Title: Retirement Benefits Operations Manager (Hybrid Work Schedule)
State Role Title: Salary Non-Specified
Hiring Range: $122,545 - $150,000
Pay Band: UG
Agency: Virginia Retirement System
Location: Virginia Retirement System
Agency Website: www.varetire.org/careers
Recruitment Type: General Public - G
Job Duties
The Virginia Retirement System (VRS), an independent state agency based in Richmond, delivers retirement and other benefits to covered Virginia public sector employees through sound financial stewardship and superior customer service. VRS ranks as the 15th largest public or private pension fund in the U.S. and the 36th largest in the world, serving more than 861,000 active and inactive members, retirees and beneficiaries. Members include public school teachers, political subdivision employees (cities, towns, special authorities and commissions), state agency employees, public college and university personnel, state police, Virginia law officers and the judiciary.
The Retirement Benefits Operations Manager is a newly created leadership role within VRS' Customer Programs responsible for overseeing and strengthening operations across the functional areas of Health Benefits, Service Retirement, Disability Retirement, and Beneficiary Services. This position provides direct leadership to four (4) functional supervisors and their teams, ensuring consistent, high‑quality service delivery and efficient operational performance.
Reporting to the Chief Customer Programs Officer, the Retirement Benefits Operations Manager will drive continuous improvement, operational alignment, and innovation across all functional areas. The ideal candidate is a collaborative, results‑driven leader who excels at developing teams, improving processes, and fostering a culture of accountability and service excellence.
Essential duties include but not limited to:
• Develops and oversees operational processes for the functional areas of Health Benefits, Service Retirement, Disability Retirement, Health Benefits and Beneficiary Services.
• Supervises and directs the activities of direct and indirect reports and performs supervisory duties including recruitment; training and development; performance management and coaching and corrective action to address performance accordance with VRS policies.
• Ensures adequate coverage for all functional areas.
• Communicates clearly, concisely and effectively orally and in writing, exercising tact and discretion in handling varied situations with a variety of staff from diverse cultural backgrounds.
• Develops and implements procedures, manuals and work methods and makes recommendations for improvements.
• Works closely with the Customer Programs Officer to implement administration and operational changes.
• Facilitates the career growth of team developing training and development plans….
• Collaborates with cross-functional teams to optimize workflows, solve complex problems and drive business critical initiatives.
• Collaborates with internal stakeholders to identify opportunities for process improvement and optimization to find solutions that will increase operational efficiency.
• Develops and proactively measures progress on KPIs, conducts audits ensuring targets are met for all functional areas.
• Ensures seamless execution of department initiatives, driving alignment and meeting internal and external deadlines.
• Maintains current knowledge of changes in directives, policies, legislation and regulations that affect all functional areas and provides subject matter expertise on technical and procedural matters.
• Remains abreast on information and technology affecting functional areas to increase innovation and ensures compliance.
• Assists with organizational change initiatives and develops, monitors, and coordinates resources.
• Builds and maintains strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Contributor on the Legislative Team in evaluating and estimating cost of proposed legislation changes impacting VRS. Ensures resources are allocated to meet all business operations requirements and deadlines once legislation has passed.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
Five (5) years of progressive experience in benefit administration or a variety of administrative areas to include five (5) years of management experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Additional Considerations
Best qualified candidates will possess:
• Demonstrated experience of management and supervisory principles, practices and methods related to selection, training, and performance management.
• Ability to research and analyze service delivery methods.
• Ability to interpret, apply and explain laws, rules and regulations.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to use strong interpersonal skills to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of management and internal and external stakeholders.
Special Instructions
VRS' current hybrid work schedule is three days onsite (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) and two days remote (Monday and Friday). All employees are expected to be able to work onsite on any day of the week if required by management.
You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.
Contact Information
Name: VRS Human Resources
Email: careers@varetire.org
In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.
Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.