Retirement Programs Technician

Description

The City of Glendale's Human Resources & Risk Management Department strategically partners with all City departments, offering critical support in Recruitment, Compensation, Employee Relations, Employee Development, Risk Management, and Benefits. Our mission is to apply the values of Community, Integrity, Excellence, Innovation, and Learning to deliver excellent service and foster an inclusive, safe environment for all employees, customers, and citizens, characterized by open communication, accountability, trust, and mutual respect.

The City of Glendale is seeking a detail-oriented Retirement Programs Technician to support the administration of public-sector retirement programs, including Public Sector Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS), Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS), and Deferred Compensation plans. This full-time position focuses on retirement processing, tracking, and reconciliation, as well as employee support related to retirement, disability retirements (PSPRS), subsidies, and post-employment benefits.

The ideal candidate has experience in HR, benefits, and public-sector retirement administration, strong attention to detail, and the ability to work with complex rules and confidential information. Experience with public retirement systems is required.

Essential Functions

• Performs a wide variety of customer service and human resources functional support to include responding to inquiries and assisting in resolving routine problems or complaints and providing general information and assistance to City employees, City departments, managers and the public regarding Human Resources programs, policies and procedures.
• Utilizes HRIS system to perform various functions.
• With guidance, interprets City-wide policies and procedures relating to a variety of Human Resources activities; provides technical assistance to City departments as necessary.
• Develops, verifies and distributes data and reports, including preparing charts, graphs, spreadsheets, and monitors reporting procedures and systems.
• Assists in the collection, analysis and evaluation of data.
• Organizes, coordinates, and implements a variety of programs, projects and special events.
• Makes recommendations regarding modifications to Human Resources processes, workflow, programs and policies, as requested.
• Conducts routine studies and surveys and gathers data and information for a variety of projects and programs; makes computations necessary to interpret survey data.
• Performs a variety of HR assistance including data entry and data verification, filing, faxing, operating office equipment, processing forms, and proof reading.
• Maintains and safeguards the confidentiality of all employee and departmental information.
• Maintains regular and predictable on-site attendance.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

• Administers public-sector retirement programs, including PSPRS, ASRS, Deferred Compensation (457/401(a)), retiree subsidy programs, and related post-employment benefits.
• Processes retirement applications from initiation through completion, including verifying eligibility, service credit, contribution history, required documentation, and effective dates.
• Coordinates and administration of the disability retirement process (PSPRS), including meeting with applicants; requesting, receiving, and maintaining medical records; preparing Board agendas, materials, and written case summaries; tracking statutory timelines and required documentation; coordinating Board submissions; and serving as the primary liaison with PSPRS, medical providers, legal counsel, and other stakeholders throughout the disability determination process.
• Interprets and applies federal, state, and retirement system statutes, rules, and policies to ensure compliance in retirement eligibility determinations, contributions, and benefit processing.
• Reconciles employee and employer retirement contributions with payroll and retirement system records; researches and resolves discrepancies, and processes required corrections.
• Utilizes HRIS, payroll, and retirement system platforms to process enrollments, separations, contribution adjustments, status changes, and reporting requirements.
• Administers retiree benefit enrollments and subsidy programs; notifies third-party administrators and retirement systems of retirements, terminations, deaths, and qualifying events.
• Provides retirement counseling and technical guidance to employees and retirees regarding eligibility, timelines, contribution requirements, disability retirement processes, and post-employment benefit options.
• Develops, verifies, and distributes retirement-related reports, reconciliations, spreadsheets, and required system submissions; ensures timely and accurate reporting.
• Conducts routine audits and internal reviews of retirement transactions, files, and contribution records to ensure accuracy, compliance, and proper documentation.
• Researches and resolves complex retirement deduction issues, service credit discrepancies, overpayments, underpayments, and vendor reporting concerns.
• Maintains and safeguards confidential retirement, medical, and disability documentation in compliance with applicable laws and City policy.
• Identifies and implements process improvements related to retirement administration, tracking systems, and workflow efficiencies.
• Maintains regular and predictable on-site attendance.

Minimum Qualifications/Special Requirements/Success Factors

Associate degree in Human Resources or a related field and three years of experience in an administrative support and/or customer service capacity, preferably in human resources, benefits, or public-sector retirement administration.

Any equivalent combination of education, training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. One year of relevant experience may be substituted for each year of required education.

Knowledge of:

• Basic principles of human resources administration, benefits, or public-sector retirement administration
• Knowledge of human resources laws pertaining to area of specialization
• Principles and practices of effective customer service
• Arithmetic and basic mathematical calculations
• Record keeping principles and techniques; records management
• Modern office procedures, practices, and computer equipment and software; computer software including word-processing, spreadsheet, and database applications, as well as an HRIS system
• Business letter writing and report writing

• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing
• Research, analyze and summarize data
• Understand, interpret, and explain department policies and procedures; explain operations to the public and with the staff
• Maintain confidential, technical, and statistical records, information and reports
• Make arithmetic calculations with speed and accuracy
• Operate and use a variety of modern office equipment, and computer software programs including Microsoft Office Suite, the Internet, and HR information systems
• Maintain efficient and effective department filing systems and databases
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work

Physical Requirements/Working Conditions

Office setting.

• Maintains regular and predictable on-site attendance.

Benefit information is outlined here: https://www.glendaleaz.gov/Your-Government/Connect/Departments/Human-Resources-Risk-Management/Benefits