Retirement Implementation Specialist

About The Role

The Retirement Implementation Specialist is responsible for leading the onboarding process for new Alerus retirement plan clients, including startup plans, transfer plans, and internal conversions. The role manages all elements of the onboarding process by coordinating internal departments and external parties through an established implementation timeline, communicating the implementation plan, scheduling, tracking, and reporting to internal and external parties, assigning tasks, and ensuring service timelines are met to provide a successful transition of new business from sales to the Alerus account representative while delivering a positive customer experience for the plan sponsor and other external parties.

• Serve as the primary point of contact and partner with Alerus sales consultants to coordinate the new business implementation process.
• Schedule and facilitate implementation calls with client, advisor, TPA, prior vendor(s), and Alerus team members to define the implementation timeline, blackout period, key milestones, and plan effective date.
• Determine unique features, service definitions, and scope of service offerings agreed upon during the sales process and participate in presentations on key accounts when required.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to find solutions for complex requests while maintaining consistency with established service offerings.
• Request, collect, and review new plan documentation and agreements for all Alerus Retirement Plan segments including Direct, Advisor, and TPA business.
• Confirm investment menu with client, advisor, and fund wholesaler and review the fund selection to ensure availability, establishment of account, and trading information.
• Resolve residual issues to ensure funds, share classes, trading activity, and account setup are correct.
• Provide clear communication regarding the roles of each individual involved in the implementation process.
• Properly document key discussions and decisions related to plan setup and onboarding.
• Coordinate, schedule, and facilitate meetings with internal and external parties throughout the implementation process, including but not limited to document design, payroll and website training, data and asset transition, etc.
• Provide updates to internal tracking tools. Communicate with internal and external parties to proactively identify and manage implementation expectations, needs, and concerns. Follow up promptly on potential timeline slippage.
• Manage and coordinate preparation and delivery of education materials, participant mailings, required notices, and enrollment meeting dates with external and internal parties.
• Discuss and finalize the collection process for internal and external fees with advisor/client.
• Review all internal systems for accuracy and timely completion.
• Understand the breadth of product offering and features of each. Discuss options with appropriate parties as opportunities arise.
• Calculate, document, and update expected ongoing revenue.
• Facilitate transition calls with internal and external parties to the ongoing service team.
• Demonstrate advanced understanding of how the recordkeeping, trust systems, and sponsor & participant websites operate and report information. Maintain current knowledge about system enhancements.
• Deliver training and support to Alerus staff including sales, relationship management, compliance, operations, and administration.
• Update materials, procedures, instructions, etc. Distribute to staff as required.
• Foster a positive work environment and support co‑workers in the achievement of departmental goals.
• Establish work objectives and priorities to perform work in a cost‑effective manner.
• Proactively recommend changes in procedures, forms, and checklists to reduce account errors, increase productivity, or improve the client experience.

• Associate’s degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, or related field or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in the defined contribution industry, preferably in recordkeeping or administration.
• Previous experience with new client onboarding and/or project management.
• Previous experience supporting…