Retirement Benefits Specialist Trainee - Fixed Term

THE POSITION

The Ventura County Employees Retirement Association (VCERA) provides retirement benefit services to more than 22000 active and retired members. Under general supervision incumbents in this classification are responsible for researching and processing retirement benefit inquiries and claims on behalf of VCERA members.

The ideal candidate must have the ability to work with a diverse group of members with tact and diplomacy. The candidate should be able to learn interpret and apply complex rules and mathematical formulas enjoy addressing questions from members/beneficiaries and navigating through retirement issues. Incumbents are responsible for highly confidential information and must be able to maintain confidentiality of such information.

PAYROLL TITLE:Technical Specialist IV-MB

Bilingual Incentive- Incumbents may also be eligible for a bilingual incentive depending upon operational needs and certification skills.

The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill current and future Regular (including Temporary and Fixed Term) Intermittent and Extra Help vacancies for these positions only. There are currently two (2) Fixed Term vacancies within the Retirement Department.

NOTE: Fixed Term positions are Regular positions for a specific duration of time. These Fixed Term positions are anticipated to expire on September 16 2028.

Duties may include but are not limited to the following.

• Reviews analyzes and determines eligibility for retirement benefit estimates final retirement benefits and retirement service credit purchases.
• Processes documentation on behalf of separated members including contribution refunds rollovers inter-system membership advice forms and deferred retirements.
• Reviews and processes beneficiary change forms.
• Collaborates with other retirement systems to initiate reciprocity on behalf of members.
• Researches evaluates and responds to complex retirement benefit claims and inquiries.
• Interprets researches and applies state and federal regulations and laws.
• Initiates correspondence to members and County departments.
• Processes member retirement applications and enters datainto the pension system.
• Counsels and provides guidance to members and their beneficiaries on retirement benefits.
• Maintains operational procedure manuals.
• Assists the Communications Officer in the preparation and presentation of retirement information for new employee orientations and retirement workshops.
• Coordinates and manages complex special projects as assigned.
• Processes new member enrollments.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Note: Although new Benefits Specialists are routinely assigned to the Active Member Unit this position may be utilized in the other areas of operation (Death Services Community Property Retiree Payroll or Disability Retirement). Future promotional opportunities may exist (conducted by way of a separate promotional opportunity recruitment) as this position underfills a Program Administrator II allocation.

These are entrance requirements to the examination process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.

EDUCATION TRAINING and EXPERIENCE:

Any combination of education and/or experience that would provide the knowledge and abilities listed below. The required knowledge skills and abilities can be met by:

• Four (4) years of advanced level clerical and/or fiscal record keeping experience.

OR

• The equivalent of a bachelors degree in business administration finance economics accounting or related discipline.
  

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Ability to understand and execute complex calculations accurately.
• Excellent written communication skills must be demonstrated in the application and the supplemental questionnaire.

DESIRED:

• Intermediate proficiency in Adobe Acrobat.

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS and ABILITIES:

Working knowledge of:

• Retirement Department (Ventura County Employees Retirement Association);
• Standard office procedures;

Ability to:

• Learn and apply good customer service practices; able to act with tact and diplomacy;
• Utilize strong interpersonal and communication skills to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships;
• Learn to provide guidance to employees and/or family members on retirement contributions retirement planning benefit claim procedures and other concerns;
• Use computers and learn/use spreadsheet word processing and pension software programs;
• Make complex arithmetic calculations; utilize and apply conversion tables and standard formulas to individual circumstances; collect and analyze data to draw logical conclusions and make appropriate recommendations;
• Learn interpret apply and explain complex regulations and procedures;
• Make sound decisions and independent judgments;
• Maintain accurate records.

FINAL FILING DATE: Applications must be received by Ventura County Human Resources no later than 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday September 23 2025.

To apply online please refer to our website at. gov/jobs. If you prefer to fill out a paper application form please call for application materials and submit them to County of Ventura Human Resources 800 South Victoria Avenue L-1970 Ventura CA 93009.

INFORMATION FOR TRANSFER CANDIDATES

NOTE: If presently permanently employed in another merit or civil service public agency/entity in the same or substantively similar position as is advertised and if appointed to that position by successful performance in a merit or civil service style examination then appointment by Lateral Transfer may be possible. If interested please click here (Download PDF reader) for additional information.

NOTE TO APPLICANTS: Sufficient information must be provided under the Education/Work Experience portion of the application and supplemental questionnaire to thoroughly and accurately demonstrate your qualifications to determine eligibility. A resume may be attached to supplement your responses in the above-referenced sections; however it may not be submitted in lieu of the application.

EXAMINATION PROCESS

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE -qualifying: All applicants are required to complete and submit the questionnaire for this examination at the time of filing. The supplemental questionnaire may be used throughout the examination process to assist in determining each applicants qualifications and acceptability for the position. Failure to complete and submit the questionnaire will result in your application being removed from consideration.

APPLICATION EVALUATIONqualifying: All applications will be reviewed to determine whether or not the stated requirements are met. Those individuals meeting the stated requirements will be invited to continue to the next step in the screening and selection process.

WRITTEN EXAMINATION - 100%:An un-proctored online internet-based job-related written examination will be conducted to test candidates knowledge of Interpersonal Skills Reading Comprehension Information Evaluation Math and Recordkeeping. Candidates must earn a score of seventy percent (70%) or higher to qualify for placement on the eligible list.

ELIGIBLE LIST:

Candidates successfully completing the examination process may be placed on an eligible list for a period of one (1) year.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION:

A thorough background investigation which may include inquiry into past employment education criminal background information and driving record may be required for this position.