Benefits Specialist

University of Kansas Medical Center•Kansas City, KS

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Benefits Specialist is responsible for the daily administration of employee benefits offered through the University of Kansas Medical Center, the Kansas Board of Regents, and the State of Kansas. Benefit programs include health, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, health savings and health reimbursement accounts, life insurance, disability insurance, and retirement plans. The position provides benefit information and customer service to employees, manages requests and benefit updates, supports enrollment and termination processes, and participates in open enrollment, orientations, and educational workshops. Work is a combination of in-office and remote work, with the primary location at the Kansas City campus; travel to other campuses may be requested as needed. Duties may change and this description is not an exhaustive list of responsibilities.

Requirements

Four years of experience in Human Resources, business, or a closely related field; education may substitute for experience on a year-for-year basis.
Experience presenting information to various audiences.
Oral and written communication skills.
Computer skills, including Microsoft Office.
Time-management skills.
Attention to detail.
Teamwork and collaboration skills.

Nice To Haves

HR certification in benefits administration, such as CBP.
Experience working in higher education.
Experience with Workday.

Responsibilities

Understand and effectively communicate benefit plans and information to customers.
Provide proactive, excellent customer service to employees and respond to inquiries in a timely and professional manner.
Manage intake items and requests for benefit services.
Participate in administration of health, dental, vision, flexible spending, health savings, and health reimbursement account programs.
Communicate benefit status changes to employees resulting from qualifying events.
Counsel employees regarding State of Kansas retirement, deferred compensation, and other benefit programs.
Participate in administration of life insurance, long-term disability insurance, Kansas Board of Regents tax-sheltered annuity retirement plans, KPERS defined benefit pension, and deferred compensation plans.
Process new KPERS enrollments through the KPERS portal and verify and submit adjustments.
Process and manage benefit information updates in the appropriate HR systems of record.
Monitor the MAP portal dashboard and keep it current.
Assist with planning and participate in open enrollment, new-hire orientations, and benefit-related educational workshops and seminars.
Partner with benefit vendors and providers and foster positive relationships.
Process benefit terminations in HR systems of record and distribute termination letters.
Assist with website updates and upgrades to benefit-related content.

Benefits

Health, dental, and vision insurance coverage begins on the first day of employment.
Health expense accounts with generous employer contributions are available to employees participating in a qualifying health plan.
Employer-paid life insurance and long-term disability insurance.
Additional voluntary insurance plans.
Paid vacation and sick leave accrue upon hire.
Ten paid holidays.
One paid discretionary day after six months of employment.
Paid time off for bereavement, jury duty, military service, and parental leave after 12 months of employment.
Retirement program with a generous employer contribution.
Additional voluntary retirement programs, including 457 or 403b plans.