Lead, Retirement Administration

The Retirement Administration Lead serves as a subject-matter expert, providing guidance on complex, high-stakes retirement cases while ensuring operational consistency and alignment with university policies and practices. The role leads key leave-related initiatives, drives cross-functional process improvements, and partners with senior leadership to support strategic retirement decisions. The Retirement Administration Lead also develops tools, resources, and training to strengthen retirement benefits and financial wellness expertise across HR and campus units. Through effective escalation management, regulatory compliance, and ongoing retirement benefits and financial wellness program development, the role drives continuous improvement and promotes consistent, high-quality service delivery across the university.

Job Responsibilities:

The candidate for the position of Retirement Administration Lead will be responsible for:

• Collaborates with management to plan, develop, and enhance retirement program objectives and services. Oversees the delivery of retirement services, ensuring consistent, high-quality support for employees and other program participants. The role also supports the development and improvement of electronic systems to streamline retirement operations and enhance overall program efficiency.

• Serves as a primary resource for employees navigating retirement, preparing for retirement, and is a guide and referral source for financial wellness offerings.

• Develops, implements, and interprets policies to ensure compliance with federal regulations and university requirements. Ensures standard operating procedures are documented for all key processes and conducts quality assurance reviews to identify opportunities for improving retirement services. Recommends process enhancements and ensures ongoing compliance with retirement plan documents, applicable regulations, and university policies.

• Participates in scheduled meetings with vendors and third-party partners to support collaboration and fulfill fiduciary responsibilities. Attends regular project meetings for new and ongoing initiatives, documenting key discussions and communicating action items to the retirement team and vendors. Stays informed of regulatory changes and industry trends to ensure clients receive accurate, up-to-date information regarding retirement benefits and available options. Promotes a workplace culture where all employees feel valued, respect others, and have opportunities to contribute through their ideas, words, and actions, in alignment with the USC Code of Ethics.

• Develops and delivers training sessions, workshops, and presentations on retirement-related topics to educate employees and staff. Creates and distributes educational materials to ensure employees are well-informed about their retirement benefits and available options. Maintains effective communication and collaboration with internal and external stakeholders while staying current on industry practices through active participation and leadership in professional associations and committees.

• Analyzes demographic data and emerging trends impacting retirement plans and policies, providing data-driven insights and recommendations to management. Maintains accurate records of retirement plan participants and beneficiaries while staying informed of legislative changes and their potential impact on retirement programs. Advises management on necessary updates to existing programs and policies, ensuring policies are consistently and effectively communicated, interpreted, and applied.

Minimum Qualifications:

The candidate for the position of Retirement Administration Lead must meet the following qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in related field(s); Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education.

• 8 years of job-related experience or transferable skills

• Experience performing daily plan administration (e.g., processing of contributions, distributions, hardship withdrawals, QDROs).

• Experience performing non-discrimination and other testing, providing strategic alternatives for correction of failures, and presenting options to improve future non-discrimination tests.

• Demonstrated excellence in providing personalized customer service.

• Demonstrated project management experience, providing effective oversight from inception to delivery.

• Strong research, analytical, critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.

• Ability to work proactively, independently, or as part of a team, prioritizing competing assignments.

• Ability to exercise discretion with confidential information.

Preferred Qualifications:

The ideal candidate for the position of Retirement Administration Lead has the following qualifications:

• 10 years of job-related experience or transferable skills

• Master's degree in related field(s)

• Experience in a benefits administration position in higher education.

• Excellent conflict resolution skills.

• Experience with HRIS software and case management systems.

• Certifications:

• ASPPA Service Provider Certification (or other similar certification)

• Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS)

• Certified Compensation Professional (CCP)

• Certified Plan Sponsor Professional (CPSP

• Qualified 401(k) Administrator (QKA)

• Qualified 401(k) Consultant (QKC)

• Qualified Pension Administrator (QPA)

• Certified Pension Consultant (CPC)

The budgeted salary range for this position is $120,000 - $129,000. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer alignment, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

Addtional Education Requirements Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education Addtional Experience Requirements Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum work experience Preferred Certifications: ASPPA Service Provider Certification (or other similar certification) Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) Certified Compensation Professional (CCP) Certified Plan Sponsor Professional (CPSP Qualified 401(k) Administrator (QKA) Qualified 401(k) Consultant (QKC) Qualified Pension Administrator (QPA) Certified Pension Consultant (CPC)