BENEFITS SPECIALIST 1203 (REVISED 01/12/24)

Benefits Specialist

Annual Salary: $63,704 to $93,145. The salary in the Department of Water and Power is $76,629 to $95,212.

Notes:

1. Candidates from the eligible list are normally appointed to vacancies in the lower pay grade positions.
2. Annual salary is at the start of the pay range. The current salary range is subject to change. Please confirm the starting salary with the hiring department before accepting a job offer.
3. For information regarding reciprocity between the City of Los Angeles departments and LADWP, go to (Download PDF reader).

A Benefits Specialist counsels and provides information on employee benefits and retirement programs; researches and resolves issues regarding program services and benefits; performs benefit calculations; may assign, review and evaluate the work of subordinates engaged in support activities for this work; applies sound supervisory principles and techniques in building and maintaining an effective work force; fulfills equal employment opportunity responsibilities; and does related work.

Requirement(s)/Minimum Qualification(s): Two years of full time paid experience in a class at the level of Senior Administrative Clerk (formerly Senior Clerk Typist) in the administration of benefit or retirement programs, including providing counseling, researching retirement or benefit related information, providing benefit services, or performing retirement or benefit related calculations, using systems/software to obtain appropriate data; or successful completion of 60 semester or 90 quarter units from an accredited college or university and 1,040 hours of paid experience assisting in the duties listed in Requirement #1.

Process Notes:

1. For Requirement #1, applicants who lack six months or less of the above required experience may file for this examination. However, they cannot be appointed until the full experience requirement is met.
2. Some positions may require a valid California driver's license. Candidates may not be eligible for appointment to these positions if their record within the last 36 months reflects three or more moving violations and/or at-fault accidents, or a conviction of a major moving violation (such as DUI).
3. For Requirement #1, qualifying experience gained outside of the City of Los Angeles requires eighteen months of clerical experience with increasing responsibilities to be at the level of Senior Administrative Clerk. Therefore, non-City qualifying experience must be gained in positions after eighteen months of clerical experience.
4. Please note that qualifying education must be from a college or university accredited by a City of Los Angeles recognized agency. A list of approved accrediting agencies can be found at (Download PDF reader).
5. Candidates completing the exam process may be contacted by the Personnel Department to provide required proof of qualifying coursework. Applicants who wish to expedite this process may attach a copy of their qualifying coursework to their on-line application at the time of filing in the Attachments section.

Selective Certification: In accordance with Charter Section 1010 (b) and Civil Service Rule 5.31, selective certification will be used for some positions that require special skills and/or training. Only persons possessing the following at the time of filing may be considered for appointment to fill such positions: The ability to speak or write a language other than English. NOTE: Applicants that desire to be considered for this Selective Certification must specify the language other than English in the appropriate box on the application. Applicants who fail to provide the information at the time of filing will not be considered further in selective certification.

Where to Apply & Application Deadline: Applications will only be accepted on-line on the dates listed in the "Application Deadline" section of this bulletin. When you are viewing the on-line job bulletin of your choice, simply scroll to the top of the page and select the "Apply" icon. On-line job bulletins are also available at

Note: Applicants are urged to apply early to ensure you have time to resolve any technical issues you may encounter. Applications will only be accepted on-line on the following dates listed below:

Filing Period 1: From Friday, January 27, 2023 to Thursday, February 9, 2023

Filing Period 2: From Thursday, January 25, 2024 to Wednesday, February 7, 2024

The examination may close without prior notice at any time after a sufficient number of applications have been received. Filing periods may change without prior notice or additional dates may be added, as needed, at a later date. For administrative purposes, filing will close periodically and reopen on the dates noted in the "Application Deadline" section of this bulletin.

In accordance with Civil Service Rule 4.2, all applicants who apply may not be tested in this examination. To meet anticipated hiring needs, only a limited number of qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the selection process in the following order: 1) Los Angeles City Promotional applicants who meet the minimum requirements. You must have received a regular appointment to a City position or be on a reserve list to apply for this examination as a promotional candidate; 2) Applicants currently employed by the City of Los Angeles on a part-time or exempt basis who meet the minimum requirements; 3) Remaining applicants who meet the minimum requirements in sufficient numbers to meet hiring needs based on random sampling of those qualified candidates. Applicants not selected to be tested may re-apply in a subsequent filing period in order to be considered for that period's selection process.

Selection Process: Examination Weight: Essay - Advisory Interview - 100%. The examination will consist of an on-line advisory essay and an interview. In the interview, the following competencies may be evaluated: Attention to Detail; Self-Management; Supervision; Fact Finding; Interpersonal Skills; Oral Communication; Written Communication; Job Knowledge, including knowledge of: benefit plan terminology and types; State, Federal, and local laws governing defined benefit plans, retirement benefits, defined contribution plans, or City of Los Angeles flexible and health benefit programs; and other necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities. Additional job analysis information can be obtained by going to and clicking on Competencies under Benefits Specialist. Prior to the interview, applicants will be required to prepare some written material related to the duties and responsibilities of a Benefits Specialist. This essay material will not be separately scored, but will be presented to the interview board for review and consideration, which may include discussion, in the overall evaluation of the candidate. Those who do not complete the advisory essay will not be invited to the interview and will be considered to have failed the entire examination. To be considered complete, the advisory essay must include a substantive response for each question or problem included in the advisory essay for which an applicant is required to provide an answer. Please note that applicants must complete the advisory essay and meet the minimum qualifications as stated on this bulletin in order to be considered further in the examination process. The advisory essay will be administered on-line. Applicants invited to participate in the examination will receive an e-mail from the City of Los Angeles outlining the specific steps needed to complete the on-line advisory essay. Applicants who fail to complete the advisory essay as instructed may be disqualified.

For candidates who apply during Filing Period 1, it is anticipated that the on-line advisory essay will be administered between MARCH 21, 2023 and MARCH 28, 2023.

For candidates who apply during Filing Period 2, it is anticipated that the on-line advisory essay will be administered between MARCH 18, 2024 and MARCH 25, 2024.

Candidates will be notified by e-mail of the date, time, and location of the interviews, which may be held in Los Angeles or on-line.

For candidates who apply during Filing Period 1, it is anticipated that interviews will begin during the period of APRIL 17, 2023 to APRIL 28, 2023.

For candidates who apply during Filing Period 2, it is anticipated that interviews will begin during the period of APRIL 15, 2024 to APRIL 26, 2024.

Notice: Test dates may be postponed in order to help protect the safety of our candidates and prevent the spread of COVID-19. Candidates will receive an e-mail from the City of Los Angeles Personnel Department if the anticipated test dates are postponed.

Notes:

1. This examination is based on a validation study.
2. As a covered entity under the Fair Employment and Housing Act and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on