Benefits Coordinator, Payroll and Benefits - UT System Administration

University of Tennessee•Knoxville, TN

9d•Onsite

About The Position

The Benefits Coordinator position exists to help administer benefit plans for the 14,000 benefit eligible employees of the University of Tennessee. Based upon extensive knowledge of the State of Tennessee insurance programs, this position introduces new employees to the group insurance plans through orientation sessions for groups of 10 to 50 employees and then further provides information to all employees by multiple communication methods throughout the year, especially during the annual enrollment period. This position also answers questions from benefits staff on other campuses. In addition to communicating with employees, the position is responsible for entering insurance coverage information in both the University's DASH system and the State's Edison system.

Requirements

Vocational or technical training in a related field and a combination of three (3) years of experience in insurance, benefits administration, and/or human resources.
An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities will also be considered.
General knowledge of the health insurance industry.
General knowledge of rules and regulations governing health insurance plans.
Ability to communicate effectively with individual employees, groups of employees, and insurance staff through verbal, written, and electronic methods.
Proficiency with computer software applications, particularly Microsoft Office products.
Demonstrated ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment.
Strong organizational and time-management skills, including the ability to meet varying University of Tennessee deadlines.

Nice To Haves

Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree.
Public speaking experience, including presenting information and responding to questions from large audiences.
Experience communicating insurance plans, policies, and regulations to a diverse clientele.
Specific knowledge of University and State of Tennessee health insurance plans and policies.
Specific knowledge of federal laws governing employer-provided insurance plans, including coverage rules and requirements under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Specific knowledge of university human resources and fiscal policies.
Experience with employer human resources and payroll systems; Oracle experience.

Responsibilities

Provides comprehensive customer service and subject-matter expertise related to State of Tennessee benefit plans for University of Tennessee system employees.
Serves newly hired and current employees across the Knoxville, UT Ag, UWA, and Graduate School of Medicine campuses by explaining benefit eligibility, enrollment procedures, coverage options, costs, and compliance requirements.
Is highly detail-oriented and requires extensive interaction with university systems, state systems, and external partners to ensure accurate benefits enrollment, payroll deductions, and reconciliation.
Serves as a point of contact for employees regarding state benefit plans, insurance eligibility rules, dependent eligibility, enrollment timelines, and Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirements.
Provides individual customer service through new hire orientation presentations, phone consultations, walk-in traffic, email correspondence, and written communication.
Explains insurance coverage options, premium costs, network coverage, and plan changes in a clear and professional manner.
Responds to employee inquiries with accuracy, sensitivity, and confidentiality.
Reviews and audits insurance enrollment forms to ensure compliance with university, State of Tennessee, and vendor requirements.
Verifies eligibility, completeness, and accuracy of all enrollment documentation prior to processing.
Enters employee insurance enrollments into the university’s DASH system to ensure correct payroll deductions.
Enters employee insurance enrollments into the State of Tennessee’s Edison system to establish coverage documentation and transmit data to benefit vendors.
Reconciles insurance coverage data between DASH and Edison systems to confirm consistency and accuracy.
Identifies and corrects discrepancies to ensure accurate payroll, billing, and coverage for employees.
Maintains a working knowledge of university payroll processes and state billing practices related to insurance coverage.
Ensures the university is billed correctly by the state for insurance premiums.
Serves as a liaison between the University of Tennessee and the State of Tennessee Office of Benefits Administration.
Resolves complex benefits issues requiring interpretation of insurance rules and policy.
Advocates on behalf of the university and its employees in daily interactions with state benefits staff in Nashville.
Establishes and maintains effective professional working relationships with state insurance administration personnel.
Maintains permanent records of all insurance enrollments for the University of Tennessee system.
Scans and uploads enrollment documentation into DASH and Edison systems as required by the type of enrollment.
Ensures records are accurate, complete, and maintained in accordance with university, state, and legal requirements.