Section Head, LACERA at LACERA – Pasadena, California
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About This Position
Examination Number: 9-0772-I, Bulletin Number: 26-05
Online applications will be accepted beginning Tuesday, February 24, 2026, through Monday, March 16, 2026, at 5:00 PM.
COMPENSATION: $9,657.17 - $14,616.91 monthly. This position is subject to the provisions of LACERA's Management Appraisal and Performance Program (MAPP).
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:
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 easily enjoy the approximately 150 shops, food, and dining options that make up the popular South Lake Avenue District.
Our members dedicate their careers to contributing to the welfare of Los Angeles County. For their service, the County contributes to their promised benefits, and LACERA is dedicated to serving them in return throughout their career and their life afterwards.
We are seeking dynamic and experienced individuals to join the Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association (LACERA) as a Section Head, LACERA. These roles are responsible for managing a major section within one of LACERA's divisions, focusing on overseeing complex operations and contributing to the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the organization. The positions are located in various Divisions of LACERA.
VACANCY INFORMATION:
There are three (3) current vacancies located in the Benefits, Member Services, and Retiree Healthcare Divisions. The resulting Eligible List for this examination may be used to fill current and future vacancies throughout LACERA.
Benefits Division - Process Management Section (1 Vacancy)
The Benefits Division maintains retirement plan accounts and processes retirement plan transactions in compliance with the County Employees Retirement Law of 1937, Board of Retirement Regulations, and organizational policies. The mission of the Benefits Division lies at the core of LACERA’s mission to “produce, protect, and provide the promised benefit” through the collection of contributions and purchases, the payment of benefits, and the safeguarding of each member’s account. This mission is carried out in compliance with the County Employees Retirement Law of 1937, the Board of Retirement Regulations, and organizational policies. The Process Management Group (PMG) is responsible for initiating and driving judicious and measured Member Operations process improvement initiatives. The team collaborates with staff throughout LACERA as well as vital external partners in the development and maintenance of business rules, procedures, and audit criteria.
Member Services Division - Member Services Center (MSC | Outreach) Section (1 Vacancy)
Member Services is dedicated to continually improving the member experience across all channels. Our focus is on furthering member education, supporting LACERA's strategic plan and building a Superior Member Experience. The mission of the Member Services division is to provide world-class service in a positive, supportive, professional, and equitable manner through any channel the member chooses. We will strive at all times to provide accurate, clear, and common-language explanations of all plans, plan options, purchases, purchase options, and retirement-related issues. We will strive to function as a team working together to fulfill our assigned mission of servicing members.
The Outreach Section features knowledgeable and welcoming Retirement Benefit Specialists dedicated to assisting LACERA members through the retirement process. Their responsibilities include providing in-person and virtual counseling, conducting workshops, managing and confirming attendance, handling first-time disability calls, organizing benefits and planning, and training both new and current staff on new or updated subjects.
Retiree Healthcare - Operations Section (1 Vacancy)
Retiree Healthcare is responsible for administering the LACERA-administered Retiree Healthcare Benefits Program for retired association members and their eligible dependents and providing a healthcare program of the highest quality at an affordable cost on behalf of the Plan Sponsor, the County. The Operations Section is responsible for processing retiree healthcare enrollment, change and cancellation forms (medical, dental/vision, and Medicare Plans) of members/survivors and their eligible dependents. In addition, they process the Medicare Part B verifications, resolve complex member healthcare eligibility issues/inquiries, serve as liaison between the member and the health plan carriers to help resolve healthcare eligibility and Medicare entitlement, explain the retiree healthcare benefits and eligibility rules as well as respond to member correspondence or appeals and escalated calls.
LACERA offers a hybrid work environment, and this position may be eligible to telework up to three (3) days per week.
This position is exempt as defined by the Fair Labor Standards Act and is not eligible for overtime.
CERTIFICATION BONUS: Any permanent, full-time employee working in this classification possessing a valid license or certification listed below is entitled to a Certification Bonus equal to two (2) salary schedules (approximately 5.5%) as provided by the Los Angeles County Step Pay Plan:
- Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) designation from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
For more information about the position, please visit the class specification linked below:
The job description is being reviewed to determine if a California driver's license is necessary.
SELECTION REQUIREMENTS:
OPTION 1: One (1) year of experience in the supervision and administration of retirement benefits activities at the level of LACERA's class of Senior Retirement Benefits Specialist* or higher.
*Experience at the level of Senior Retirement Benefits Specialist, LACERA includes direct technical and administrative supervision of subordinate staff engaged in researching, resolving and processing retirement benefit claims, inquiries, counseling of members, and/or driving process improvement initiatives.
**Experience assisting in the management of a large operation includes responsible oversight of a major function, including direct technical and administrative supervision of four (4) or more subordinate staff.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must be able to perform the essential functions of this classification, with or without reasonable accommodation.
PHYSICAL CLASS II – Light: Light physical effort which may include occasional light lifting to a 10-pound limit, and some bending, stooping or squatting. Considerable walking may be involved.
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:
- RETIREMENT AND/OR HEALTHCARE BENEFITS:
- Demonstrated experience performing complex retirement benefit calculations or providing counseling to members utilizing working knowledge of regulations, codes, policies, procedures, and guidelines of the County Employees Retirement Law of 1937 (CERL), California Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA), and pertinent Internal Revenue Service codes.
- Demonstrated experience in administering group employee or retiree healthcare benefits utilizing working knowledge of Medicare, Social Security, retiree medical and dental group benefit plans, and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requirements.
- STRATEGIC INITIATIVES: Demonstrated experience leading or contributing to the successful implementation of strategic initiatives, including developing goals and action plans aligned with an organization’s strategic direction.
- WORKFORCE AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT: Demonstrated experience managing staff and resources in a high-volume, fast-paced, member-focused work environment, using quantifiable metrics and data on efficiency, quality, and productivity to measure performance, track progress by goals, and make data-driven decisions about processes, behaviors, and strategy.
- COMPLIANCE: Demonstrated experience ensuring processes and work products comply with relevant laws, regulations, contracts, and binding agreements, including analyzing changes in regulatory requirements and updating procedures, as needed.
- REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Demonstrated experience preparing complex technical reports and presenting recommendations to executive management and/or governing boards.
- SPECIALIZED SOFTWARE: Demonstrated experience utilizing business analytics platforms, workforce management and/or forecasting software to support metrics-related reporting and data-driven decision-making.
- CEBS CERTIFICATION: Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) designation from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
To receive credit for the above desirable qualifications, your application must clearly describe your experience.
This examination will consist of two (2) parts:
Only the most highly qualified applicants as determined under Part I will be invited to continue in the examination process under Part II.
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 to determine the candidate's fit for the position (if applicable) and/or job-related assessments.
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 cchan@lacera.gov 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.
The names of candidates receiving a passing grade will be placed on the eligible list for a period of twelve (12) months following the date of promulgation. The resulting eligible list for this examination can be used to fill other vacancies in LACERA, as they occur.
APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION:
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 five (5) business days from application submission date.
Accreditation Information:
Accredited institutions are those listed in publications of regional, national or international accrediting agencies. Publications such as American Universities and Colleges and International Handbook of Universities are acceptable references. Also acceptable, if appropriate, are degrees that have been evaluated and deemed to be equivalent to degrees from United States accredited institutions by an academic credential evaluation agency recognized by The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE).
Applicants must provide the appropriate attachments during application submission, email the documentation to humanresources@lacera.com within five (5) 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.
This position may require working evenings, weekends, and holidays.
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.
Teletype Telephone: (800) 899-4099
Department Contact Name: Connie Chan
Department Contact Telephone: (626) 831-9826
Department Email: humanresources@lacera.com