Benefits Specialist II

University of Florida•Jacksonville, FL

11d

About The Position

The Benefits Specialist II serves as a key member within the College of Medicine – Jacksonville (COM-J) Administrative Affairs Office. This position is integral to ensuring that COM-J faculty and staff receive accurate, timely, and comprehensive benefits information and support throughout their employment lifecycle. The Benefits Specialist II plays a crucial role in fostering a positive employee experience by providing expert guidance and assistance in benefits and retirement matters. Responsibilities include facilitating individual and group benefits overview sessions, assisting with benefits selection and enrollment, resolving complex benefits-related issues, and ensuring compliance with university regulations and applicable laws.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in an appropriate area and two years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Nice To Haves

Strong knowledge of state and university benefits, retirement, and leave programs.
Experience guiding employees through benefits selection and enrollment processes.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present to diverse audiences.
Demonstrated ability to deliver empathetic, customer-focused service in a high-visibility role.
SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP), SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP), HRCI Professional of Human Resources (PHR), or HRCI Senior Professional of Human Resources (SPHR) preferred.

Responsibilities

Benefits Facilitation Conduct one-on-one and group sessions to assist employees with benefits selection and enrollment, including bi-monthly new employee benefits overviews.
Serve as a subject matter expert on benefits and retirement plans, assisting employees with enrollment and resolving issues, including filing appeals with PeopleFirst when necessary.
Meet with prospective hires to review benefit offerings and assist with plan selection and enrollment.
Monitor employee exit notifications and provide timely information on coverage end dates, plan portability, retirement options, and leave cash-out processing.
Communications and Standard Operations Collaborate with the Senior Associate Dean for Administrative Affairs to develop and implement employee communications, presentations, and resources to educate employees on benefits and retirement plans.
Maintain regular communication with UFHR, the State, GatorCare, and other providers to disseminate updates and changes effectively to COM-J employees and administrators.
Develop templates for case management responses and standard operating procedures to enhance efficiency during peak periods.
Coordinate invitations and materials for benefits overview sessions, ensuring timely follow-up with participants.
Support employees and departments in accessing relevant resources to meet individual needs while maintaining professionalism.
Evaluate the effectiveness of programs and suggest improvements based on best practices.
Strategic Recruitment Support Partner with the Senior Associate Dean for Administrative Affairs, chairs, and directors to support recruitment efforts for strategic hires by providing benefits and retirement expertise.
Enhance the candidate experience by meeting with prospective employees to explain benefits offerings and guide plan selection.
Record Maintenance, Data Management, and Analysis Assist with data collection, maintenance, analysis, and reporting to support the College's strategic planning and budgeting efforts.
Monitor benefits data for accuracy and compliance with university policies and applicable laws.
Prepare reports and presentations for management regarding benefits utilization, costs, and trends.
Collaborate with other HR generalists to ensure seamless integration of benefits data with other HR systems (e.g. OAA database).