State Program Administrator Manager - Member Services & Counseling Manager

Working Title: Member Services & Counseling Manager

Job Class: State Program Administrator, Manager

Agency: Teachers Retirement Association

• Job ID : 97775

• Location : St. Paul

• Telework Eligible : Yes

• Full/Part Time : Full-Time

• Regular/Temporary : Unlimited

• Who May Apply : Open to all qualified job seekers

• Date Posted : 10/16/2026

• Closing Date : 11/05/2026

• Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit : Teachers Retirement Assoc / TRA-Managerial

• Division/Unit : TRA Operations / Pension Administration

• Work Shift/Work Hours : Day Shift

• Days of Work : Monday - Friday

• Travel Required : Yes - Up to 35%

• Salary Range: $41.58 - $60.10 / hourly; $86,819 - $125,488 / annually

• Classified Status : Classified

• Bargaining Unit/Union : 220 - Manager/Unrep

• FLSA Status : Exempt - Executive

• Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities (https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/diverse-workforce/people-with-disabilities/connect700/) : Yes

The work you'll do is more than just a job.

At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.

Teachers Retirement Association (TRA) has been providing pension coverage to Minnesota educators for decades, with a mission to help members and their beneficiaries plan for an independent and financially secure retirement. We are currently seeking job candidates with strong leadership, communication, analytical, and mathematical skills to serve as TRA’s Member Services & Counseling Manager.

Our Member Services & Counseling Manager position has the responsibility to oversee and provide strategic direction for our pension operations within TRA’s Member Services and Counseling departments. The incumbent will act to create plans to successfully train, engage, and develop operations for staff which includes management and supervisory-level employees. The incumbent will further serve on our Management Teams to ensure pension operation goals, activities, and outcomes align with our organization’s overall mission and objectives. Additionally, this position will participate in or spearhead projects that support TRA’s strategic plan.

This position is located in our Saint Paul, Minnesota office, and will require the incumbent to work a schedule that includes regular in-person work, up to 50 – 75% of the time in order to perform the essential functions. Additionally, business travel will be required for this role, up to 35% of the time, in order to support TRA’s satellite offices, as well as to provide back-up assistance to other leaders.

Minimum Qualifications

Five (5) years of progressive work experience administrating employee benefits, government benefits, accounting, payroll, finance, and/or insurance.

A Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Accounting, Finance, Math, or a closely related field can substitute for one (1) year of experience.

Experience and education must also demonstrate the following:

• Leadership responsibility requiring the supervision/leadwork of staff and/or management of major enterprise projects involving multiple participants and stakeholders.

• Exceptional critical thinking and creativity skills, which can be used to effectively conceptualize innovative methods for educating audiences about retirement topics, as well as to analyze data to improve customer experience and stakeholder partnerships.

• Experience implementing and managing successful customer service and customer education strategies.

• Exceptional planning and organization skills in order to successfully manage competing priorities, deadlines, and employee/call center schedules.

• Advanced experience performing and auditing complex calculations.

• Advanced experience in successfully presenting, explaining, and training on complex financial concepts to diverse audiences.

• Advanced proficiency in using Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, and Outlook; or equivalent software packages.

• Strong interpersonal, written communication skills, and verbal communication skills, necessary to collaborate on enterprise project and initiatives; communicate information about sensitive topics; influence others to resolve conflicting viewpoints; motivate, coach, and/or provide constructive feedback to employees; and champion a work culture that advocates for inclusion.

Successful candidates must also possess the ability to secure their own transportation for in-state business travel and/or conferences.

Preferred Qualifications

An Advanced degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Accounting, Finance, Math, or a closely related field.

Experience managing multiple departments simultaneously.

Experience managing and developing supervisory staff.

Experience working for financial or retirement services organizations.

Supervisory or management experience.

Physical Requirements

This position requires occasional transporting of articles such as file folders, ledgers and/or small tools. May be required to move or maintain a stationary position for long periods of time.

Additional Requirements

** Successful candidates must pass past-employer reference checks and a criminal background check. **

It is the policy of TRA that all finalist(s) submit to a background check prior to employment. The background check may consist of the following components:

• State of Minnesota state government employment records check (applies to current and past State of Minnesota state government employees only)

• Criminal History Check

• Employee Reference Check

• Social Security and Address Verification

• Education Verification

• Driver's License Check

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.

Reasonable accommodations will be made to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email [email protected] . Please indicate what assistance is needed.