Plans, directs, and manages the activities of Metro's pension plans and benefits programs to provide responsive, accountable, and trustworthy governance, and serves as the Trust Fund Administrator for the Metropolitan Transit Authority - Amalgamated Transit Union (MTA-ATU) Health and Welfare Fund.
Responsibilities:
- Develops strategies, goals, and policies related to providing a comprehensive package of health and welfare benefits.
- Provides direction on negotiation of annual plan rate renewals and services of all plans.
- Directs administration of benefit plans for non-contract, AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees), Teamster, and ATU employees and retirees.
- Serves as Pension Administrator for the agency's self-administered defined benefit plans.
- Directs administration of the deferred compensation programs, such as 401K, 457, and Roth Individual Retirement Account (IRA).
- Provides recommendations and support to respective Pension Plan Administrative Committees, Deferred Compensation Committee, and the MTA-ATU Health and Welfare Board; advises senior management and prepares reports/presentations for Metro's Board of Directors as required for approval of annual health and welfare plan renewals and other projects, as required.
- Directs Pension and Benefits staff in day-to-day activities, projects, and programs, which include establishing eligibility and enrollment criteria in applicable pension plans, providing retirement counseling, reviewing and processing retirement applications, processing disbursement of pension benefits, educating employees about health benefits, assisting employees with enrollment, acting as a liaison and advocate for employees and retirees with insurance coverage, analyzing eligibility, transmitting data to health plan vendors and union Health and Welfare Trust Funds, overseeing the annual open enrollment process, and developing employee communications.
- Interprets and applies complex regulatory provisions related to pension and benefit plans; ensures and maintains regulatory compliance of pension and benefit plans.
- Participates in the annual actuarial valuation of various retirement income plans; provides data and responses to the plans' actuaries.
- Directs the bi-annual audits of monthly pension recipients and disability pension recipients; directs the annual audit of Medicare Part B recipients.
- Provides direction to staff assigned to the Unemployment Insurance Program and represents Metro at hearings before Administrative Law Judges and the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board.
- Develops and manages departmental budget and non-departmental fringe benefit budgets.
- Approves all payments made from the retirement income plans.
- Interprets and applies provisions of the collective bargaining agreements; provides recommendations and support to Employee and Labor Relations as a subject matter expert regarding pension and benefits articles in collective bargaining agreements.
- Develops, tests, and implements enhancements to computer systems in conjunction with Information Technology Systems (ITS) personnel.
- Directs development of educational programs related to financial planning, retirement, and employee benefits.
- Establishes and implements policies and procedures governing Pension and Benefits functions.
- Guides and directs staff with a focus on customer service and consistent application of policies and procedures.
- Manages the procurement and ongoing activity of multiple consulting and administrative contracts, performs contract selection, and directs consultant and vendor projects/activities.
- Consults with and advises outside attorneys and other legal representatives on pension joinders and division of benefits; provides pre-approval before documents are filed with the courts.
- Represents department at meetings, conferences, and public events.
- Conducts special studies, as required.
- Supervises, trains, mentors, motivates, and sets goals for assigned staff.
- Communicates and implements safety rules, policies, and procedures in support of the agency's safety vision and goals; and maintains accountability for the safety performance of all assigned employees.
- Contributes to ensuring that the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policies and programs of Metro are carried out.
May be required to perform other related job duties.
Minimum Requirements:
A combination of education and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the position. Additional experience, as outlined below, may be substituted for required education on a year-for-year basis. A typical combination includes:
Education:
- Bachelor's Degree in Business, Public Administration, or a related field.
Experience:
- Five years of relevant management-level experience administering pension and benefits programs; some positions in this class may require specialized experience in area of assignment.
Certifications/Licenses/Special Requirements:
- A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.
Knowledge of:
- Theories, principles, and practices of pension, benefits, and unemployment insurance benefits administration.
- Budget, contracts, and related policies and practices.
- Budget preparation and variance analysis.
- Applicable local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations governing pension and benefits administration for a public sector agency.
- Modern management theory and principles.
Skill in:
- Directing operations of large-scale and complex pension and benefits plans and programs.
- Compiling, analyzing, and interpreting complex data.
- Handling highly sensitive and confidential information.
- Developing and implementing strategies for meeting goals and objectives.
- Establishing and implementing policies and procedures.
- Analyzing situations, identifying problems, recommending solutions, and evaluating outcomes.
- Exercising sound judgment and creativity in making decisions.
- Communicating effectively orally and in writing.
- Interacting professionally with various levels of Metro employees, former employees, and outside representatives.
- Preparing comprehensive reports, presentations, and correspondence.
- Supervising, training, mentoring, and motivating assigned staff.
Ability to:
- Disseminate information and resolve issues.
- Think creatively and act independently.
- Understand, interpret, and apply laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, contracts, budgets, and labor/management agreements.
- Plan financial and staffing needs.
- Read, write, speak, and understand English.
Special Conditions:
The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Metro provides reasonable accommodation to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Working Conditions:
- Typical office situation.
- Close exposure to computer monitors and video screen.
Physical Effort Required:
- Sitting at a desk or table.
- Operate a telephone or other telecommunications device and communicate through the medium.
- Type and use a keyboard and mouse to perform necessary computer-based functions.
- Communicating through speech in the English language required.
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