State of Minnesota
Retirement Services Specialist - Benefits Specialist - Survivor
State of Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States, 55130
Working Title: Benefits Specialist - Survivor
Job Class: Retirement Services Specialist
Agency: Public Employees Retire Assoc
Job ID:
89121
Location:
St. Paul
Telework Eligible
: Yes
Full/Part Time
: Full-Time
Regular/Temporary:
Unlimited
Who May Apply:
Open to all qualified job seekers
Date Posted:
09/24/2025
Closing Date:
10/08/2025
Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit:
Public Employees Retire Assoc / Pub Employ Retire Assoc-MAPE
Division/Unit:
Benefits Claim Department
Work Shift/Work Hours:
Day Shift
Days of Work:
Monday - Friday
Travel Required
: No
Salary Range:
$23.98 - $34.69 / hourly; $50,070 - $72,433 / annually
Classified Status:
Classified
Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities (https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/diverse-workforce/people-with-disabilities/connect700/)
:
Yes
The work you'll do is more than just a job.
At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.
The Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) administers and promotes sustainable retirement plans and provides services that our members value.
PERA is the largest public pension plan in the State of Minnesota, serving current and former public employees from 2,100 governmental agencies. We pay monthly benefits to over 140,000 retirees, members who are disabled, and survivors of deceased members. Our 200,000 active members work in our parks, cities, counties, and schools across the state. The services they provide and the work they do make our communities better.
PERA offers parking in an attached ramp at no cost to employees.
About the Opportunity
:
This
position exists to provide basic knowledge to Pension Services in the area of survivor benefit applications and benefit payments. This position monitors ongoing eligibility of benefit recipients, and calculates and audits claims for retirement, disability, and survivor benefits in accordance with laws, rules, procedures and regulations. Additionally, this position provides back-up support to the retirement, disability, and survivor application processes.
The position monitors eligibility for survivor payments, serves as a knowledge resource for routine death and survivor questions, delivers PERA benefit information, and responds to stakeholder inquiries of a routine nature, either by phone, in person or in writing.
This position is
telework (https://mn.gov/mmb-stat/policies/1422-telework.pdf)
eligible and offers a hybrid work schedule which may include telework up to 50% of the scheduled workdays each month, based on agency and department needs and other dependencies. Scheduled in-office work days are at PERA's office building in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Candidates located outside the state of Minnesota and more than 50 miles from PERA's St. Paul office are not eligible to telework and would be required to report to the office full-time.
Minimum Qualifications
*Only applicants whose application and resume clearly demonstrate fulfillment of each minimum qualification listed below will be considered for this position. Ensure your resume contains descriptions of your work experience sufficient for comparison against the requirements stated below. Also indicate the beginning and ending month and year for each job held.
This position requires a minimum of one and one half (1.5) years of
professional level experience in retirement planning, program administration, or financial services.
*A bachelor's degree or higher in Business, Accounting, Human Resources, or a closely related field substitutes for one (1) year of experience.
Experience must include the following:
Analytical and problem solving skills sufficient to evaluate facts, draw conclusions, and create recommendations.
Effective communication skills to provide excellent and comprehensive benefit explanations, customer service, and counseling to a wide variety of stakeholders.
Experience using Microsoft Office software.
Ability to provide explanation of benefits or administer employee benefits.
Ability to work well both independently and within a team.
Performing math computations.
Ability to adapt and cope with ambiguity and changing circumstances.
Preferred Qualifications
Bachelor's degree or higher in Business Administration, Finance, Communications, Organizational Management, or a closely related field.
Experience administering retirement benefits, with the primary focus of delivering customer service, performing calculations, and providing legal explanations or interpreting benefit plans or policies.
Experience working at or with Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA), Minnesota State Retirement System (MSRS), or Teachers Retirement Association (TRA).
Physical Requirements
Requires occasional lifting and carrying of articles such as file folders, ledgers, and small office equipment. Although a sedentary job is defined as one that involves sitting, a certain amount of movement is often necessary in carrying out job duties.
Additional Requirements
It is the policy of the Retirement Systems of MN that all employees submit to a background investigation prior to employment. The background check may consist of the following components:
SEMA4 Records Check (applies to current and past State employees only)
Criminal History Check
Employment Reference Check
Social Security and Address Verification
Education Verification
Driver's License Check
**The Retirement Systems will not sponsor applicants for work visas. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the US.
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.
Job Class: Retirement Services Specialist
Agency: Public Employees Retire Assoc
Job ID:
89121
Location:
St. Paul
Telework Eligible
: Yes
Full/Part Time
: Full-Time
Regular/Temporary:
Unlimited
Who May Apply:
Open to all qualified job seekers
Date Posted:
09/24/2025
Closing Date:
10/08/2025
Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit:
Public Employees Retire Assoc / Pub Employ Retire Assoc-MAPE
Division/Unit:
Benefits Claim Department
Work Shift/Work Hours:
Day Shift
Days of Work:
Monday - Friday
Travel Required
: No
Salary Range:
$23.98 - $34.69 / hourly; $50,070 - $72,433 / annually
Classified Status:
Classified
Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities (https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/diverse-workforce/people-with-disabilities/connect700/)
:
Yes
The work you'll do is more than just a job.
At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.
The Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) administers and promotes sustainable retirement plans and provides services that our members value.
PERA is the largest public pension plan in the State of Minnesota, serving current and former public employees from 2,100 governmental agencies. We pay monthly benefits to over 140,000 retirees, members who are disabled, and survivors of deceased members. Our 200,000 active members work in our parks, cities, counties, and schools across the state. The services they provide and the work they do make our communities better.
PERA offers parking in an attached ramp at no cost to employees.
About the Opportunity
:
This
position exists to provide basic knowledge to Pension Services in the area of survivor benefit applications and benefit payments. This position monitors ongoing eligibility of benefit recipients, and calculates and audits claims for retirement, disability, and survivor benefits in accordance with laws, rules, procedures and regulations. Additionally, this position provides back-up support to the retirement, disability, and survivor application processes.
The position monitors eligibility for survivor payments, serves as a knowledge resource for routine death and survivor questions, delivers PERA benefit information, and responds to stakeholder inquiries of a routine nature, either by phone, in person or in writing.
This position is
telework (https://mn.gov/mmb-stat/policies/1422-telework.pdf)
eligible and offers a hybrid work schedule which may include telework up to 50% of the scheduled workdays each month, based on agency and department needs and other dependencies. Scheduled in-office work days are at PERA's office building in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Candidates located outside the state of Minnesota and more than 50 miles from PERA's St. Paul office are not eligible to telework and would be required to report to the office full-time.
Minimum Qualifications
*Only applicants whose application and resume clearly demonstrate fulfillment of each minimum qualification listed below will be considered for this position. Ensure your resume contains descriptions of your work experience sufficient for comparison against the requirements stated below. Also indicate the beginning and ending month and year for each job held.
This position requires a minimum of one and one half (1.5) years of
professional level experience in retirement planning, program administration, or financial services.
*A bachelor's degree or higher in Business, Accounting, Human Resources, or a closely related field substitutes for one (1) year of experience.
Experience must include the following:
Analytical and problem solving skills sufficient to evaluate facts, draw conclusions, and create recommendations.
Effective communication skills to provide excellent and comprehensive benefit explanations, customer service, and counseling to a wide variety of stakeholders.
Experience using Microsoft Office software.
Ability to provide explanation of benefits or administer employee benefits.
Ability to work well both independently and within a team.
Performing math computations.
Ability to adapt and cope with ambiguity and changing circumstances.
Preferred Qualifications
Bachelor's degree or higher in Business Administration, Finance, Communications, Organizational Management, or a closely related field.
Experience administering retirement benefits, with the primary focus of delivering customer service, performing calculations, and providing legal explanations or interpreting benefit plans or policies.
Experience working at or with Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA), Minnesota State Retirement System (MSRS), or Teachers Retirement Association (TRA).
Physical Requirements
Requires occasional lifting and carrying of articles such as file folders, ledgers, and small office equipment. Although a sedentary job is defined as one that involves sitting, a certain amount of movement is often necessary in carrying out job duties.
Additional Requirements
It is the policy of the Retirement Systems of MN that all employees submit to a background investigation prior to employment. The background check may consist of the following components:
SEMA4 Records Check (applies to current and past State employees only)
Criminal History Check
Employment Reference Check
Social Security and Address Verification
Education Verification
Driver's License Check
**The Retirement Systems will not sponsor applicants for work visas. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the US.
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.