Disability Retirement Benefits Analyst

Ventura County•Ventura, CA

21h•Onsite

About The Position

Under general direction of VCERA's Disability Retirement Benefits Manager, the Disability Retirement Benefits Analyst will serve as a senior-level analytical and operational specialist, taking on complex responsibilities that enhance workflow efficiency, strengthen internal review processes, and provide critical support to the Disability Manager. This role will assume key duties such as drafting Medical Analysis documents, overseeing select internal procedures, reviewing disability retirement calculations, evaluating board meeting materials, oversight of administrative hearing process facilitation, and conducting preliminary invoice reviews for professional services. The Analyst will also share responsibility for drafting recommendation documents, ensuring compliance with the County Employees’ Retirement Law (CERL) of 1937, assisting with fiscal inquiries, and providing reliable backup to disability unit staff and Disability Manager as needed.

Requirements

Considerable administrative support experience, which has led to the acquisition of the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
Three (3) years of increasingly responsible experience in disability retirement, workers’ compensation, legal support, and/or other medical/ benefits administration.
Some experience with legal terminology.
Ability to review the work of others for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with policies and legal requirements.
Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel.
Excellent written communication skills must be demonstrated in the completion of the employment application and supplemental questionnaire.

Nice To Haves

Experience acting as a lead worker.
Experience with pension administration software and large enterprise software, such as PeopleSoft.
Some experience with medical terminology and/or medical analysis related to benefit eligibility.
Some experience with investigation of claims for disability retirement and/or Worker’s Compensation benefits.
Paralegal certificate or experience working in a civil-litigation environment.
Knowledge of and experience with County Employees Retirement Law of 1937 (CERL) and/or other laws that govern public employee benefit plans.

Responsibilities

Drafts Medical Analysis documents and prepares Preliminary and Final Recommendation documents, synthesizing medical, administrative, and legal information into clear, defensible analyses.
Serves as the unit’s lead specialist, providing guidance to staff on complex cases, procedural questions, and policy interpretation.
Reviews board meeting materials prepared by staff to ensure accuracy, completeness, and readiness for final managerial review.
Reviews disability retirement calculations prepared by other disability unit staff for accuracy, methodology, and compliance prior to managerial approval.
Oversees facilitation of the hearing process, ensuring all correspondence, notices, and procedural steps meet legal and administrative requirements.
Confers with the Disability Manager and other departmental leaders on policy matters, operational issues, and program challenges, providing informed recommendations.
Interprets policies and procedures for staff and stakeholders, ensuring consistent understanding and application.
Represents the unit in communications with other County departments, external agencies, and professional service providers.
Prepares required reports and documentation for internal leadership, the Board, and external stakeholders.
Designs and maintains operational workflows, tools, and monitoring methods to support efficient case processing and program performance.
Oversees designated internal procedures by evaluating their use, identifying needed updates, and ensuring staff follow established standards.
Responds to inquiries from the Fiscal division regarding disability payments, offsets, and related benefit calculations.
Reviews invoices from external professionals (e.g., legal counsel, hearing officers, medical evaluators) for accuracy and contract compliance before manager approval.
Assists in planning and delivering in-service training to support staff development and ensure consistent application of procedures.
Conducts or reviews special projects and analytical studies, preparing findings and recommendations to improve program operations.
Provides backup to the Disability Manager on an as-needed basis, without performing these duties routinely.
Provides backup to lower-level staff on an as-needed basis, without performing these duties routinely.
Plans, organizes, and coordinates disability retirement program functions, ensuring consistent application of policies, procedures, and statutory requirements.
Compiles, analyzes, and interprets narrative, financial, and statistical data to evaluate program performance and recommend improvements.
Performs other related duties as required.

Benefits

General Salary Increase - 3.5% effective December 20, 2026, and 3.5% effective December 19, 2027.
Educational Incentive - An educational incentive of 2.5% for completion of an associate degree, 3.5% for completion of a bachelor's degree, OR 5% for completion of a master’s degree that is not required for the classification.
Annual Leave - 208 hours per year, increasing to 288 hours after 5 years of service.
Annual Leave Redemption - The ability to "cash in" or redeem up to 100 hours of Annual Leave per year after using 80 hours in the preceding twelve months.
Deferred Compensation - Eligible to participate in the County's 401(k) Shared Savings Plan and/or the Section 457 Plan.
Up to a 3% match on 401(k) contributions.
Health Plans – Full-time employees are afforded a flexible credit allowance up to $26,626.86 for purchasing medical, dental, and/or vision insurance from a group of authorized plans.
Flexible Spending Accounts - Choice of participation in the Flexible Spending Accounts, which increases spending power through reimbursement of pre-tax dollars for IRS-approved dependent care and health care expenses.
Pension Plan - Both the County and employees contribute to the County's Retirement Plan and to Social Security.
Reciprocity may be established with other public retirement systems, such as PERS.
Holidays - 13 paid days per year, which includes a scheduled floating holiday.