Pension & Savings Retirement Counselor (Hybrid Eligible)

Requisition Id 15497 

Overview:

We are seeking a Pension & Savings Retirement Counselor who will focus on supporting the organization's Pension and Savings Division by providing guidance to employees and retirees. This position resides in the Business Services in the Pension & Savings Directorate, at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).

This role engages with a variety of stakeholders, including employees, retirees, Benefits Staff, HR personnel, management, and external retirement vendors. The Counselor's primary focus is to ensure a seamless retirement process, from assisting employees with pension paperwork to explaining savings plan options and serving as a knowledgeable liaison for retirement benefits.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate exceptional interpersonal skills, attention to detail, and an understanding of retirement and pension policies, contributing to a smooth transition to retirement for employees and promoting comprehensive understanding of retirement benefits across the organization.

This role is ideal for a dedicated professional with a passion for assisting employees through career transitions. By providing knowledgeable support and fostering clarity around retirement options, the Pension & Savings Retirement Counselor helps build a foundation of trust and preparedness among future retirees.

Major Duties/Responsibilities: 

• Coordinate and conduct one-on-one counseling sessions with employees preparing for retirement, in collaboration with the HR Retiree Medical Coordinator.
• Provide detailed guidance on completing required retirement paperwork, explaining pension and savings benefits, and addressing any questions or concerns related to payment options for retirees, non-vested terms, vested terms, survivors and alternate payee.
• Lead the retirement segment of new employee orientation, presenting an overview of the organization’s retirement savings plans and pension benefits, to set a foundation for informed future planning.
• Perform verification checks on pension calculations to ensure accuracy, compliance, and alignment with plan requirements and regulations.
• Support the Pension Analyst in setting up new retirees, pension contribution refunds, terminated vested, alternate payees and survivors in pension plan, ensuring accurate and timely setup and continuity in benefits delivery.
• Educate employees on retirement options, pension benefits, and related processes to enable informed and confident decision-making.
• Coordinate with Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) on retirement education needs.
• Coordinate retirement and savings seminars with external vendors, ensuring they are relevant, engaging, and informative for employees across different career stages.
• Maintain thorough and organized records of retirement paperwork and pension calculations to facilitate accurate tracking, auditing, and data retrieval as needed.
• Work closely with HR, pension payroll, and pension administration teams to ensure consistency in retirement processes, data integrity, and adherence to policies.
• Partner with the internal Communication team to coordinate announcements of seminars and learning opportunities, enhancing awareness and understanding of retirement options among employees.
• Deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote equal opportunity by fostering a respectful workplace – in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.

Basic Qualifications:

• BS degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field.
• A minimum of 2 years of experience in retirement planning, benefits administration, or a related field.
• Knowledge of retirement plans (pension and defined contribution plans) and related regulatory requirements.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for effective employee interaction.
• Strong attention to detail and analytical skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently and to participate creatively in collaborative teams across the laboratory.
• Ability to function well in a fast-paced research environment, set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within deadlines, and adapt to ever changing needs.

Visa Sponsorship: Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.

Security, Credentialing, and Eligibility Requirements:

• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain an HSPD-12 PIV badge.
• For employment at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), a Real ID compliant form of identification will be required.
• Additionally, ORNL is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as mandated by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and Department of Energy (DOE) Order 473.1A, which requires a favorable post-employment background investigation.
• To obtain this credential, new employees must successfully complete and pass a Federal Tier 1 background check investigation. This investigation includes a declaration of illegal drug activities, including use, supply, possession, or manufacture within the last year. This includes marijuana and cannabis derivatives, which are still considered illegal under federal law, regardless of state laws.

For foreign national candidates:

• If you have not resided in the U.S. for three consecutive years, you are not eligible for the PIV credential and instead will need to obtain a favorable Local Site Specific Only (LSSO) risk determination to maintain employment.
• Once you meet the three-year residency requirement, you will be required to obtain a PIV credential to maintain employment.

Hybrid Eligibility:

This position is located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee and requires onsite presence. We offer a flexible work environment that supports both the organization and the employee. A hybrid/onsite working arrangement may be available with this position, which provides flexibility to work periodically from your home, while reporting onsite to the Oak Ridge, Tennessee location on a weekly and regular basis.

About ORNL:

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an impressive 80-year legacy of addressing the nation’s most pressing challenges. Our team is made up of over 7,000 dedicated and innovative individuals! Our goal is to create an environment where a variety of perspectives and backgrounds are valued, ensuring ORNL is known as a top choice for employment. These principles are essential for supporting our broader mission to drive scientific breakthroughs and translate them into solutions for energy, environmental, and security challenges facing the nation.

ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain individuals who demonstrate exceptional work behaviors. The laboratory provides a range of employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to support the well-being of you and your family. Employee amenities such as on-site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also available for added convenience.

Other benefits include the following: Prescription Drug Plan, Dental Plan, Vision Plan, 401(k) Retirement Plan, Contributory Pension Plan, Life Insurance, Disability Benefits, Generous Vacation and Holidays, Parental Leave, Legal Insurance with Identity Theft Protection, Employee Assistance Plan, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Wellness Programs, Educational Assistance, Relocation Assistance, and Employee Discounts.

If you have difficulty using the online application system or need an accommodation to apply due to a disability, please email: ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.

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This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.

We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.

If you have trouble applying for a position, please email ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.

ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply.  UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.