Retirement Administrator (Alaska Railroad)

Job Description

Coadministers the Alaska Railroad Corporation retirement programs, including the Corporate Pension Plan, 401(k) Tax Deferred Savings Plans, 457 Deferred Compensation Plan, Retiree Medical Plan. Interprets plan provisions and applicable requirements; exercises independent judgment in resolving complex participant and administrative matters; recommends changes to policies, procedures, controls, and plan communications; coordinates retirement plan related activities with third party administrators, recordkeepers, actuaries, trustees, investment service providers, and other consultants; interfaces with ARRC's auditors; and disseminates and provides retirement education and counseling to employees and beneficiaries. Work is performed with limited day-to-day direction and is evaluated primarily for accuracy, compliance, timeliness, service quality, and achievement of program objectives.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Administers participant transactions and complex benefit requests, including normal and disability retirements, refunds, de minimis distributions, Required Minimum Distributions, repurchases of forfeited pension service, reinstatement of forfeited employer matches, beneficiary matters, Qualified Domestic Relations Orders, and military service purchases. Reviews facts and plan provisions, identifies missing or conflicting information, determines appropriate processing within established authority, coordinates with service providers, and escalates matters presenting material legal, fiduciary, or policy risk.
• Serves as an operational liaison with the pension recordkeeper, actuary, auditor, trustee, investment managers, and other service providers. Defines data and service requirements, reviews deliverables, monitors performance and issue resolution, validates information, and recommends corrective action, process changes, or escalation when service, control, or compliance concerns arise. In accordance with the Internal Revenue Code, review and evaluate which expenses incurred by the retirement plans are settlor or non-settlor expenses and which can be paid from plan assets.
• Presents New Employee Onboarding providing retirement benefit education for new hires. Provides retirement education and individualized counseling to employees, retirees, and beneficiaries. Independently explains plan provisions, available elections, administrative requirements, and the operational consequences of choices and referring participants to appropriate professional resources.
• Maintains the retirement administration manual, forms, procedures, employee communications, and intranet content. Tracks required updates for restatements of Retirement Plan Documents and Summary Plan Descriptions.

Factor 1: Technical and Operational Knowledge

Requires comprehensive working knowledge of retirement plan administration, including plan concepts, plan documents, policies, precedents, fiduciary governance, participant communications, benefit calculations, QDRO administration, vendor oversight, audit support, data reconciliation, and applicable federal requirements. Applies this knowledge to interpret plan provisions, evaluate administrative options, provide authoritative technical guidance, and recommend compliant and practical solutions. Maintains sufficient knowledge of HRIS, payroll, recordkeeping, and trust data flows to identify discrepancies, assess controls, and support accurate plan administration.

Factor 2: Analytical Skills and Impact

Independently gathers and evaluates complex or incomplete information, identifies the controlling plan provisions and administrative requirements, and reaches factually supportable conclusions. Exercises discretion and independent judgment on matters of significance, including interpretation of plan terms, resolution of non-routine participant issues, reconciliation exceptions, vendor performance concerns, control weaknesses, and recommendations affecting policies, procedures, communications, or committee action. Adapts broad guidance to specific circumstances, assesses risk and operational impact, develops alternatives, and recommends the course of action most consistent with plan terms, fiduciary direction, and organizational objectives. Errors may affect participant benefits, financial reporting, compliance, vendor performance, employee trust, or the Corporation's fiduciary and financial interests.

Factor 3: Supervision and Control

The incumbent has no direct supervisory responsibilities. The position receives general direction regarding priorities, major initiatives, and desired outcomes from the Retirement Plans Manager. Within established authority, the incumbent plans and organizes assignments, determines the analytical and administrative approach, coordinates with internal and external parties, resolves routine and complex matters, and completes work without continuous instruction or review. The supervisor is consulted on matters involving significant legal ambiguity, plan amendments, material financial exposure, fiduciary risk, or issues outside delegated authority. Completed work is evaluated primarily for sound judgment, accuracy, compliance, timeliness, effectiveness, and achievement of program objectives rather than for the methods used.

Factor 4: Communication

Communicates complex, sensitive, and consequential retirement information to employees, retirees, beneficiaries, managers, committee members, service providers, auditors, and consultants. Explains plan provisions and administrative decisions in clear, neutral, and accessible language; obtains and evaluates information needed to resolve issues; prepares decision materials, reports, minutes, procedures, and participant communications; and delivers individual and group education. Uses tact, discretion, and persuasion to reconcile differing viewpoints, obtain cooperation, resolve service concerns, and support informed decisions while protecting confidential participant information.

Factor 5: Working Conditions

Work is generally performed in a professional office or approved remote-work environment and requires sustained attention to detailed information. The position occasionally travels to field locations to provide training, counseling, or program support. Travel may be by commercial air, train, or motor vehicle. The incumbent must maintain confidentiality and may periodically manage competing deadlines, time-sensitive benefit matters, or participant concerns.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, Public Administration, or a closely related field from an accredited college or university. Progressively responsible retirement or employee-benefits administration experience may substitute for the education requirement on a year-for-year basis.

Experience: Four (4) years of progressively responsible professional experience administering retirement or employee-benefit plans, including at least two (2) years of direct experience with qualified retirement plans. Required experience must include interpreting plan documents, resolving non-routine participant matters, working with third-party administrators or professional service providers, reconciling or analyzing plan data, and preparing participant or management communications.

Proficiency with Microsoft Word and Excel and experience using an HRIS, retirement recordkeeping platform, or comparable enterprise system are required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience administering both a defined benefit pension plan and defined contribution plans
• Experience with QDRO review and administration, benefit calculations, plan loans, audits, actuarial data requests, trust or recordkeeper reconciliation, and committee or fiduciary governance support.
• A retirement-focused credential such as Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS), Retirement Plans Associate (RPA), Qualified 401(k) Administrator (QKA), Qualified Pension Administrator (QPA), or comparable credential

Contact Information

Questions regarding application submission or system operation errors should be directed to the Workplace Alaska hotline at 1-800-587-0430 (toll free) or (907) 465-4095 if you are located in the Juneau area. Requests for information may also be emailed to recruitment.services@alaska.gov. For applicant password assistance please visit: Alaska Railroad Human Resources Department E-Mail: arjobinfo@akrr.com Mailing Address: P.O. Box 107500, Anchorage, AK 99510-7500 Street Address: 327 West Ship Creek, Anchorage, AK Fax Number: (907) 265-2542 Alaska Railroad Corporation is an equal opportunity employer