UW 403 (b) Supplemental Retirement Program (SRP) Administrator

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Position Title:

UW 403 (b) Supplemental Retirement Program (SRP) Administrator

Job Category:

Academic Staff

Employment Type:

Regular

Job Profile:

Benefits Manager (Inst)

Job Duties:

This position serves as a Benefit Program Manager under the administrative direction of the Chief Investment Officer, Executive Director of Trust Funds, and is responsible for management and administration of the Universities of Wisconsin 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Program for all employees, as well as retired or terminated employees of the Universities of Wisconsin.

The Universities of Wisconsin 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Program has approximately 23,800 participants with program assets as of 12/31/2024 exceeding $3.6 billion, under contracts with 2 current recordkeepers and more than 8 frozen providers. The position provides primary support to the Universities of Wisconsin 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Program Advisory Committee appointed by the Universities of Wisconsin President.

This position directs the operations of the Universities of Wisconsin 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Program, develops and coordinates benefits communication efforts, enhances administrative procedures and liaises with key stakeholders in support of accurate and timely delivery of information on the Program. This position also supervises and trains the UW 403(b) SRP Benefits Specialist and the UW 403(b) SRP Assistant (Administrative Assistant II), trains benefits administrators across the Universities Wisconsin, and provides performance feedback to the providers (recordkeepers) in the Program. Extensive external and internal coordination and communication, research and policy analysis and program administration are the primary expectations of this position.

Key Job Responsibilities:

Administration of the Universities of Wisconsin 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Program

· Manages the UW 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Program, which includes managing and leading all Request for Proposal initiatives and monitoring vendor compliance with the Service Level Agreements.

· Serves as a subject matter expert to Office of Trust Funds, Universities of Wisconsin Human Resources and benefits professionals, UW Service Operations, and Universities of Wisconsin employees regarding complex retirement program information, policies, procedures, and best practices.

· Assess, research, interpret, and resolves complex benefits issues in accordance with federal, State of Wisconsin, and UWs contracts, policies, regulations, and laws.

· Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of two full-time equivalent (FTE) employees.

· Develops, implements, and evaluates operational work plans to align with strategic initiatives and unit objectives, identifies opportunities for improvement, and makes recommendations to leadership.

· Serves as a unit liaison to internal and external stakeholders providing organizational information and representing the interests of the unit.

Education and Outreach

• Oversee the development and implementation of educational programs (workshops, webinars, and online and printed material) to assist employees in gaining knowledge to plan for a financially secure retirement.

• Develop a strategy to increase participation in the Program and oversee the implementation of these initiatives.

• Research and write educational articles, brochures, and handouts for employees.

• Oversee the maintenance and enhancement of UW 403(B) SRP information on the website.

• Serve as main liaison to the UWs and the UW 403(b) SRP investment companies.
  

Maintenance of Programmatic Expertise

• Remain current on emerging best business practices and trends for section 403(b), 457, and other retirement plan types nationwide.

• Develop and maintain networks with comparable program administrators to seek advice, share information and bring ideas for programmatic improvement to the UW 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Program.

• Evaluate and recommend subscriptions to professional journals, list serves and professional organizations that will enhance program administration and professional development.

Department:

The mission of the Office of Trust Funds is to provide the Board of Regents with the support, information, and analyses they require to fulfill their oversight responsibilities as fiduciaries and trustees for UW System Trust Fund assets and for the UW 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Program (SRP) . In addition, Trust Funds seeks to provide exceptional products and services to our internal and external customers, primarily Trust Funds account holders and donors. Trust Funds products and services include investment vehicles, investment counseling, transaction processing, recordkeeping, and the dissemination of useful information and data.

Trust Funds also works with the Board of Regents, Vice President for Finance, and the UW 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Program Advisory Committee (SRPAC) to provide efficient and high-quality record-keeping services and investment options to participants in the UW System 403(b) SRP.

Compensation:

The UW 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Program (SRP) Administrator (job profile: Benefits Manager (Inst)) is a full-time, salaried (exempt), academic staff position. Well-qualified candidates can expect a starting annual salary within a range of $86,100 - $101,100 . commensurate with the candidate’s education, related experience, and qualifications.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in retirement plan administration or benefits management.
• Working knowledge of 403(b), 401(k), or 457 plan compliance, contributions, distributions, loans, and recordkeeping processes.
• Experience coordinating with third-party administrators (TPAs), vendors, and payroll systems
• Experience in supervising staff, including recruiting, hiring, training, assigning and monitoring work, and providing performance feedback.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Office (primarily Excel, PowerPoint, and Word).
• Advanced interpersonal skills including advanced oral and written communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Human Resources, Business, or related field.
• Five (5) years of direct experience administering 403(b) or other defined contribution retirement plans in a large, complex organization.
• Relevant certifications, such as CEBS, RPA (Retirement Plans Associate), Qualified 401(k) Administrator (QKA), or similar.
• Experience with vendor management, investment options, plan design and compliance issues, and correction procedures (e.g., VCP, EPCRS, SCP).
• Experience serving on or working with a board, such as nonprofit or community boards.
• Experience in higher education.
• Knowledge of state and federal laws and regulations and policies.

Work Location:

The office location is located at 780 Regent Street, Madison, WI. An in-office requirement is expected three (3) days per week and two days may be worked off-site/remote. Telecommuting agreements are subject to change at any time.

How to Apply:

Applicant screening will begin immediately and be ongoing through January 4, 2026 . However, applications may be accepted until the position has been filled.

To receive full consideration, interested applicants are required to apply online and provide a Resume (PDF Format) and Cover letter addressing your experience and education as it applies to all minimum and preferred qualifications (PDF Format).

Contact Information:

Questions may be addressed to angie.koppen@uwss.wisconsin.edu.

COMMITMENT TO INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE

Inclusive Excellence is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for Universities of Wisconsin. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the Universities of Wisconsin community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching and learning, research, scholarship, creative activity, community service, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

Universities of Wisconsin fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background – people who serve the State of Wisconsin and the public good.

Special Notes

If you need to request an accommodation because of a disability, you can find information about how to make a request by contacting uwshr@wisconsin.edu .

The Universities of Wisconsin is required to conduct a criminal background and sexual harassment check for the selected finalist prior to employment.

Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e., a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of employer sponsorship) on, before, or after the effective date of appointment.

The Universities of Wisconsin will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. §. 19.36(7) .

Benefits Information

Universities of Wisconsin employees receive an excellent benefits package. To learn more about the benefits package, review the Faculty, Academic Staff & Limited Appointees or University Staff Please see this link for total compensation information: Universities of Wisconsin Health & Retirement Contributions Estimator to provide you with total compensation information.

Application Instructions

To ensure full consideration, please submit application materials as soon as possible. Applicants must submit a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references. Applicant screening will begin immediately and be ongoing through the closing date. However, applications may be accepted until the position has been filled.

Clery Act information

The Universities of Wisconsin provides statistics on campus crime in its Annual Security Report. For more information on university campus statistics see https://www.wisconsin.edu/compliance/clery/ .

UW is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other bases protected by applicable federal or State law and UW System policies. We are committed to building a workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.