000.00, Annual Salary

Online application: https://trs.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/5/home/requisition/1070?c=trs

WHAT YOU WILL DO:

Department Management
• Plans, organizes, coordinates, directs, and monitors all Benefit Processing Department operations to ensure accomplishment of agency and department goals and objectives, and compliance with applicable federal, state, agency, and department policies, procedures, and processes.
• Directs Benefit Processing staff, directly and through subordinate managers and team leaders, including hiring, directing, monitoring, evaluating, and motivating staff.
• Builds and reinforces a climate that aligns with TRS and Benefit Services core values.
• Collaborates with other TRS departments, the State Comptroller’s Office, Employees Retirement System, and other retirement systems to ensure appropriate delivery of pension benefits.
• Establishes, annually reviews and maintains methods to measure and monitor production and performance at the department, team and individual levels.
• Develops and annually reviews performance measures for department staff.
• Provides production statistics to executive management for distribution to the board of trustees and state leadership.
• Plans, prepares, maintains, and monitors department budget.

Operations Oversight
• Oversees the research and analysis of members records, the determination of eligibility for one or more types of benefit or services, and the processing of request relating to TRS benefit programs such as applications for retirement, preparation of cost statements for service purchase, refunding of member accounts, and claims for death and disability benefits.
• Directs the research, analysis, and evaluation of current benefit program plans, practices, policies, procedures, guidelines, processes, systems, forms, and documents; and the development and implementation of improvements and enhancements.
• Analyzes the impact of new and proposed legislation and administrative rules on benefits programs and operations, develops recommendations for future legislation and administrative rules, and develops strategies to address regulatory issues.
• Coordinates the Benefit Processing appeals process, including directing and monitoring the compilation, review and presentation of information and documentation, overseeing the progress of appeals, through all steps of the process, and advising executive management.
• Oversees the disability retirement process including oversight of the TRS Medical Board.
• Oversees the compilation of data and preparation of reports regarding Benefit Processing operations.
• Oversees compliance with agency, division and department policies.
• Works across the division to promote, enhance and support strategic objectives, while developing harmonious and collaborative relationships with the division management and across all divisions in TRS.

Training and Technical Assistance
• Coordinates and provides training and serves as a technical resource regarding TRS benefit programs, laws, rules, policies, procedures, processes, and systems to agency managers and staff, other pension funds, school districts, members, and other interested parties.
• Ensures that changes or issues with processing are communicated to affected departments and direct reports in order to meet both internal and external customer service expectations.
• Researches and resolves highly complex inquiries and concerns from members and their representatives.
• Analyzes data related to work performed and received and recommend process improvements
• Reviews and/or oversees the review of general and special communications to membership prior to publication for accuracy and completeness.
• Leads or participates in special projects and on agency committees and task force.

Contract Management
• Assists in overseeing contract management for program service providers and interagency contracts, including coordinates with TRS Purchasing/Contract Administration and Legal staff.
• Assists with reviewing and approving bid and contract specifications and coordinating with vendors and contractors.
• Assists with supervising vendors and contractors to ensure fulfillment of contractual obligations.
• Assists with reviewing and approving bills for payment submitted by vendors and contractors.

• Performs related work as assigned.  

WHAT YOU WILL BRING:

Required Education
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• High school diploma or equivalent and additional full-time experience in banking, insurance, pension administration, governmental service, contact center operations, or other customer service related experience which includes interpreting, applying, and communicating complex laws, regulations, and policies may substitute for the required education on an equivalent year-for-year basis.

Required Experience
• Nine (9) years of full-time directly related, progressively responsible experience in banking, insurance, pension administration, benefits administration, processing or similarly related experience.
• Five (5) years of experience leading, or supervising the work of others, required
• Experience may be concurrent.
• A master’s degree or doctoral degree in a closely related field may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis.

Preferred Qualifications
• Three (3) years of experience managing benefit delivery for a public pension system.
• Two (2) years of supervisory experience in state government.
• Knowledge of TRS benefit programs, rules, policies, procedures, and systems.
• Experience in contract management.

Apply now!