RETIREMENT SPECIALIST III - 72002511 1

Requisition No: 854985 

Agency: Management Services

Working Title: RETIREMENT SPECIALIST III - 72002511 1

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 72002511 

Salary:  $35,361.61 - $ $38,036.18 

Posting Closing Date: 06/26/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Benefits Specialist
Division of Retirement/Enrollment & Contributions/ORP
State of Florida Department of Management Services
This position is located in Tallahassee

Internal Agency Only

Position Overview and Responsibilities:

• As a Benefits Specialist, reviews and processes retirement applications, forms, or other documents.  Gathers and analyzes member information for verification of service credit, plan determinations, membership applications or audit findings. Determines membership eligibility, appropriate plan selection, benefit payments, contribution rates, and effective dates. Performs retirement data calculations.  Maintains retirement data by accurately entering information into the division’s Integrated Retirement Information System (IRIS).  Audits, corrects, and reconciles retirement data to ensure data integrity. Reviews data to identify, troubleshoot and resolve non-routine problems. 
• Composes complex, complete, accurate, and grammatically correct correspondence relative to the ORP and OAP, in accordance with applicable Florida Statutes, Florida Administrative Codes, and Internal Revenue Code regulations. Interprets and applies applicable laws, rules, and regulations. Reviews outgoing correspondence for accuracy and completeness. Reviews and completes complex retirement reports. Reviews audited retirement data for accuracy and completeness.  Reviews the SUSORP/SMSOAP plan and informational documents, SUSORP/SMSOAP forms, SUSORP/SMSOAP web pages, FRS Online, and the FRS Employer Handbook for discrepancies and/or updates and provides recommendations.
• Provides customer service through phone calls, emails, counseling, and personal interviews with members. Provides consultative and technical assistance to employment agencies. Investigates discrepancies for Third Party Administration, the State Board of Administration (SBA), audit staff, and approved providers. Assists approved providers with member and plan-related issue resolution. 
• Provides training to new employees. Serves on committees and in workgroups to improve bureau and division-wide administration of the retirement system. 
• Reviews monthly and quarterly reports from approved providers. Updates approved provider performance and fee information.
• Performs other duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of Statues, Rules, SMSOAP and SUSORP, Policies and Procedures.
• Ability to review data for accuracy and correctness.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel.
• Knowledge of computer terminal and use of office automation system. Accountability, Communication, Empowerment, Flexibility, Integrity, Respect, Teamwork.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Two years of professional experience in the areas of insurance, retirement or social security, administration, call center, customer service, fiscal work, statistics, personnel, or any other combination. A postsecondary degree may be used as an alternative for years of experience on a year-for-year basis.

Our Organization and Mission:

Under the direction of Governor Ron DeSantis, Secretary Pedro Allende and DMS’ Executive Leadership Team, the Florida Department of Management Services (DMS) is a customer-oriented agency with a broad portfolio that includes the efficient use and management of real estate, procurement, human resources, group insurance, retirement, telecommunications, fleet, and federal property assistance programs used throughout Florida’s state government. It is against this backdrop that DMS strives to demonstrate its motto, “We serve those who serve Florida.”

Division of Retirement:

The mission of the Division of Retirement (division) is to deliver a high quality, innovative, and cost-effective retirement system. The division currently has 225 full-time retirement staff and manages a FY 2024-25 operating budget of $48,864,720. The division administers the Florida Retirement System (FRS) Pension Plan, currently the fifth largest state retirement system in the US with more than 1.1 million active, retired, and terminated vested members and $191.6 billion in assets. The division pays out $12.9 billion a year in retiree benefits and maintains the service history, vesting and membership status records, and collects nearly $5.5 billion annually in employer and employee contributions from more than 1,000 employers for all FRS members. 

Special Notes:

DMS is committed to successfully recruiting and onboarding talented and skilled individuals into its workforce. We recognize the extensive training, experience, and transferrable skills that veterans and individuals with disabilities bring to the workforce.  Veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to contact our recruiter for guidance and answers to questions through the following provided email addresses:
DMS.Ability@dms.fl.gov
DMS.Veterans@dms.fl.gov
An individual with a disability is qualified if he or she satisfies the skills, experience, and other job related requirements for a position and can perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation. Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must contact the DMS Human Resources (HR) Office at (850) 488-2707. DMS requests applicants notify HR in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.
Successful completion of background screening will be required for this position.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE.  Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply.  Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements.  Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code.  Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here.  All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.