Member Counseling Team Lead

About the role

Teachers Retirement Association (TRA) has been providing pension coverage to Minnesota educators for decades, with a mission to help members and their beneficiaries plan for an independent and financially secure retirement. This position reports to the Member Counseling Supervisor and assists with leading TRA’s Member Counseling department. The incumbent performs advanced professional audit, computational, analytical, and counseling work to determine retirement benefits for TRA members; provides benefit estimates to future benefit recipients; and assists staff with complex benefit calculations and questions. The role also includes scheduling staff and providing ongoing training and coaching to new and existing staff.

This position is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The role is telework eligible; however, the incumbent must work a full-time in-person schedule for at least the first six (6) months to complete mandatory training. Thereafter, the position follows a designated hybrid work schedule based on business need and performance. Business travel may be required up to 10%. TRA prioritizes work-life balance and may request, on occasion, that staff work overtime and/or flex their time to complete critical projects or meet important deadlines. Typically, full-time, non-exempt employees at TRA work a 40-hour workweek.

Minimum Qualifications

• Three (3) years of work experience providing customer service related to employee and/or government benefits administration, accounting, payroll, finance, or insurance.
• A Bachelor’s Degree in Business or Public Administration, Accounting, Finance, Math, Economics, or closely related field can substitute for one (1) year of experience.

Required Experience & Skills

• Demonstrated experience performing and auditing complex calculations.
• Ability to train, explain, and publicly present complex financial concepts to a variety of audiences.
• Ability to plan, organize, and successfully coordinate/manage competing priorities, deadlines, and scheduling member appointments and/or workshops.
• Ability to lead, coach, and provide constructive feedback to employees.
• Ability to interpret current pension law and provide analysis of proposed legislation.
• Ability to diagnose problems and recommend solutions for process improvement purposes.
• Strong interpersonal, written communication, and verbal communication skills necessary to collaborate on enterprise projects and initiatives; communicate information about sensitive topics; influence others to resolve conflicting viewpoints; and champion a work culture that advocates for inclusion.
• Advanced proficiency in using Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, and Outlook; Cisco WebEx; or equivalent software packages.
• Successful candidates must be able to secure own transportation for in-state business travel.

Preferred Qualifications

• Leadership experience providing retirement or pension benefit services.
• Experience performing financial or benefit counseling for members, employees, or clients.
• Experience presenting complex financial concepts to diverse audiences and stakeholders.
• Experience in delivering financial planning and educational material to adult audiences in a group or individual setting.
• Experience working with or at another public pension organization.

Physical Requirements

• 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. 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
• Employment Reference Check
• Social Security and Address Verification
• Education Verification
• Driver's License Check

Benefits

As an employee, you'll have access to one of the most affordable health insurance plans in Minnesota, along with other benefits to help you and your family be well. Programs, resources and benefits eligibility varies based on type of employment, agency, funding availability, union/collective bargaining agreement, location, and length of service with the State of Minnesota.

• Paid vacation and sick leave
• 12 paid holidays each year
• Low-cost medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug plans
• Fertility care, including IVF
• Diabetes care
• Dental and orthodontic care for adults and children
• 6 weeks paid leave for parents of newborn or newly adopted children
• Pension plan that provides income when you retire (after working at least three years)
• Employer paid life insurance to provide support for your family in the event of death
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance that can provide income if you are unable to work due to illness or injury
• Tax-free expense accounts for health, dental, and dependent care
• Resources that provide support and promote physical, emotional, social, and financial well-being
• Training, classes, and professional development
• Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (some positions may qualify)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for work/life support — a voluntary confidential program that helps employees and their families with life challenges that may impact overall health, personal well-being, or job performance, including mental health, relationship challenges (personal and work), grief and loss, finances, and legal issues
• Daily Living/Convenience Services: Chore services, home repair, trip planning, child/elder care
• Free ramp parking at the St. Paul office location