Retirement Programs Representative I - HR Executive Compensation & Retirement Programs - Akron FirstEnergy Headquarters

FirstEnergy at a Glance

FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) is dedicated to safety, reliability, and operational excellence. Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, FirstEnergy includes one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, more than 24,500 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions, and a regulated generating fleet with a total capacity of 3,780 megawatts.

About the Opportunity

This is an open position with FirstEnergy Service Co., a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp.  [SC00

This is a position with FirstEnergy Service Co., a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp.

The position is in Human Resources within the Retirement Programs group and reports to the Manager, Executive Compensation & Retirement Programs. It may be located at the Corporate Headquarters in Akron, Ohio, Greensburg, Pennsylvania or Reading, Pennsylvania. The position is responsible for performing various business-related activities to support the Retirement Programs department. The Retirement Programs team is responsible for administering the defined benefit pension (qualified and non-qualified) and our 401(k) program. This position partners with the business units to ensure that programs support their objectives by helping to attract and retain key and critical talent.

Responsibilities include:

• Supports the administration of our defined benefit pension programs, both qualified and non-qualified plan formulas
• Supports the administration of our 401(k) program
• Assists with monthly pension payroll processing and validations; knowledge of Oracle is a plus
• Performs various reconciliations and research discrepancies 
• Processes active and retiree deaths which involve confirmation, updating pension option elections and identifying the beneficiary, as applicable, and notifying vendors
• Assist with all special pension-related projects such as early retirement options and pension lift-outs
• Compiles data in preparation for retirements (projections and actual retirements), including data requests from external financial providers
• Reviews divorce documentation to determine if a Qualified Domestic Relations Order or Domestic Relations Order are necessary
• Perform SOX controls designed to ensure data accuracy for pension calculations and valuations
• Work with internal and external auditors on the annual pension audit
• Reviews and supports calls from current and former employees with questions on retirement programs, beneficiary changes and/or account distributions
• Consulting with business unit leaders on retirement program practices and processes
• Preparing and delivering pension-related presentations to employees
• Preparing various ad-hoc reports and statistics for the company's retirement programs and initiatives, which may include performing complex reporting and analysis functions
• Recommending process improvements as well as recommending and implementing solutions to drive change across the organization
• Working knowledge of the administration of 401(k) under Fidelity is a plus
• Working knowledge or familiarity of Code Section 409A is a plus

Qualifications at the HR Rep III level include:

• Bachelor's degree in related discipline with a minimum of 4 to 7 years relevant work experience, or in lieu of a Bachelor’s degree, a minimum of 7 years of relevant work experience. Relevant work experience will include the demonstrated ability to:

  • Demonstrated proficiency in job skills required to perform in defined business role. 

  • Applies understanding by generalizing conceptual knowledge to determine ways to solve routine challenges. 

  • Effectively influences and exercises independent judgment on basic projects and assignments and starts to recognize greater implication to unrelated business operations and/or processes. 

  • Requires a lesser degree of management oversight.

• Proficient written and oral communication skills with the ability to tailor messaging and effectively and concisely communicate concepts.

• Proficient knowledge/use of Microsoft Office tools including Excel (high degree desired), PowerPoint, and Word.

• Proficient analytical and quantitative skills with demonstrated ability to proactively identify challenges or roadblocks, gather and analyze relevant information while furthering understanding of the topic/issue, develop solutions, and present recommendations. 

• Proficient knowledge of section operations and fundamental knowledge of department operations.

• Proficient work management skills; ability to independently organize, manage and prioritize multiple work assignments.

• Demonstrates proficiency in working with management and peers internal and external of the department. Ability to support established relationships and interface with external parties while maintaining core business objectives.

• Understand the connections between the various areas in HR

• CEBS or SHRM certification is a plus

Qualifications at the HR Rep IV level include:

• Bachelor’s degree in related discipline with a minimum of 7 to 10 years relevant work experience, or in lieu of Bachelor’s degree, a minimum of 10 years relevant work experience required.  Relevant work experience will include the demonstrated ability to:

  • Career level individual exhibiting full level competency.

  • Recommends and implements solutions to complex issues and assignments and develops process improvements and efficiencies aligned with the big picture. 

  • Effectively manages projects with a sense of ownership and thoroughness. 

  • Possesses strong skills and knowledge, provides leadership on initiatives and projects, and is viewed as an informal leader to peers. 

  • Ability to perform in an independent manner with minimal oversight of supervision.

• Advanced written and oral communication skills with the ability to effectively tailor messaging and communicate complex concepts.

• Advanced knowledge/use of Microsoft Office tools including Excel (high degree desired), PowerPoint, and Word.

• Advanced analytical and quantitative skills with demonstrated ability to proactively identify complex challenges or roadblocks, gather and analyze relevant information while furthering understanding of the topic/issue, develop solutions, make results-driven recommendations, interpret results, and improve solutions. 

• Advanced knowledge of section operations and proficient knowledge of department operations.

• Advanced work management skills; expert organizational skills and the ability to manage and prioritize multiple work assignments. Ability to assume additional responsibilities and stretch workload capacity without affecting quality of work or customer service.

• Demonstrates advanced ability to work with management and peers internal and external of the business unit; provides mentoring and onboarding. Ability to develop mutually beneficial relationships and interface with external parties. Communicates with and effectively supports Company leadership, at all levels of the organization.

• Understand the connections between the various areas in HR

• CEBS or SHRM certification is a plus

Benefits, Compensation & Workforce Diversity

At FirstEnergy, employees are key to our success. We depend on their talents to meet the challenges of our changing business environment. We are committed to rewarding individual and team efforts through our total rewards philosophy which includes competitive pay plus incentive compensation, a company-sponsored pension plan, 401(k) savings plan with matching employer contribution, a choice of medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, and life insurance programs, as well as skills development training with tuition reimbursement. Please visit our website at www.firstenergycorp.com to learn more about all of our employee rewards programs. FirstEnergy proudly supports workforce diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with a disability. No recruiters or agencies without a previously signed contract. Unable to sponsor or transfer H-1B visas at this time.

Safety

Safety is a core value for FirstEnergy and is essential to all of our business activities. We ensure employees have the tools, information, and processes to perform their duties in a manner that assures safety for themselves, their co-workers, our customers and the public. Our goals are to provide a safe work environment, to maintain an accident-free, injury-free workplace, and to promote and maintain public safety. To meet these goals, we dedicate ourselves to achieving world-class safety standards.

Position Classification

Exempt 

FirstEnergy Human Resources Team