Implementation Consultant
Job ID #: VALIC-BB-RSVPImpConslt
Location: TX-Houston
Functional Area: Retirement Services
Company Name: VALIC
Employment Type: Full Time - Regular
Education Preferred: Bachelors
Experience Required: 3-5 years
Relocation Provided: No


Position Description
Implementation Consultant (SG 11)

About VALIC:
VALIC specializes in retirement savings and investment products and services, including individual variable and fixed annuities, group retirement products, mutual funds, financial planning and investment advisory services and guaranteed investment contracts.

For more than half a century, VALIC has served as a leading plan provider for K-12 schools and school districts, as well as for higher education and healthcare institutions. VALIC is ranked as the number one provider of defined contribution plan services in the United States to public education employees in the K-12 market and number three for employees of higher education and not-for-profit healthcare.

Position Overview:
This position will serve as the point of contact and liaison for assigned plan implementations and/or conversions. It will provide responsive and pro-active customer service at the group level. In this role, you will be a resource for subject matter expertise on retirement plans and the implementation processes.

Responsibilities:
1. Consulting
- Consults internal/external customers on timing of deliverable dates based on segment model.
- Primary group/internal liaison for assigned implementation processes and/or escalated customer issues per segment model.
- Analyzes and effectively communicates broader operations aspects to help influence decisions across departments for services being implemented.

2. Project Management
- Develops and manages project plans for incoming business for assigned groups.
- Delivers efficient and effective implementations for assigned groups.
- Identifies out of scope services and escalates as needed to ensure all services are included in pricing.

3. Operations Management:
- Models Customer Service Excellence within Implementation.
- Executes delegated tasks and work.
- Identifies training needs within the team and escalates to management.

4. Process Management
- Reviews final agreements for system setup based on segment model and performs first level of quality review of client deliverables.
- Reviews and participates on RFP process for new business to identify potential solutions based on Implementations Service model and scope.
- Maintain content management of Implementation Tools and Reference Database.

Challenges:
This role requires independent judgment and discretion to effectively interpret and communicate the laws and regulations regarding the operation of retirement plans. You will need to use consulting skills to influence decisions that will impact the implementation process and be able to research problems and gather information from numerous sources (Operations, Law, Systems, Regions, Client).

Position Requirements
Requirements:
1. Bachelor’s degree in related field or four years related work experience.
2. Strong client management and application of retirement plan recordkeeping systems.
3. Successful completion of relevant professional designation preferred (i.e. CEBS, ASPA, etc.)
4. Solid knowledge of pension plan types and a knowledge of defined contribution plan daily valuation recordkeeping systems.
5. Strong communication skills, including verbal, written, interpersonal and presentation skills
6. Demonstrated above average knowledge of computer software.
7. Ability to analyze data, determine root cause, and provide and/or develop an appropriate solution for resolution
8. Ability to travel on occasion

The ideal Implementation Consultant will be self-driven, results-oriented with a positive outlook and a clear focus on providing a high quality of customer service, leading to sustainable customer relationships. They will be flexible, adaptive and comfortable with process evaluations and decision-making in a dynamic implementation environment.

About Us
Retirement Services serves more than five million customers with retirement savings products and services through its vast distribution network of registered representatives, independent broker-dealers, national and regional securities firms, banks and insurance agencies.

The six major businesses that comprise Retirement Services include:

Advisor Group, Inc., one of the largest independent broker-dealer networks in the United States and consists of FSC Securities Corporation, SagePoint Financial, Inc. and Royal Alliance.

SunAmerica Affordable Housing Partners, Inc. (SAAHP), one of the nation's leading investors in low-income housing tax credit transactions and the fifth largest apartment investor in the nation.

SunAmerica Asset Management Corp., a mutual fund and asset management business.

SunAmerica Retirement Markets, Inc., specializing in marketing and distributing retirement savings products through an extensive national network of registered representatives at independent broker-dealers, securities firms and banks.

VALIC, who, for more than half a century, has served as a leading plan provider for K-12 schools and school districts, as well as for higher education and healthcare institutions.

Western National Life Insurance Company, the largest issuer of fixed annuities in the United States and the leading provider of annuities sold through financial institutions.

Equal Opportunity Employer.