PENSIONS BENEFITS SPECIALIST 2
Career Family: PENSIONS BENEFITS SPECIALIST
To land Pensions Benefits Specialist 2 in New Jersey you go through the competitive route: you sit an announced exam and the score puts you on the eligible list agencies hire from.
It is a middle Pensions Benefits Specialist grade, between Pensions Benefits Specialist 1 below and the better-paid Pensions Benefits Specialist 3 above. A bachelor's degree is the listed credential, and extra years on the job can be traded for it. The FY 2027 range lands between $66,592 and $97,354, and state payroll currently lists about 52 people in the title, most of them at Treasury.
How to apply
This title is filled by competitive examination.
See every real route in, and where to apply. One agency employs it. We don't track live vacancies.
See where to apply for this title →Who employs this title
Pensions Benefits Specialist 2 appears on the State payroll at one department, Department of Treasury.
State departments
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| Department of Treasury | 52 |
State payroll and independent authority payroll are separate systems and are never merged. See data sources.
Pay ladder: Pensions Benefits Specialist series
- Pensions Benefits Specialist 1 — $58,222 – $84,763
- Pensions Benefits Specialist 2 — $66,592 – $97,354 (this title)
- Pensions Benefits Specialist 3 — $76,287 – $111,856
Promoting to Pensions Benefits Specialist 3 raises the top of the band by about $14,502. Its top salary lands around the 40th percentile of all NJ civil service titles that publish a range.
Rungs are ordered by FY 2027 pay. NJ level numbers are not always sequential, so ordering follows salary rather than the title number.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 52 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $79,201. The agencies employing the most are:
- Treasury (52)
Counts from NJ YourMoney agency payroll. See statewide workforce analytics.
Official job specification
The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.
Definition
Under the limited supervision of a Pensions Benefits Specialist 3 or other supervisory official in the Division of Pensions and Benefits, Department of the Treasury, acts as lead worker in a retirement, health benefits, or other employee benefit program of the Division; conducts field instructional seminars on retirement, health benefits, or other employee benefit programs of the Division; reviews, processes, and/or responds to retirement, health benefits, or other employee benefit requests and inquiries involving complicated eligibility determinations; performs complex computations; does other related duties as required.
Examples of work
Provides advice and assistance to members, employers, beneficiaries, etc. in the administration of the retirement or health benefit programs. Provides assistance to participating employers and members regarding employee benefit support or employer reporting programs of the Division. Counsels clients and provides accurate information on the various retirement and health benefit plans administered by the Division. Makes presentations before large groups of members, employers, and public officials on employee benefits and procedures. May conduct courses and meetings. Assists in instructing public employers on employee contribution reporting procedures. Reviews, verifies, and processes retirement and/or health benefits to members or beneficiaries, including specialized, complex cases. Reviews/audits members' accounts and processes correcting transactions. Processes exceptional and complex cases which require adjustments to member accounts due to, but not limited to, enrollment date changes, court ordered decisions, negotiated settlements, change in legislation, birth date discrepancies, or calculates worker's compensation reductions against the member's allowances; coordinates adjustments with the Deputy Attorney General's Office and other bureaus in the Division. Processes underpayments or overpayments of pension contributions, arrears, back deductions, life or health insurance, or loans; takes action to secure amount due and prepares adjustments to members' accounts. Reconstructs, recalculates, and/or reactivates accounts for members eligible to return to service or employment following withdrawal or retirement; ensures reinstatement of member by advising the appropriate sections throughout the Division. Provides retirement, purchase, and loan estimates when necessary. May formulate data and membership documents for review by the retirement systems' Boards of Trustees. Attends monthly meeting of the boards and records its decisions in accordance with statutory and regulatory guidelines. Coordinates board member elections. Assists in the administration and implementation of legislation, rules, and regulations of the assigned bureau, in accordance with the governing statues. May assist in developing work programs and operating procedures of a bureau or its respective sections. Implements new procedures in accordance with statue, administrative code, or policy changes. Maintains and updates a procedures manual to ensure uniformity in work methods and standards. Assists in coordinating the work of a section with that of the other sections within the bureau. May prepare and revise periodic supplements to the administration manual concerning changes in procedures for the guidance of public employers; prepares booklets and other literature dealing with the benefits of the retirement and health benefit programs and such periodic and supplementary bulletins as may be needed. May participate in the development and implementation of mainframe and other computer system modifications to ensure that operational needs are met. Testifies as an expert witness in hearings before the Office of Administrative Law, superior court, commissions, or boards. May transmit membership documents to the Office of Administrative Law, superior court, commissions, or boards in support of testimony. May take the lead and assist in reviewing the work of lower-level pensions benefits staff engaged in determining benefit eligibility for members of the retirement and health benefit plans administered by the Division. Assists in the training of new employees in the various retirement and health benefit plans and work duties assigned. May monitor phone calls of lower-level pensions benefits staff to ensure accuracy and courtesy to clients. May investigate allegations concerning public employers providing inappropriate benefit incentives to employees. May review fieldwork problems with supervisory personnel and identify solutions. Drafts correspondence of a complex nature. Performs complex mathematical computations with accuracy. Assists the bureau management in preparing statistical and financial reports and other studies related to the work of the bureau. Compiles accurate statistical information to include in monthly work reports. Maintains records and files. Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
License
Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
Knowledge of the public employee retirement or health benefit programs in New Jersey. Knowledge of employee contribution reporting procedures. Knowledge of the methods used to collect and analyze data. Knowledge of investigative methods and techniques. Ability to interpret laws, rules, and regulations, and apply them to specific situations. Ability to analyze problems and identify solutions. Ability to counsel clients and provide accurate information on the various retirement and health benefit plans administered by the Division. Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with associates, representatives from local and state agencies, members of the public, and others. Ability to organize assigned work and develop effective work methods. Ability to provide guidance and instruction to lower-level Pensions Benefits Specialists. Ability to review problems arising from field work and devise methods for their solution. Ability to assist in the preparation and/or review of procedural information and other literature. Ability to provide advice and assistance on retirement and health benefit matters. Ability to give presentations on retirement system benefits, health benefits, contribution reporting, and other related matters before member, employer, and professional groups. Ability to testify as an expert witness in hearings before the Office of Administrative Law, superior court, commissions, or boards. Ability to prepare correspondence of a complex nature and to prepare clear, accurate reports. Ability to perform complex, accurate mathematical computations. Ability to compile statistical information for reports. Ability to establish and maintain records and files. Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units. Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication. Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible if they can perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
Note
The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed. Applicants must meet one of the following or a combination of both experience and education. Thirty (30) semester hour credits are equal to one (1) year of relevant experience. Six (6) years of professional experience in the operation of retirement or health insurance programs. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; and two (2) years of the above-mentioned professional experience. "Professional experience" refers to work that is creative, analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range and depth of specialized knowledge of the profession's principles, concepts, theories, and practices; and is performed with the authority to act according to one's own judgment and make accurate and informed decisions.