Senior Writer, LACERA at LACERA – Pasadena, California

This examination will remain open until the needs of LACERA are met and may close without prior notice.

EXAMINATION INFORMATION: Examination Number: 9-0784-E, Job Bulletin Number: 25-12

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT: Open Competitive Job Opportunity

COMPENSATION: $8,270.00 - $10,847.00 Monthly

FILING START DATE: Online applications will be accepted starting Wednesday, July 9, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. (PST). This examination will remain open until a sufficient number of qualified applicants are received and may be suspended at any time.

BENEFITS: LACERA offers a comprehensive benefits package including a cafeteria benefit plan (14.5% - 17% of monthly base salary), annual leave, defined benefit retirement plan, Savings Plan (401k), Deferred Compensation Plan (457), 13 paid holidays per year, savings plan, tuition reimbursement, hybrid work schedule, and a ride share program.

ABOUT LACERA:

The Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association (LACERA) administers and manages the $85 billion retirement fund for the County of Los Angeles. We provide retirement, disability, and death benefits to eligible County Employees and their Beneficiaries, and collect, deposit, invest, and manage retirement funds collected from the County, Outside Districts, and County Employees.

LACERA is one of the largest county retirement associations in the United States with over 194,000 Members. Our Membership is comprised of individuals from a diverse range of careers, age groups, and ethnicity - all contributing to the greater welfare of Los Angeles County.

LACERA is located in Gateway Plaza at 300 North Lake Avenue in the beautiful City of Pasadena. The building is easily accessible from the Foothill Freeway (210) and the Metro Lake Station. We offer convenient free parking for staff members in our secure structure adjacent to the building in addition to a robust rideshare program providing commuting alternatives such as ride-matching, vanpool, carpool, parking services and more. Prioritizing health, well-being, and sustainability, Gateway Plaza is a Class “A” office building, LEED Gold Certified and EPA Energy Star Certified. With a Walkability Score of 91, LACERA staff members are able to easily enjoy the approximately 150 shops, food, and dining options that make up the popular South Lake Avenue District.

Our Members dedicate their careers contributing to the welfare of Los Angeles County. For their service, the County contributes to their promised benefits, and LACERA is dedicating to serving them in return throughout their career and their life afterwards.



As a technical lead, the positions are distinguished by responsibility for advising on complex questions of language, style, and audience awareness; conducting quality review of all written materials; and for directing, reviewing, and providing technical guidance and feedback on work produced by lower-level writers and support staff to ensure consistent standards are followed.

The positions independently produce accurate, error-free, publication-ready editorial content for newsletters, brochures, forms, letters, statements, booklets, member guides, surveys, annual law books, annual financial reports, video scripts, and web-based communications for multiple audiences. The positions are responsible for developing and maintaining a proprietary style guide for all written work created for LACERA, among other materials; participating in the development of the communications plan and annual editorial calendar; conducting thorough research to add value to written content; and collaborating with Creative Coordinators, subject matter experts, and other stakeholders on written projects to meet their needs.

Vacancy Information: The current vacancy is in the Communications Division; however, the resulting eligible list for this examination can be used to fill other vacancies in LACERA, as they occur.

Work Schedule: This full-time position is required to work a 5/40 schedule (e.g. an eight (8) hour day, Monday through Friday) for at least the first twelve (12) months of employment. LACERA offers a hybrid work environment, and this position may be eligible to telework up to two (2) days per week.

To view the complete job description and benefits for this classification, please see link below: Senior Writer, LACERA.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

Option 1:
A Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in communications, English, or a related field –AND- five (5) years of experience in researching, writing, and editing complex technical material for multi-media projects, including print and web-based communications.

Option 2:
Seven (7) years of experience researching, writing, and editing complex technical material for multi-media projects, including print and web-based communications.

Option 3:
Three (3) years of experience at the level of Writer II, LACERA.

PHYSICAL CLASS II - Light physical effort which may include occasional light lifting to a 10-pound limit, and occasional bending, walking, stooping or squatting. Incumbents sit for extended periods of time. Work is performed in an office environment in a controlled climate.

Other Requirements: Applicants must be able to perform the essential functions of this classification, with or without a reasonable accommodation.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Demonstrated experience researching, writing, proofreading, and editing communication articles on retirement plan(s), institutional investments, defined contribution, and/or other benefits topics.
• Demonstrated experience researching, validating, and synthesizing complex legislative and legal subject matter into easy-to-understand informational letters, brochures, forms, and other print and web-based materials.
• Demonstrated experience in a fast-paced in-house communications department requiring strong multitasking skills.
• Demonstrated experience providing technical guidance and constructive feedback to other writers on written work as a lead writer.
• Demonstrated experience developing, revising, and/or following a proprietary editorial style guide.

To receive credit for the above desirable qualifications, your application must clearly describe your experience.

Knowledge of: Communications and multi-media; policies and procedures (Chicago Manual of Style, proprietary style guides, industry standards, etc.) related to correct English usage, grammar, spelling, proofreading, punctuation, formatting, and vocabulary; copy editing and proofreading techniques; training techniques; interpersonal skills using tact, patience, and courtesy; customer service skills; time management strategies; marketing techniques; promotional and editorial writing styles; research methods and information management; principals and applications of Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Acrobat, web-based editing software, virtual meeting applications, and databases; continuous learning opportunities and industry trends; organization and mission; and retirement and insurance plans, polices, procedures, and related law and tax codes.

Ability to: Communicate clearly and effectively, orally and in writing; understand and follow oral and written directions; provide leadership and train others; work with minimum supervision; plan, organize, proofread with attention to detail, and edit their work and the work of others; make sound, well-informed, and objective decisions; identify and solve problems; identify issues and draw accurate conclusions; apply a high level of effort and commitment towards work; pursue new knowledge and skills for self-development; adapt to change and new information; organize computer folders and files; establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external staff; work under pressure, tight deadlines and shifting priorities; write for targeted audiences for print, web, and social media outlets; research and interpret complex technical topics; develop projects in alignment with organizational branding and goals; and operate a personal computer utilizing Microsoft Word at an advanced level.

Those applicants, who meet the Minimum Requirements AND most closely match the desired qualifications, will be invited to participate in the examination process.

EXAMINATION CONTENT: This selection process will consist of:

Part I: A qualifying evaluation of application information and the desirable qualifications.

Only the highest qualified applicants as determined under Part I, will be invited to continue in the selection process under Part II.

Part II: The exam consists of a multiple choice and/or simulation test, weighted 100%.

The test will assess skills and abilities in proofreading, language arts, reading comprehension, sentence clarity, word use and vocabulary, basic computer skills, Microsoft Word (Intermediate), organizing and planning, adaptability, listening, using information and communications technology, social skills, teamwork, gathering and analyzing information, analyzing and problem solving, making decisions, building consensus, and leading others.

MULTIPLE CHOICE AND/OR SIMULATION ASSESSMENTS ARE NOT REVIEWABLE BY CANDIDATES PER CIVIL SERVICE RULE 7.19.

TRANSFER OF TEST COMPONENTS:

• Applicants who have taken identical components recently for other exams may have their scores automatically transferred to this examination.
• This assessment contains test components that may be used in the future for new examinations and your test responses may be transferred.

Those candidates which are determined eligible for hire under the Los Angeles County's Civil Services Rules may be invited to the selection process which may be comprised of a selection interview and/or job-related assessments.

SELECTIVE CERTIFICATION:
In accordance with TITLE 5—PERSONNEL, APPENDIX 1 (Civil Service Rule 11.03) of the Los Angeles County Code, selective certification will be used for some positions that require special skills and/or training. A Selective Certification may be established for the following areas:

• Retirement Benefits
• Institutional Investments

Specific knowledge of and experience with the specialized functional areas may be the subject of a selection interview and/or job-related assessments as a result of the Selective Certification lists. If you wish to be considered in any of the areas above, please clearly indicate the specialized experience in your application and Supplemental Questionnaire.

EXAMINATION NOTIFICATIONS: All notifications including invitation letters will be sent electronically to the email address provided on the application. It is important that you provide a valid email address. Please add scarbajal@lacera.com and info@governmentjobs.com to your email address and list of approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam/junk/clutter mail. Test scores/results cannot be given over the telephone.

DO NOT select "Off" under Email Preferences within your profile or click "Unsubscribe" on our notices if you would like LACERA to notify you regarding your application status, test schedules, and other important information pertaining to your candidacy for this position.

LACERA will not consider claims of not viewing or receiving notification to be a valid reason for late test administration or rescheduling of a test component.

Those candidates which are determined eligible for hire under the Los Angeles County's Civil Services Rules may be invited to the selection process which may be comprised of a selection interview and/or job-related assessments.

ELIGIBLE INFORMATION: The names of candidates receiving a passing grade will be placed on the register in the order of their score group for a period of twelve (12) months following the date of promulgation.

APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION:

Application must be submitted online. Applicants can check the status of their applications at any time by logging into their account on www.governmentjobs.com.

The acceptance of an employment application depends upon whether or not an applicant has provided adequate information that clearly demonstrates meeting the Minimum Requirements for the position as stated above. Please complete the application and supplemental questionnaire thoroughly and completely. Information provided in the supplemental questionnaire must be reflected in the application to be considered.

Failure to provide complete information on the employment application and on the supplemental questionnaire will impact the assessment of an applicant's qualifications and acceptance in the selection process.

Applications submitted without the complete work history and the supplemental questions completed in their entirety will be rejected as incomplete. "See application" or "See resume" or copy and paste of work experience is not sufficient or qualifying responses.

Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of the completed application or supplemental questionnaire.

In the space provided for education, include the names and addresses of schools attended, and number of credits, degree, and/or certificate(s) earned.

In order to receive credit for any college course work, or college degree, such as an Associate, Bachelor, Master, Doctorate degree, or for completion of a certificate program, you must include a legible copy of the official diploma, official and/or unofficial transcripts, or an official letter from the accredited institution which shows the area of specialization or official certificate(s) at the time of filing or within ten (10) business days from application submission date.

Applicants must provide the appropriate attachments during application submission, email the documentation to humanresources@lacera.com within ten (10) business days of filing. Please include the examination title and number on the documentation.

Failure to provide the appropriate documentation may result in your application being rejected as incomplete and will be removed from consideration.

Your employment history should be listed in order beginning with the most recent.

For each job held, provide the name and address of your employer, your job titles, beginning and ending dates, description of work performed, and reason for leaving.

If you have worked in more than one position for one employer, list each job title and/or area of assignment separately on the application to demonstrate your experience in various assignments/occupational areas.

Part-time experience will be evaluated on the basis of its fractional equivalent of a 40-hour workweek.

All required experience must be paid.

This position may require working evenings, weekends, and holidays.

TO APPLY ONLINE GO TO: www.lacera.com and click on the Careers link.

Faxed, emailed, or hardcopy (paper) applications will not be accepted.

COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES: For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County.

Candidate(s) who complete examination process with acceptable results will be considered by the Department hiring authority. Upon an offer of employment, a comprehensive background investigation will be conducted, which includes verification of experience, and/or education, credit history, and fingerprinting through the California Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
Please note that ALL information included in the application materials is subject to VERIFICATION at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made. FALSIFICATION of any information may result in DISQUALIFICATION or RESCISSION OF APPOINTMENT.

Utilizing VERBIAGE from the Classification Specification, Minimum Requirements, and/or Desirable Qualifications serving as your description of duties WILL NOT be sufficient to demonstrate that you meet the requirements. Doing so may result in an INCOMPLETE APPLICATION, and you may be DISQUALIFIED. Applications may be rejected at any stage of the examination process.

SPECIAL INFORMATION:
Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance (FCIHO)
LACERA is a Fair Chance employer. Except for a very limited number of positions, you will not be asked to provide information about a conviction history unless you receive a contingent offer of employment. LACERA will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and consider potential mitigating factors, including, but not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). If asked to provide information about a conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed.

Requests for accommodation: humanresources@lacera.com
Teletype Telephone: (800) 899-4099
Department Contact Name: Sandra Carbajal
Department Contact Telephone: (626) 553-7025
Department Email: scarbajal@lacera.com