POSITION IDENTIFICATION
TITLE Senior Benefits Specialist
CLASSIFICATION NUMBER 1332
GRADE 43
CLASSIFICATION Exempt
IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR Assistant Director of Human Resources, Benefits
GENERAL FUNCTION
The Senior Benefits Specialist manages the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Worker’s Compensation, the University’s tuition fee waiver benefit, leaving accounting, shared leave, and catastrophic leave for the University. The Senior Benefits Specialist serves as the primary contact for employees regarding benefits and works with the Benefit Specialist to answer employee questions and provide information regarding all benefits, including the state retirement systems, medical and dental insurance, life insurance, long-term disability insurance, and voluntary benefits. The Senior Benefits Specialist provides day-to–day direction and guidance to the Benefits Specialist.
MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Education: A Bachelor’s degree is required.
Experience: At least two years of progressively responsible administrative experience in Human Resources is required. Experience with benefits administration, FMLA, Worker’s Compensation, and/or leave administration is preferred.
Skills: Effective verbal and written communication skills are required. Effective interpersonal skills are required. Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications is required. The ability to learn and use an administrative business system, such as Banner, is required. Must have knowledge of or have the ability to acquire knowledge of relevant employment laws, including but not limited to the Family Medical and Leave Act (FMLA) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Must be detail-oriented, highly organized, and have the ability to work independently. The ability to develop knowledge of, respect for, and skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds is required.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Ensures that faculty and staff are given accurate information and appropriate assistance regarding benefits and leave by providing requested information.
2. Assures compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and/or policies, particularly regarding FMLA, Workers Compensation, University leave administration, shared leave, catastrophic leave, and the tuition fee waiver.
3. Works with employees regarding FMLA leave by providing information about the leave, responding appropriately within time frames required by law when such leave is requested, determining eligibility for leave based on current regulations, providing the appropriate forms within the required time frames, and tracking ongoing FMLA leave usage.
4. Provides information to the employee’s department about FMLA leave and the job protections extended by law to employees covered by the leave.
5. Coordinates with Payroll regarding leave without pay and deductions for intermittent leave for faculty and exempt staff.
6. Refers employees to the Office of Legal Affairs and Compliance for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodations when appropriate.
7. Prepares worker’s compensation accident reports and transmits to CARO within required time frames and works with injured employees and their departments to implement CARO’s Early Return to Work program by facilitating agreement on modified job duties.
8. Works with the department to return employees with disability ratings to work, refers the situation to the Office of Legal Affairs and Compliance for possible accommodations, or discusses the use of any remaining paid leave and begins the application process for long-term disability.
9. Coordinates with Payroll to make deductions from pay to offset temporary total disability payments received by employees and calculates and processes leave adjustments to offset the portion of pay that is not compensated by temporary total disability payments.
10. Tracks and reports the number and type of Worker’s Compensation injuries to the Office of Legal Affairs and Compliance.
11. Administers the credit course fee waiver program by providing information to employees, determining eligibility according to program guidelines, processing requests and payments, monitoring program use and remaining balances, and providing amounts of taxable benefits to payroll.
12. Provides information about leave to employees, monitors leave accrual for accuracy, makes accrual or use adjustments when needed, monitors leave usage for compliance with Employee Handbook policies, and calculates or reviews unused vacation and sick leave payouts as appropriate.
13. Provides information about catastrophic and shared leave to involved parties, processes catastrophic and shared leave requests, and coordinates with Payroll regarding payment of catastrophic and shared leave.
14. Contributes to a work environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for, and development of skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds.
15. Remains competent and current through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development courses, and attending training and/or courses as directed.
16. Helps to assure the overall success of the Office of Human Resources by performing all other duties as assigned by the Assistant Director of Human Resources-Benefits
SUPERVISION
The Benefits Specialist is supervised by the Assistant Director of Human Resources, Benefits and provides day-to-day direction and guidance to the Benefits Specialist.
OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES
MAY 2021
