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Job:

Benefits Manager

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Associate Director, Benefits & Employee Wellbeing, the Benefits Manager will be responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of all College benefit plans, serve as the primary point of contact for benefits, leaves and accommodations, and work on enhancing workflow processes and procedures. Responsibilities will also include coordinating benefits and various financial items with the Benefits broker, external vendors and benefit partners, the Associate Director, HR client services, and various departments such as Payroll and Finance.

Job Description:

Leave and Accommodation Administration and Management

• Manages all leaves of absence, including but not limited to Family Medical Leave, Workers Compensation, Paid Family Leave and Short and Long Term Disability, ensuring that employees are aware of their responsibilities and of any documentation and notice required to qualify for and to take leave.

• Manages and coordinates medical reasonable accommodation requests (ADA) and interactive process liaison, coordinating with vendor, department, employee and other parties.

• Servesas primary contact and communicates with employees on all leave requests, updates, information, etc to facilitate smooth and timely leave start and return to work; relays communication between employees and their managers during leaves. Provides managers with timely and relevant updates.

• Oversees the return-to-work process for employees returning from extended FMLA, Paid Family Leave, workers compensation, disability or other leave(s).

• Facilitates and coordinates other leave requests, such as communication, documentation, wage verifications, insurance information, status updates, etc., on a timely basis.

• Coordinates payment of employee contributions who are on leave status through continuing and monitoring employee contributions while on paid leave; prepares/makes arrangements with employees on unpaid leave status through direct payments and/or arrears upon return to work.

• Coordinates with HRIS to ensure proper payment of employees while out on leave (ie. Use of sick time, etc...)

• Serve a point of contact for time off and absence management questions such as eligibility and use of time off for vacation, sick, floating holidays, bereavement jury duty, etc...

• Responsible for ensuring high quality and high touch service to all parties in the leave and absence management process.
  

Benefits Administration

• Serving as the primary point of contact for the College, administers the employee benefits programs for faculty and staff, including, but not limited to, retirement, medical, dental, disability, life insurance, tuition, flexible spending accounts, worker's compensation, COBRA and unemployment. Oversee plan administration in accordance with plan provisions, documentation, legal and regulatory requirements to ensure ongoing operational compliance.

• In collaboration and under the direction of the Associate Director, Benefits & Employee Wellbeing, manages the Open Enrollment process, ensuring a smooth transition for benefits eligible employees from one calendar year to the next. This includes, but is not limited to, preparing communications, following up on tasks in HRIS, monitoring progression of enrollment and working with partners to ensure employees are engaged in the active and/or passive enrollment process, coordinating with HRIS and vendors on updated census and enrollment files, etc.

• Responsible for managing retiree benefits including, but not limited to: enrollments, billing, reconciliation, outreach

• Conducts regular, periodic audits of enrollments, vendor invoices, payroll deductions, etc...to ensure accuracy of invoices, enrollments/changes/terminations and payments.

• Reconciles COBRA enrollments, invoices and payments, etc...on a regular basis

• Conduct New Hire Orientation for the various Employee groups (admin, faculty, staff, union employees, etc.). Provide information and support to new hires and answer any questions and follow up when necessary.

• Provides consultative subject matter expertise, advice, and guidance regarding benefits matters to employees, building strong partnership and collaborations with all levels across the College to ensure benefits offerings align with and support overall employee wellness, organizational goals and HR strategies.

• Responsible for ensuring high quality Benefits customer service through the effective management of all plan administration, communication, education and customer service activities for all community members.

• Researches, analyzes and collaborates with the Associate Director, Benefits & Employee Wellbeing, to recommend financially sound benefits packages that are cost effective while meeting employee needs in a changing benefits environment. Works with consultants and benefits providers to formulate proposals and solve problems.

• Manages vendor relationships and point of contact for all benefit billing. This includes all benefit plans, including but not limited to current and retiree medical plans, dental, vision, union benefit and pension plans, disability and leave insurance plans, retiree HRA plan, EAP, childcare benefits, retirement administrative fees, COBRA, and other ancillary benefits vendors. Responsible for downloading invoices for vendor portals, reconciling bills, reviewing mail, process payment through POs and/or Service Invoice Requests in Workday.

• Primary point of contact for all tuition inquiries - employee tuition requests and employee dependent requests. Process all invoices and requests in a timely fashion. Follow workflow and business process, educate, communicate and instruct employees on the process and follow up on open/outstanding tuition issues. Coordinate and work with Finance on reimbursement requests and status.

• Responsible for timely management of processing and closing tasks, managing and close cases, qualifying life events, open cases and more in Workday.

• Work with Associate Director, Benefits & Employee Wellbeing and other vendors on wellness initiatives throughout the year.

• Work with Associate Director, Benefits & Employee Wellbeing information to share with the Retirement Committee and the Joint Faculty & Administrators Benefits for any proposed critical benefit changes.

• As needed, may participate in the quarterly 403(b) Investment Committee along with other nominated HR, Finance and Faculty participants and the investment advisor.

• Point of contact for Retirement plan on all queries, paperwork completion, verification of employment, etc. Educate and assist employees with understanding employee and employer contribution of retirement plans and design.

• Coordinate and manage any/all workers compensation queries, wage requests, incident reports.

• Perform special projects and related duties as assigned by Associate Director, Benefits & Employee Wellbeing

Compliance

• Ensures compliance with federal, state and local regulations, including, but not limited to ERISA, HIPAA, FMLA, ACA and COBRA. May assist with preparing reports and applications required by law to be filed with federal and state agencies, such as Internal Revenue Service, Department of Labor, insurance commissioners and other regulatory agencies.

• Monitor, review and analyze changes to state and federal laws pertaining to benefits, and report necessary or suggested changes to senior leadership e.g., impact of DOMA, ACA.

• Prepare and execute, with legal consultation, benefit documentation such as original and amended plan texts, SPDs, benefit agreements and insurance policies. Instruct insurance carriers and other administrative agencies outside the College to affect changes in benefit programs. Ensure prompt and accurate compliance.

Skills, Qualifications & Requirements:

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Must be detail-oriented with excellent interpersonal, problem solving oral and written skills, and the ability to communicate effectively with all levels of staff and management, including the ability to relay complex information in a manner understandable to a wide variety of constituencies.

• Experience in providing accurate, timely and responsive support on complex problems, with the ability to coach employees and management through complex, difficult, and emotional issues

• Ability to make recommendations regarding resolution of employee related problems or issues by using sound judgment that is consistent with standards, practices, policies, procedures, regulation or government law.

• Ability to prioritize multiple projects/deliverables and work with a sense of urgency to meet deadlines

• Strong customer service skills; a welcoming and cooperative manner in working with all levels of faculty, staff and external visitors, including vendors. Ability to collaborate, influence and command the respect and confidence of campus partners and have the capacity to deal with a wide range of relationships and situations

• Strong organizational skills; evidence of self-motivation; demonstrated ability to plan, schedule and work both independently and in teams.

• Ability to set priorities and to manage multiple projects and deadlines.

• High degree of professionalism and discretion in contacts with management and team members.

• The successful candidate must have sound judgment, with an open and collaborative style that encourages teamwork and cooperation.

• Must have a passion for excellent customer service and commitment to exceptional quality.

• Strong organizational skills required, with the ability to work independently with little supervision, meet deadlines, as well as serve as a productive team member

• Excellent computing skills, including experience with a comprehensive HRIS system as well as the Microsoft Office suite of products.

• Ability to maintain composure and professional demeanor when under pressure

• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion and care

• Ability to take initiative and work with minimal supervisor in a fast paced environment

• Systems thinker; connects dots and drives to a bigger picture

• Very high emotional intelligence (relational, self and social-awareness and management, influence, learning)

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree and a minimum of four (4) years of progressive experience in Benefits/Work Life/Employee Wellness. 1-2 years of additional experience working in other Human Resources functions is a plus (e.g. recruiting/onboarding, labor & employee relations)

• Demonstrated ability to partner and move projects and programs forward independently, yet in collaboration with key stakeholders.

• Solid experience administering many types of employee benefit plans including, but not limited to: medical, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, group term life insurance and ad&d, statutory disability, short-term disability, long term disability, 403b retirement plan, commuter transit benefits

• Solid knowledge of various benefit and employment laws and related regulatory requirements including, but not limited to: ERISA/Form 5500 & SAR, ACA/Form 1094 & 1095C, Worker's Comp, NY DBL & PFL, COBRA, HIPAA

• Experience working with both union and non-union employees

Preferred Qualifications:

• PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, CEBS certification

• Advanced degree in a relevant field

• Experience in higher education

Hours: 35 Hours a Week - Hybrid - 3 days in office, 2 days remote, subject to change due to operational needs.

Salary Range: $88,000 - $93,000

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the College's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Company:

Barnard College

Time Type:

Full time