Job Summary
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.
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.
How to Apply
Visit the MN Careers webpage: https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/search-for-jobs/ and search using the Job ID#75917. If you have questions about applying for jobs, contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us. For additional information about the application process, go to http://www.mn.gov/careers.
If you have questions about the position or are an individual with a disability and need to request an accommodation for a scheduled interview, contact Justin Johnson at jjohnson@minnesotatra.org.
To receive consideration as a Connect 700 Program applicant, apply online, email the Job ID#, the Working Title and your valid Proof of Eligibility Certificate by the closing date to Justin Johnson at jjohnson@minnesotatra.org.
Diverse Workforce
We are committed to continually developing a workforce that reflects the diversity of our state and the populations we serve. The varied experiences and perspectives of employees strengthen the work we do together and our ability to best serve the people of Minnesota.
A recent engagement survey of State of Minnesota employees found:
- 95% of employees understand how their work helps achieve their agency’s mission
- 91% of employees feel trusted to do their jobs
- 88% of employees feel equipped to look at situations from other cultural perspectives when doing their job
- 87% of employees report flexibility in their work schedule
Comprehensive Benefits
Our benefits aim to balance four key elements that make life and work meaningful: health and wellness, financial well-being, professional development, and work/life harmony. As an employee, your benefits may include:
- Public pension plan
- Training and professional development
- Paid vacation and sick leave
- 11 paid holidays each year
- Paid parental leave
- Low-cost medical and dental coverage
- Prescription drug coverage
- Vision coverage
- Wellness programs and resources
- Employer paid life insurance
- Short-term and long-term disability
- Health care spending and savings accounts
- Dependent care spending account
- Tax-deferred compensation
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Tuition reimbursement
- Federal Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program
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.
Teachers Retirement Association also offers free ramp parking at our Saint Paul Office location.
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Minnesota state agencies are equal opportunity, affirmative action, and veteran-friendly employers. The State of Minnesota recognizes that a diverse workforce is essential and strongly encourages qualified women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans to apply.
We will make reasonable accommodations 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 and indicate what assistance is needed.
Responsibilities
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.
Qualifications
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
Teachers Retirement Association
Suite 400
Saint Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota 55103
US
