Retirement Analyst

Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) is an innovative leader in water management and offers employees a fast paced and stable work environment that supports professional growth and development. CCWD is seeking a skilled, motivated, and team-oriented Retirement Analyst (HR Analyst) to join our Human Resources & Risk Division. This position will be based at our main District Center in Concord, CA. This role provides a unique opportunity to support employees through every stage of their CCWD career by administering retirement benefits, guiding staff through complex retirement processes, supporting broader benefits administration needs, and serving as a trusted resource on retirement, benefits, and other HR matters.

We are looking for someone who is: 

• Experienced in HR functions, especially retirement administration, and benefits support
• A motivated self-starter with strong interpersonal and customer service skills
• Bringing a positive attitude, sound judgment, and a commitment to accuracy
• Solutions focused and analytical, able to navigate complex retirement and benefits cases
• A collaborative team player who demonstrates integrity and professionalism
• Skilled in written and verbal communication, including preparing clear guidance for employees
• Organized and adaptable in a fast-paced environment
• Committed to continuous growth and staying current on retirement and benefits best practices

What you will typically be responsible for: 

• Administering CCWD’s retirement program, including processing retirements, enrollments, separations, and related updates
• Providing retirement counseling, benefit estimates, and guidance to employees and retirees
• Researching, calculating, and verifying retirement benefits, service credit, and adjustments
• Coordinating with reciprocal agencies to confirm member data
• Supporting multi-tiered benefits administration and responding to related employee inquiries

 A few reasons you might enjoy this job: 

• You get to help employees and retirees navigate important benefit and retirement decisions, work that has a real and positive impact on those you support.
• You will dive into analytical projects that allow you to solve problems, shape recommendations, and influence how CCWD supports its workforce.
• No two days are the same, you will face new challenges, grow your expertise, and collaborate with a great team that is passionate about their work.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

Retirement Administration Duties (Primary Function)

• Provide guidance to employees and retirees regarding CCWD retirement plan provisions, reciprocity, service credit, and other retirement related information
• Research, calculate, and verify retirement allowances, benefit estimates, service credit, and related adjustments
• Process enrollments, separations, retirements, beneficiary designations, refunds, and death benefit transactions
• Lead retirement education and outreach efforts by conducting presentations, workshops, and one on one counseling sessions with employees and retirees
• Review and interpret retirement statutes, plan provisions, plan documents, and CCWD policies to ensure accurate and compliant administration
• Support the preparation, analysis, and review of retirement cases, including service retirements, disability retirements, and reciprocity determinations
• Coordinate with reciprocal agencies to obtain and confirm member data, contributions, and service credit
• Maintain, audit, and reconcile retirement records, employee accounts, and supporting documentation to ensure accuracy and data integrity
• Respond to inquiries from employees, retirees, beneficiaries, internal departments, and external agencies regarding retirement related matters
• Assist with retirement related audits, compliance reviews, and required reporting

Benefits Administration Duties

• Assist with administering medical, dental, vision, life insurance, deferred compensation, and flexible spending programs
• Support open enrollment activities, including data audits, employee communications, and processing benefit changes
• Assist with benefits reporting, audits, and compliance tasks as needed

For a full description of examples of duties, please refer to the job description by visiting the following link: Human Resources Analyst

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Training: Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in human resources, business or public administration, or a related field.

Experience: Two (2) years of professional human resources experience.

Desirable Experience: Experience administering retirement and benefits programs for a public agency.

Knowledge of:

• Administration of public-sector retirement and benefit plans, including service credit calculations, benefit formulas, retirement options, survivor benefits, refunds, and death benefit processing.
• Application of CalPERS laws, rules, and procedures; auditing and reconciling payroll and benefit data across systems; and administration of retiree medical benefits including Medicare coordination and premium processes.
• Proficiency with HRIS and retirement/benefit platforms (e.g., myCalPERS, MissionSquare, vendor portals, Finance Enterprise) and adherence to accurate record-keeping practices.
• Effective customer service in assisting employees, retirees, survivors, beneficiaries, and dependents with benefit and retirement matters.

Ability to:

• Perform accurate benefit and retirement administration, including calculating CalPERS/District retirement allowances and processing health, welfare, and deferred compensation transactions with correct deductions, billing, and premium reconciliation.
• Audit and resolve discrepancies in eligibility, vendor invoices, payroll deductions, retiree premiums, and retirement/payroll reporting by researching variances and applying relevant laws, MOUs, plan documents, and CalPERS rules.
• Investigate complex benefit and retirement issues; prepare clear written communications such as estimates, summaries, reports, procedures, and guidance for employees and retirees.
• Use HRIS/benefit systems (myCalPERS, MissionSquare, Finance Enterprise, Excel) for data management and provide confidential, accurate, and empathetic counseling to employees, retirees, survivors, and beneficiaries.