Job Title: Benefits Specialist
Location: Human Resources Office
Regular/Temporary: Regular
Full/Part Time: Full-Time
Job ID: 5071
Staff Posting Details
Appointment: Regular, full-time (1.0 FTE) position

Position Summary: The benefits specialist provides data gathering and analytics, day-to-day program administration and general support in executing total rewards (compensation, benefits, work-life and wellness) programs and initiatives. The benefits specialist will also cross train with the payroll administrator to provide payroll backup as needed. All members of the HR team are responsible for providing operational support to other HR team members as needed.

This position is part of Human Resources (HR), which has the core purpose of ensuring that the university has the talent and capability to serve students. Puget Sound HR is committed to service and strives to engage faculty and staff, focus efforts on providing added value and results, ensure institutional sustainability, and treat faculty and staff members fairly.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities:

Assists in the administration of university benefit programs including: group health coverage; wellness program; leave programs; Employee Assistance Program; life insurance; AD&D; long-term disability; education benefits; workers compensation; and retirement savings plan.
• Provides support and answers questions for faculty/staff members and prospective hires regarding benefits policies, procedures, and practices.
• Identifies benefits enrollment eligibility and provides faculty/staff members with the tools and information necessary to enroll.
Conducts benefits enrollment orientation sessions.
• Ensures benefits information in recruiting toolkits, new hire packets, the website, and other locations is clear, comprehensive and accurate.
Assists in the development and coordination of annual benefit enrollment materials and participates in open enrollment process. Assists with planning annual benefits and wellness fair.
• Processes departure forms and performs other employee departure-related activities.
• Supports semi-monthly payroll processing by ensuring leave usage and other relevant data is entered accurately and in alignment with stated payroll deadlines.
• Processes semi-monthly payroll in the absence of the payroll administrator.
Supports administration of all leave of absences.Assists with development and implementation of a comprehensive wellness program. Coordinates activities in support of wellness objectives.Documents and maintain administrative procedures for total rewards processes.Assists in ensuring all benefit plans are administered in compliance with company policy and procedures; plan documentation, contractual arrangements and regulatory requirements.Participates in compensation and benefits related market surveys as directed.
• Assists with data collection and analysis for ad hoc data requests, presentations and projects.
Participates with HR team members in departmental projects and initiatives aimed at improving total rewards offerings to employees.
• Develops and maintains strong partnerships with benefits vendors and consultants. Alerts vendors of changes or issues in a timely manner.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

None.

Budget Responsibilities

Reconciles benefits invoices, ensuring vendor records match payroll documentation. Audits vendor reports to ensure accuracy of enrollment, deductions, charges and contributions. Prepares benefit invoices for payment.

Qualifications:

• Three to five years of increasingly responsible benefits experience. Bachelor’s degree preferred, but an equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
• Proficient with Microsoft Word
• Superior skills with Microsoft Excel, including the application of filtering, pivot tables, subtotals, if/then statements, vlookups, and other formulas
• Proficient with HRIS databases, queries and other report-writing tools; experience with PeopleSoft HRMS highly desirable
• Knowledge and understanding of regulations such as PPACA, ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, ADA, etc.
• Must be able to demonstrate a commitment to providing quality services
• Ability to use resources efficiently and effectively to complete projects and produce required results within given time periods
• Ability to organize, analyze, prioritize, and problem-solve within a fast-paced office environment with frequent interruptions
• Exhibits flexibility, adaptability, and willingness to contribute to the successful achievement of personal, team and department goals
• Conveys a positive and professional attitude; supports and contributes to the success and development of colleagues
• Proposes innovative approaches and willingly shares knowledge and expertise
• Appreciates the diversity that others bring to the work group
• Promotes responsive, customer-oriented service in job responsibilities, exhibiting a commitment to anticipating, understanding, and responding actively and sensitively to customer needs
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills; ability to communicate concepts and procedures clearly and effectively
• Ability to manage confidential information and sensitive situation
• Superior attention to detail, while also considering the big picture

Compensation and Benefits: Decisions about starting salaries are made based on the extent and relatedness of the candidate's education and experience and on internal equity and market considerations.

This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Puget Sound offers a generous benefits package. For more information, visit: http://www.pugetsound.edu/about/offices-services/human-resources/overview-of-university-benefit/.

Application Deadline: Interested individuals are encouraged to submit application materials no later than October 21,2019 to ensure consideration.

Required Documents:

ResumeLetter of Interest

Applications submitted without the required attachments will not be considered.

All offers of employment are contingent on successful completion of a background inquiry and if applicable for the position, drug screen, physical test and functional assessment.

Diversity Statement:

We acknowledge the richness of commonalities and differences we share as a university community; the intrinsic worth of all who work and study here; that education is enhanced by investigation of and reflection upon multiple perspectives.We aspire to create respect for and appreciation of all persons as a key characteristic of our campus community; to increase the diversity of all parts of our University community through commitment to diversity in our recruitment and retention efforts; to foster a spirit of openness to active engagement among all members of our campus community.We act to achieve an environment that welcomes and supports diversity; to ensure full educational opportunity for all who teach and learn here; to prepare effectively citizen-leaders for a pluralistic world.

Puget Sound is committed to an environment that welcomes and supports diversity. We seek diversity of identity, thought, perspective, and background in our students, faculty, and staff. To learn more please visit: http://www.pugetsound.edu/about/diversity-at-puget-sound/

The University of Puget Sound is an equal opportunity employer.

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