Besides annuity benefits, the Pension Boards also provides medical, dental, life, and disability benefit coverage for all church employees, as well as welfare benefits for ordained clergy.

Attractions

The President/CEO of The Pension Boards has a commitment and vision for program growth.  The President has been in the position since 2001, coming from The Insurance Boards United Church of Christ, where he served as CEO of the Denomination’s Property/Casualty Insurance Program.  Prior to the Insurance Boards, he was an active volunteer with various United Church of Christ Ministries.

Member Services, much of which acts as the main contact point for members, has a goal to improve response time.  This is an opportunity to participate in something that has “taken off,” and to take Member Services to the next level.

The Pension Boards is in the process of developing and evaluating “new products” for pension plan members.  The Director, Member Services will play a big role in this project.

Excellent benefits for The Pension Boards’ employees, same as members of the plan.

Critical Issues 

·         The Pension Boards is moving more into a corporate style of operation continuing to raise performance standards.  Since salaries of The Pension Boards’ employees are paid from the investment of the plan’s assets, there is a personal responsibility and accountability for employees.  There is a need to be dedicated and committed to personal services. 

·         Looking for evolution rather than revolution of Member Services operations and service to members. 

·         The Member Services Department is paperless.  Extensive scanning and off site document storage is used.  Benefit Representatives use multiple screens when talking to members on the telephone.  It is expected that the new Director, Member Services will take electronic record keeping to the next level.   

·         There is an opportunity to bring new employees of other United Church of Christ institutions, such as seminaries, colleges and universities, retirement homes and hospitals into The Pension Boards.  Early estimates show The Pension Boards’ membership could double.  Member Services’ Staff must “cross-sell” benefit plans to members. 

·         Maintain a current working knowledge of the design strategies, legislative environment and regulatory requirements affecting the type of benefit plans administered by The Pension Boards.

 The Position 

Reports To:

President/CEO, in parallel with Director, Health Plans, Vice President, Chief Investment Officer, Chief Financial
Officer/Treasurer, and Directors for Ministerial Assistance, Public Relations and Communications, Corporate Social
Responsibility, Member Education, Human Resources/Administration, and Conference Relations, respectively.

 Major Responsibilities:

• Supervise a staff of thirty (30) employees who process enrollments and billings; maintain records; calculate estimates for annuity payments; calculate and process retirement benefits.
  

• Create an entrepreneurial attitude with Call Center people.  Institute, teach and coach Call Center people to “cross sell” options available to members, with the aim of building the customer and asset base of The Pension Boards.  For instance increase emphasis on individual members putting his/her own funds in the retirement plan.   See an opportunity to sell services every time the phone rings.

• We are looking for someone with the interest, desire, curiosity and intellectual understanding of the relationship between a member and The Pension Boards.

• Make members aware of “flexible spending” accounts (FSA), whereby members can elect to set aside a portion of their earnings before taxes are withheld, to pay for certain medical and dependent care expenses they will face in the coming year.  Each pay period during the year, dollars are deducted from salary and placed in the FSA.  When an eligible expense is incurred, the member notifies the FSA and a reimbursement, up to the amount of the elected deferral portion, is reimbursed from the FSA.

• We are not looking for just passive administration of Member Services.  We want someone to lead.  Include exempt and non-exempt staff in meetings.  Give a positive response to suggestions regardless of value.

• Take electronic record keeping to the next level. 

• Provide input for staff, space and equipment. 

• Administration of self-administered 403(b) defined contribution annuity plans, self-insured Health and Dental Plans and a Life Insurance and Disability Income Benefit Plan.
  
• Recommend improvements to the Annuity Plan and other benefit plans.   For instance, voluntary life insurance for members was recently added. 

• In concert with Information Technology, analyze needs and review or develop software programs for use in the various plans. 

• In concert with Accounting keep systems in place, which can account for and report amount accumulated and amount available for the member when he/she retires.  Be able to correct member account balances when needed.  When member has questions about bills, Director, Member Services needs to assure coordination of billing function and accounting.

• Work with Conference Ministers in coordinating yearly meetings with plan members in various geographic locations.
  
• Staff meetings of the Board of Trustees, and the Actuarial, Eligibility and Health Advisory Committees.  It is expected that the new director will be involved with these committees from the beginning. 

• Coordinate functions with outside consultants and Information Technology and other departments.  The outside consultants include Hay Group and Mellon (formerly Buck Associates).  When legal assistance is required, The Pension Boards usually hires a firm in the location of the member.

• Contribute to News and Views, a quarterly update from the Pension Boards to members of the plan.

• Review all Qualified Domestic Relations Orders for divorces as well as legal claims for benefits from the Pension Boards.

Qualifications

 The Ideal Person Should Have:

·         In depth knowledge of Retirement Plans of all types, health and dental plans and life and disability insurance plans.  Ability to learn complex details of all benefit plans.  Also experienced at design of plans. 

·         Extensive supervisory experience with a medium to large staff. 

·         A Bachelor’s degree.  

·         A minimum of eight (8) years of supervisory experience in benefits administration.   Should be able to teach and motivate staff to perform at highest level. 

·         Extensive knowledge of PC computers, Microsoft Word and Excel. 

·         Excellent written and oral communication skills.

The Ideal Person Should Be:

·         A “people” person.  Members call about some very serious and personal issues and problems.

·         A marketing and sales person.

·         A hands-on manager, who knows what is going on in the Department.  Able to develop Departmental staff so when Director, Member Services is away, staff can keep the ball rolling at highest level of effectiveness.

·         A “student of the craft” of employee benefits; enthused about serving; interested in the advantages and disadvantages of all forms of benefits, whether or not presently offered by the Pension Boards, in an organization which affects the quality of life for its members.

·         Comfortable interacting with peers at other denominations.  

·         Able to command the respect of the staff. 

·         Able to teach and communicate to the staff various other pension plan options outside The Pension Boards, and why The Pension Boards does what it does for its members. 

·         Able to speak with conviction about opportunities for improvement, as though the change implementation comes from the Director, Member Services, even though the observation about needed change(s) come(s) from another individual. 

·         Able to multi-task.

The Pension Boards—United Church of Christ is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Candidates and sources, please communicate with:
Bob Sellery or Katie Wilson, Robert Sellery Associates, Ltd.
1050 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., 10th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20036.
Email: wilson@sellery.com, sellery@sellery.com
FAX 202.333.1167
Telephone: 202.331.0090
All inquiries will be kept in strict confidence.

ROBERT SELLERY ASSOCIATES, LTD.
1050 CONNECTICUT AVENUE, N.W. , 10TH FLOOR     WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036     202.331.0090
sellery@sellery.com