Working Title: State Volunteer Firefighter (SVF) Program Specialist
Job Class: State Program Administrator
Agency: Public Employees Retirement Association
Job ID : 96560
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 : 09/02/2026
Closing Date : 09/23/2026
Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit : Public Employees Retire Association / Public Employ Retire Assoc-MAPE
Division/Unit : Adm Employer Services
Work Shift/Work Hours : Day Shift
Days of Work : Monday - Friday
Travel Required : No
Salary Range: $24.40 - $35.30 / hourly; $50,947 - $73,706 / annually
Classified Status : Classified
Bargaining Unit/Union : 214 - MN Assoc of Professional Empl/MAPE
FLSA Status : Nonexempt
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.
Support Minnesota's Volunteer Firefighters Through Expert Program Administration at PERA!
The Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) is seeking a detail-oriented and service-focused professional to administer the Statewide Volunteer Firefighter (SVF) Plan, serving fire departments and volunteer firefighters throughout Minnesota. In this role, you will help ensure the accurate administration of retirement benefits while supporting compliance with pension law, reporting standards, and tax requirements.
You will serve as a primary resource for fire chiefs, governing body representatives, and other stakeholders by providing guidance on program requirements, reporting obligations, and plan administration. The position reviews and analyzes information submitted by participating organizations, applies applicable statutes, policies, and procedures, resolves issues, and makes determinations that support the effective administration of the plan.
This role requires strong analytical, organizational, and customer service skills to collect, evaluate, and maintain program data; monitor compliance; prepare reports and correspondence; and communicate complex program requirements in a clear and understandable manner. You will build collaborative relationships with stakeholders across the state while helping ensure participating organizations understand their responsibilities and meet program requirements.
The successful candidate is a proactive problem solver who can manage multiple priorities, work independently and collaboratively, and provide exceptional service while supporting the retirement security of Minnesota's volunteer firefighters. If you are passionate about public service, program administration, compliance, and stakeholder engagement, we encourage you to apply.
This position is telework eligible and offers a hybrid work schedule, based on agency and department needs. Scheduled in-office workdays will be at the PERA office, 60 Empire Drive, Suite 200, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Candidates residing in Minnesota within 50 miles of our St Paul office may be eligible to telework up to 50%.
Candidates residing in Minnesota and more than 50 miles from our office may be eligible to telework more than 50%.
Candidates residing in a bordering state within 50 miles of our office may be eligible to telework up to 50%.
Candidates who do not reside in Minnesota or within 50 miles of the office in a state bordering Minnesota are not eligible to be hired, unless planning to relocate within 50 miles of the office or report to the office full time.
Minimum Qualifications
To facilitate proper crediting, please ensure your resume clearly describes your experience in the areas listed below and indicates the beginning and ending day, month, and year for each job held. Only applicants whose resumes clearly demonstrate fulfillment of each of the minimum qualifications will be considered for this position.
This position requires a minimum of two (2) years of technical, para-professional or professional experience, additionally:
Experience using Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, or comparable software, to create correspondence, reports, spreadsheets and status reports for supervisor and organizational leaders, peers, stakeholders and other governmental organizations.
Experience reviewing inquires or requests and gather pertinent information and data from stakeholders.
Experience applying existing policies, procedures, and statutes to information and data in order to make and document determinations.
Minimum qualifications that will be assessed during the interview process:
Experience using planning and organizational skills, managing multiple tasks, and self-directing and functioning in a team environment.
Experience using Customer Service skills to provide prompt, courteous, and accurate information.
Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in written form, with individuals with a wide range of backgrounds, who do not share your same culture, ethnicity, language, or other common experiences
Preferred Qualifications
Knowledge of public pension plans or fire relief associations.
Experience responding verbally or in writing to external stakeholder questions about complex benefit programs such as retirement, insurance, healthcare, public assistance, Social Security or Medicare.
Experience administering policies, procedures, and systems to make benefit eligibility determinations.
Experience working in a governmental or public sector environment.
Additional Requirements
It is the policy of the Retirement Systems of MN that all employees submit to a background investigation prior to employment. The background check may consist of the following components:
SEMA4 Records Check (applies to current and past State employees only)
Criminal History Check
Employment Reference Check
Social Security and Address Verification
Education Verification
Driver's License Check
** The Retirement Systems will not sponsor applicants for work visas. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the US.
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 careers@state.mn.us . Please indicate what assistance is needed.
