Description

SUMMARY
The Plan Administration Assistant is responsible for assisting in the development and implementation of the WEA Member Benefits’ (Member Benefits) plan administration services to participating employers in eligible school districts through the delivery of accurate, complete program information to employers and internal staff, education of eligible participants, and other plan administration services.

ACCOUNTABILITIES
70%—COORDINATE AND ASSIST IN THE DELIVERY OF PLAN ADMINISTRATION SERVICES FOR RETIREMENT AND INVESTMENT SERVICES (RIS) PROGRAMS TO PARTICIPATING SCHOOL DISTRICTS

• Collaborate with the RIS Manager, Plan Administration Specialist, and Worksite Benefit Consultants to deliver 403(b) plan administration services such as plan reviews, plan document conversions, restatements, or amendments; automatic enrollment programs; matching/vesting programs; common remitter services; and other programs to participating school districts.
• Coordinate with participating school districts, internal and field staff, and record-keeping vendor(s) to market, implement, and deliver new 403(b) program features such as plan document services, automatic enrollment/automatic contribution escalation features, matching/vesting programs, common remitter services, and other programs/features.
  
  
• Collaborate with the RIS Manager and Plan Administration Specialist to develop internal and external procedures to rollout and maintain 403(b) plan program features, such as plan document services, automatic enrollment/automatic contribution escalation features, matching/vesting programs, common remitter services, and other programs/features.
  
  
• Train internal staff on plan administration processes.
  
  
• Train plan sponsors on plan administration processes.

25%—PROVIDE ONGOING EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL SUPPORT ABOUT SCHOOL DISTRICTS’ EMPLOYER-SPONSORED 403(B) PLANS, MEMBER BENEFITS’ TSA AND IRA PROGRAMS, AND CHANGES IN PLAN ADMINISTRATION REGULATORY ISSUES.

• Receive and respond to general inquiries about the school districts 403(b) employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, Member Benefits’ TSA and IRA programs and services, and communicating changes in plan administration and/or regulatory issues.
  
  
• Coordinate plan administration services, including training of district staff and internal staff if needed, serve as the point of contact for third-party administrators and SPARK files, and coordinate all processes for common remitter and loan administration set up. The incumbent will consult with participants and employers over the phone and will serve as a backup for RIS program Specialists, as well as provide support for conventions, conferences, and seminars.
  
  
• Analyze internal processes and procedures and develop creative solutions to problems consistent with Member Benefits’ mission and goals, practice and intent, and regulatory requirements.
  
  
• Chair and facilitate meetings where appropriate and distribute minutes to all project team members.

5%—PARTICIPATE IN ASSIGNED ORGANIZATIONAL AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS intended to evaluate and/or improve the plan administration opportunities offered to RIS program employers and eligible participants and other duties as assigned.

Requirements

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE
To be considered for appointment to this position, the applicant must demonstrate the following:

• High school competencies or equivalent.
• Commitment to customer service and other Member Benefits values.
• Experience working with employer-sponsored retirement plans.
• Excellent written communication skills, including the ability to compose clear, concise, and persuasive correspondence and narrative reports that communicate messages consistent with the Member Benefits’ policies using appropriate tone, grammar, and word usage.
• Excellent verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively and persuasively with individuals and groups, to listen and skillfully ask questions, and to explain difficult and technical retirement and investment issues.
• Ability to identify problems, research and analyze issues from different perspectives, organize information, reach sound conclusions, and make appropriate decisions.
• Ability to be composed and adaptive in a dynamic, fast-paced, customer-focused work environment characterized by rapid change, minimal lead times, and multiple competing priorities.
• Results driven.
• Flexibility to work the number of hours needed to accomplish regular and ad hoc job responsibilities.
• Ability to work independently and to establish, monitor, and achieve goals with minimal supervision.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective, collaborative relationships with customers, stakeholders, and staff at all levels of the organization.
• Ability to quickly, effectively, and continually adapt to changes in work duties, processes, and technologies.
• Ability to use the online record-keeping system and personal computer software as necessary to perform job duties.
• Ability to work as a constructive leader or member of a team, including ability to collaborate.
• Ability to establish project goals and lead others and/or coordinate resources to achieve them.
• Ability to be a self-starter and work with limited supervision.
• Excellent performance in present and prior positions.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
The following qualifications are preferred for appointment to this position:

• Knowledge in one or more of the following: IRC Section 403(b) and 408(a) and the pertinent regulations; employer retirement plan compliance; the Wisconsin Retirement System; Social Security; or retirement planning concepts and techniques.
• Experience utilizing either financial software programs or online record-keeping systems, customer relationship management, and retirement planning software.
  Knowledge of and ability to use Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Designation in Retirement Plan Compliance or acquire one year after appointment.
• Three to five years’ experience working in a financial industry plan administration capacity.
• Bilingual (Hmong, Spanish).

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCE
For successful performance, the incumbent must demonstrate the following:

• Excellent performance of all the foregoing duties assigned.
• Thorough understanding of the mission and the political context of the work of WEA Member Benefits.
• Ability to improve effectiveness and efficiency within the domain of the incumbent’s assigned responsibilities.
• Commitment to continued learning in all areas relevant to the responsibilities of this position.