County of Alameda

DESCRIPTION

Under general direction, to plan, organize and administer the business of the Alameda County Employee's Retirement Association; to administer the policies, procedures and regulations of the Board of Retirement and the provisions of the County Employees Retirement Law of l937.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES:

This one position class is the executive management position in the Retirement Association. The incumbent receives direction from the Alameda County Board of Retirement and is distinguished primarily by responsibility for directing the operation of the Association retirement system, implementing Board policy and coordinating the actions of contracting, investment and consulting firms.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

NOTE: The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level.

1. Functions as Executive Officer to the Board of Retirement and implements Board policy.

2. Provides analysis and recommendations to the Retirement Board and its committees on all policy and business matters requiring Board approval or action; and implements said policies.

3. Prepares Board of Retirement meeting agenda, provides staff support to Board Committees and all regular and special Board meetings, and supervises the preparation and maintenance of Board calendars.

4. Consults with the CIO on the investment portfolios and provides liaison with funds' investment managers, consultants and custodians. Oversees the Investment Department in the selection of managers and consultants and negotiates contracts for their services. Evaluates all financial, actuarial, investment, system and related consultants to the Board, conducts searches for new or replacement consultants.

5. Drafts, analyzes and recommends legislation affecting the retirement system for review and approval by the Board of Retirement and Board of Supervisors and keeps Board members apprised of legal and financial developments.

6. Interprets and applies laws relating to employees' retirement systems, old age, survivors and disability insurance, related provisions of the California Government Code and requirements of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and Department of Labor, and confers with County Counsel as necessary.

7. Recommends policy revisions to the Retirement Board.

8. Responsible for directing the implementation of programs for active and retired employees and claims for death, disability and retirement as well as divorces, medical and dental care for retirees. Oversees the application of actuarial tables to individual retirement cases, including disability cases; supervises the determination of prior and current service credits.

9. Responsible for implementation of the strategic direction established by the retirement board. Reviews Retirement Association processes and identifies areas to improve efficiencies. When necessary sources, retains and actively monitors outside consultants charged with assisting the Retirement Association in achieving organizational development goals.

10. Identifies and fosters training/mentoring opportunities for management staff with the goal providing opportunities for continued learning and development as well as creating an environment where the entire management team works collaboratively for the betterment of the agency.

11. Through the Assistant Managers, plans, organizes and directs the work of staff involved in maintaining records, checking retirement payrolls, complying with regulations of the State Controller, IRS, Department of Labor and County Grand Jury, enrolling members and other related office procedures.

12. Confers with actuaries and other specialty consultants and directs the gathering of data required for making a variety of actuarial, financial, statistical and narrative reports.

13. Directs, through subordinates, preparation of the annual budget for the Retirement Department, reviews budget with County Administrator's staff and administers the resources to operate the department.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Either I

Experience:

Experience serving as a Chief Executive Officer and/or Assistant Chief Executive Officer/Deputy Director in a public pension fund or substantially comparable organization, public or private; and a minimum of seven years of direct senior executive management experience in a similarly complex organization.

Or II

Education and Experience:

A Bachelor's degree in business administration, finance or economics or closely related field,

And

Seven years of senior management experience in a public pension fund or substantively comparable organization, public or private (a Master’s degree is preferred).

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

NOTE: The level and scope of the following knowledge, and abilities are related to duties listed under the "Examples of Duties" section of this specification.

Knowledge of:

• Purposes, principles and problems of employees' retirement systems.
• The 1937 County Employees' Retirement Act and current regulations and statutes relating to retirement, old age, survivors and disability insurance and related provisions of the California Government Code, as well as regulations of the IRS and retirement section of ERISA.
• Portfolio management and both traditional and quantitative investment principles and practices.
• Various types and classes of securities, as well as interest and yield computations.
• Cash management and cash flow analysis for investment portfolio activities.
• Fiscal, actuarial and budget principles and procedures.
• Employer group insurance and indemnity plan and coverage available.
• Contract processing and contract administration.
• Principles of administration, management and supervision.
• Modern office methods, procedures and equipment.

Ability to:

• Communicate effectively orally and in writing at all levels, both internally and externally.
• Develop effective working relationships and open communication with a variety of individuals, including members of the Board of Retirement.
• Ability to network with external entities critical to the ongoing success of ACERA.
• Effectively analyze and resolve problems and make appropriate decisions in a timely manner.
• Exercise management control.
• Delegate to and mentor lower level staff.
• Provide leadership.
• Demonstrate interpersonal sensitivity.
• Be flexible.
• Plan and organize.
• Adapt to stress.

CLASS SPEC HISTORY

RMP:nw:l/77
Revised:RMP:kb: 7/77
Retyped:IB:nt: 5/82
Rev/Retyped lm h 9/83
Revised: RMP:mad: 03/88
Revised/Retitled: HC:pb: 9/91
co:updated 5/10/00
Old doc. 0029h.wpr under
New doc. 0169.doc
CSC date: 10/9/91
DRH:po Revised/Retitled 4/25/06
[old title: General Manager, Retirement Association]
CSC Date: 4/26/2006
SG:cs Revised 4/5/11
CSC Date: N/A
AM:cs Revised 10/20/15
CSC Date: 10/28/15

BENEFITS

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Well-Being

• Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
• Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
• Vision or Vision Reimbursement
• Share the Savings
• Basic Life Insurance 
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees)
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance 
• County Allowance Credit
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance

• 12 paid holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Management Paid Leave**
• Catastrophic Sick Leave
• Group Auto/Home Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
• Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
• Child Care Resources
• 1^st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.

** Non-exempt management employees are entitled to up to three days of management paid leave. Exempt management employees are entitled to up to seven days of management paid leave.