Unemployment and Retirement Specialist

Title: Unemployment and Retirement Specialist

Department: Office of Talent

Reports To: Director, Retirement and Unemployment Services

Salary Range: $57,390 - $77,284

For forward-thinking administrators and educators, opportunities abound in the School District of Philadelphia. The School District of Philadelphia is committed to transforming the education opportunities it offers the city’s more than 203,000 school-aged children. The District seeks leaders who have a passion for working with schools, principals and communities who are committed to ensuring all students achieve. Serving a population as diverse as ours requires creativity, commitment and vision. Will you join us?

Job Summary

Processes and responds to unemployment claims filed against the School District and represents the District at unemployment hearings. Gathers and analyzes employee work records and consults with representatives from various firms to apprise them of individual case histories in preparation for compensation hearings. Oversees the work of lower level clerical staff in the Office of Retirement. Interacts with School District employees, union representatives and Pennsylvania Public School Employees Retirement System (PSERS) representatives regarding a variety of PSERS retirement related inquiries.

This is a full-time, 12-month non-represented position. The salary grade is 4024.

Essential Functions

• Represents the District at unemployment compensation hearings and provides testimony and evidence as needed.
• Supplies and verifies information requested by local unemployment claim offices for employee work history.
• Prepares and files appeals for unfavorable determinations.
• Gathers all necessary documentation and information through correspondence, telephone or personal contact with other School District offices.
• Responds with efficiency and effectiveness to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Job Center’s information requests.
• Monitors the annual processing of Reasonable Assurance of Continued Employment notices for substitute employees; tracks and files the receipt and filing response from substitutes.
• Tracks system entries of work history for substitutes made by regional offices to insure accuracy and completeness.
• Updates and keeps accurate records for effective retrieval of documentation in preparation of files for hearings with the state referee.
• Oversees the work of lower level clerical staff; makes work assignments and reviews work for accuracy.
• Performs extensive analysis on retirement accounts of employees using spreadsheet applications.
• Performs calculations in resolving discrepancies of reported salary and service of employees and submits adjustments to PSERS.
• Responds with efficiency and effectiveness to internal queries regarding financial aspects of the employee retirement pension plan.
• Reviews, analyzes and evaluates issues pertaining to employee deduction rate changes and corrections of retirement contributions.
• Participates in special projects as assigned by conducting research to gather pertinent information.
• Interacts with District personnel, union representatives and PSERS representatives to address issues related to the reporting of the salary and years of service for employees.

Minimum Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Four years of full-time, paid, clerical experience which have involved processing or reviewing unemployment compensation claims and has involved performing payroll analysis and interacting with School District employees and PSERS representatives regarding a variety of retirement related inquiries.
• All work experience related to the position must be included on the resume.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated knowledge of:

• methods and techniques associated with unemployment claims processing.

• the principles and practices utilized to answer a variety of PSERS retirement related inquiries.

• office principles, practices and procedures.

• Demonstrated ability to:

• understand state laws pertaining to unemployment compensation.

determine the accuracy and propriety of PSERS retirement deductions and contribution rates by reviewing and researching a variety of School District payroll transactions as well as data reported in the New Pension Administration System (NPAS).

maintain records and prepare reports.

• Ability to:

• learn and explain the personnel policies and practices of the School District.

• use computer applications, including Microsoft Word.

• communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

• establish and maintain effective working relationships.

Disclaimer

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.

Nondiscrimination

The School District of Philadelphia provides to all persons equal access to all categories of employment in this district, regardless of race, color, age, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, ancestry, national origin or handicap/disability, gender identity, or genetic information. Please refer to Board Policy 104 for further information regarding the District's commitment to Nondiscrimination in Employment Practices.