Retirement and Pension Associate (with a focus on lifetime pensions)
Description:
Retirement and Pension Associate (with a focus on lifetime pensions)
About us
Here's your chance to build your career and let your expertise shine with the CSS Pension Plan, one of the oldest and largest multi-employer, multi-jurisdictional defined contribution pension plans in Canada. Pioneered in 1939, the Co-operative Superannuation Society (CSS), located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, provides its membership with pension, investment and retirement services. With $5 billion in assets, CSS Pension Plan serves 300 employers and around 56,000 current and past co-operative and credit union employees across Canada, including 9,000 retirees. In addition to administering the CSS Pension Plan, CSS supports and serves our co-operative industry by providing defined benefit pension plan investment and administrative services, pension and retirement income planning services, and expertise in these areas.
About the role
We are in search of a technically inclined, motivated, and conscientious individual to join our team as a Retirement and Pension Associate. The successful candidate will focus on serving our members by taking on complex pension administrative matters, fostering meaningful member connections (e.g., 1:1 member meetings and education events), and providing senior administration of our defined benefit and defined contribution pension plan programming. This role will involve supporting the full lifecycle of a pension plan member, particularly those who are or will soon be receiving retirement income pension and benefits from our programs.
The successful candidate will be a technically inclined high performer who thrives in a busy environment, strives to think outside the box, and can pivot between competing priorities and complex matters. You will bring to the team a strong sense of quality member service, a belief in empowering others, and an understanding of the value of the co-operative system. The successful candidate will come with a strong understanding of pension benefit provisions, policies, and procedures and become an expert in CSS’ pension practices.
You will work effectively in a team environment guided by the team-developed “Pillars of Collaboration,” which represent the values of “Respect, Commitment, and Communication.” This supportive environment ensures that every team member feels valued and part of a community.
Key Responsibilities
Provide and support the delivery of personalized member experiences and information, including inquiry consulting, retirement income planning support, and proactive member engagement. Develop and foster meaningful member connections (through various communication channels, including 1:1 member meetings).
Take responsibility and ownership of pension administration responsibilities, focusing on complex defined benefits (pension adjustments, benefit calculations) and defined contribution provisions (e.g., estates, powers of attorney, relationship breakdown), and supporting the other team members and leadership as needed. This role plays an integral role in supporting retiring members by onboarding them into retirement income products (e.g., lifetime monthly pensions, variable benefit pensions, and defined benefit pensions) and supporting the membership through their retirement years in understanding their pension income.
Develop and support the delivery of member engagement and education initiatives. Leverage data to make recommendations and implement enhancements to programming / establish new programming.
Please note: This role is designed to foster a career path into retirement and financial planning services and/or senior pension program and policy services.
Skills and Abilities
Strong relationship management skills
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with a strong eye for detail and accuracy
Strong business acumen and financial industry knowledge
Excellent problem-solving ability
Mathematically inclined, with an understanding of actuarial principles
Excellent customer service and communication skills, including communicating complex information
Superior organization, administrative, and problem-solving skills
Superior pension, retirement, and other relevant products and industries knowledge.
Superior computer skills with proficiency using Microsoft Office (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint), information technology and systems, pension databases and workflow systems, and the ability to generate and analyze reports and information
Must be flexible and manage high work volumes and conflicting priorities to meet deadlines
Self-directed but recognizes the importance of relationship-building within the team and across the organization
Qualifications
Should be on a path to hold a Certified Financial Planner® professional designation.
Must have five years or more experience with financial transactions or pension or benefits administration, focusing on customer service and quality data analysis.
Must have knowledge of pension legislation from across the country and various programs that impact retirement income, such as the Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security, and retirement savings products.
Must have a university degree in business administration, human resources, management, or accounting, with expertise in Excel or other analytical tools and specialized customer-service training.
Must have superior defined contribution and defined benefit pension benefits knowledge obtained through financial planning education, PPAC, and RPA or CEBS; and pension experience.
CSS may consider a combination of other experience and education at management’s discretion.
PPAC, RPA, CEBS, CFP, or QAFP designations will be considered assets.
To Apply:
Please forward your resume and cover letter (including your salary expectations) to:
CSS Pension Plan
Attn: Director, Member Experience
Email: [email protected]
Competition closes: June 1, 2025
(The position may be filled sooner)
We offer a fun, challenging and inclusive work environment, a competitive salary, a pension (CSS Pension Plan), and a benefits package.
Applicant information is collected and maintained pursuant to CSS’ Privacy Policy (please see website for more information). Background checks will be completed.
We thank all applicants for their interest. However, only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.