Benefits Manager

If you are a current Barnard College employee please use the internal career site to apply for this position.

Job:

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 other parties.
• 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.
• Coordinates payment of employee contributions who are on leave status through continuing and monitoring employee contributions while on paid lead; and prepare/make arrangements with employees on unpaid leave status through direct payments and/or arrears upon return to work.
• Coordinate with HRIS to ensure proper payment of employees on leave status (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.

Compliance

• Ensure compliance with federal state and local regulations including but not limited to ERISA HIPAA FMLA and COBRA. Prepare 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.

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 workers 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 monitor progression of enrollment and working with partners to ensure employees are engaged in the active and/or passive enrollment process coordinate with HRIS and vendors on updated census and enrollment files etc.
• 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.
• Research analyze and collaborate with Associate Director Benefits & Employee Wellbeing to recommend financially sound benefits packages that are cost effective while meeting employee needs in a changing benefits environment. Work 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 to download invoices for vendor portals reconcile bills review 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.
• Work with Associate Director Benefits & Employee Wellbeing and other vendors on Wellness initiatives throughout the year. Support collaborate and work on wellness initiatives etc.
• Work with Associate Director Benefits & Employee Wellbeing information to share with 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 employee with understanding employee and employer contribution of retirement plans and design.
• Ensure compliance with federal state and local regulations including but not limited to OSHA ERISA HIPAA FMLA and COBRA. Prepare 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.
• 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

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 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; Able 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 and be a strong role model and coach
• 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.

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree and a minimum of four (4) years of progressive experience in Benefits/Work Life/Employee Wellness
• Demonstrated ability to partner and move projects and programs forward independently yet in collaboration with key stakeholders.

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

• $90000-$105000

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 Colleges good faith and reasonable estimateof the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

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