Working Title: Member Counseling and Outreach Director

Job Class: Retirement Services Director

Agency: Teachers Retirement Association

• Who May Apply : Open to all qualified job seekers

• Date Posted : 04/18/2024

• Closing Date : 05/08/2024

• Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit : Teachers Retirement Assoc / Teachers Retirement Asc-MMA

• Division/Unit : TRA Pension Administration

• Work Shift/Work Hours : Day Shift

• Days of Work : Monday - Friday

• Travel Required : Yes - Up to 10%

• Salary Range: $35.98 - $51.83 / hourly; $75,126 - $108,221 / annually

• Classified Status : Classified

• Bargaining Unit/Union : 216 - Middle Management Association/MMA

• FLSA Status : Exempt - Executive

• Telework Eligible : Yes

• Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities (https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/diverse-workforce/people-with-disabilities/connect700/) : Yes

Make a difference in the lives of Minnesotans.

The work you’ll do is more than just a job. Join the talented, engaged and inclusive workforce dedicated to creating a better Minnesota.

Teachers Retirement Association (TRA) has been providing pension coverage for Minnesota educators for decades, with a mission to help members and their beneficiaries plan for an independent and financially secure retirement. We are currently seeking job candidates with strong leadership, communication, and mathematical skills to serve as TRA’s Member Counseling and Outreach Director.

The Member Counseling and Outreach Director position exists to lead, manage, and direct the responsibilities of TRA’s Member Counseling and Outreach department. In this role, the incumbent will supervise, train, develop, and engage with their staff to create and retain a strong, diverse workforce. The incumbent will also be tasked with analyzing the departments statistics in order to recommend best practices by making informed decisions that enhance the services provided to TRA’s members and their beneficiaries. Lastly, the incumbent will be part of TRA’s Operations and Management teams, which involves participating, coordinating, and/or leading process improvement projects and enterprise initiatives.

This position is located in our Saint Paul, Minnesota office and will require the incumbent to work a schedule that includes in-person work. Travel may be required up to 10% of the time for this role.

Minimum Qualifications

Four (4) years of progressive, professional experience administrating employee benefits, government benefits, accounting, payroll, finance, or insurance.

A Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Accounting, Finance, Math, or a closely related field can substitute for one (1) year of experience.

Experience and education must also demonstrate the following:

• Leadership responsibility requiring the supervision/leadwork of staff and/or management of major enterprise projects.

• Demonstrated experience performing and auditing complex calculations.

• Demonstrated experience in successfully presenting, explaining, and training on complex financial concepts to diverse audiences.

• Critical thinking and creativity skills, which can be used to effectively conceptualize innovative methods for educating audiences about retirement topics, as well as to analyze data to improve customer experience and stakeholder partnerships.

• Ability to plan, organize, and successfully manage competing priorities, deadlines, and employee schedules.

• Advanced proficiency in using Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook, Cisco WebEx, or equivalent software packages.

• Strong interpersonal, written communication skills, and verbal communication skills, necessary to collaborate on enterprise project and initiatives; communicate information about sensitive topics; influence others to resolve conflicting viewpoints; motivate, coach, and/or provide constructive feedback to employees; and champion a work culture that advocates for inclusion.

Successful candidates must also possess the ability to secure their own transportation for in-state business travel and/or conferences.

Preferred Qualifications

A Bachelor’s degree or higher in Business Administration, Public Administration, Accounting, Finance, Math or closely related field.

Experience working for Teachers Retirement Association (TRA), Public Employee Retirement Association (PERA), Minnesota State Retirement System (MSRS), and/or another public pension organization.

Experience administering pension and/or retirement programs that are in alignment with laws, regulations, and requirements set forth by Minnesota statutes.

Supervisory or management experience.

Physical Requirements

This position requires occasional transporting of articles such as file folders, ledgers and/or small tools. May be required to move or maintain a stationary position for long periods of time.

Additional Requirements

Successful candidates must pass past-employer reference checks and a criminal background check.

It is the policy of TRA that all finalist(s) submit to a background check prior to employment. The background check may consist of the following components:

• State of Minnesota state government employment records check (applies to current and past State of Minnesota state government employees only)

• Criminal History Check

• Employee Reference Check

• Social Security and Address Verification

• Education Verification

• Driver's License Check

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.

Reasonable accommodations will be made to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us . Please indicate what assistance is needed.