Senior Benefits Coordinator

University of North Florida•Jacksonville, FL

About The Position

Under the direction of the Assistant Director or above, acts as lead Benefits Coordinator, and assists in the design, development and implementation of departmental processes and/or programs. This position involves performing specialized professional level human resources functions, requiring proficiency in HR systems, data analysis, and procedural execution. Coordinates an employee benefits program involving research, analysis, and advisory responsibilities. The work involves differing situations requiring use of judgment in searching for solutions or new applications related to benefits operations.

Requirements

Master's and 2+ years of relevant experience or Bachelor's degree and 4+ years of relevant experience. Or an equivalent combination of education and experience pursuant to Fla. Stat. 112.219.
Familiarity with benefits programs (health, dental, vision, life insurance) and retirement plans (403 (b), pension plans, etc.).
Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills; excellent written and verbal communication abilities; high attention to detail.
Familiarity with HRIS systems, benefits administration software, and Microsoft Office Suite.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with employees at all levels.
A customer-service mindset, with a passion for helping others navigate benefits programs.
Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
High ethical standards and a commitment to maintaining confidentiality.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of the Florida Retirement System (FRS) and FICA Alternative Plan is a plus.

Responsibilities

Serves as Benefits Operations team lead.
Provides guidance and training to Benefits Specialists.
Oversees work processes and leads special projects related to Benefits Operations.
May delegate special project tasks to Benefit Operations Specialists.
Trains other Benefits team members.
Manages employee Lifecycle Event seminars. This includes preparation and delivery of Lifecycle Event seminars. Involves liaising with vendors, creating content in conjunction with CPDT, and presenting information to employees.
In collaboration with the Assistant Director, develops, reviews, and recommends revisions to employee benefits policies, programs, and processes.
Serves as cross functional lead for training and new employee orientation. Collaborate with the Training Department to coordinate and support the bi-weekly New Hire Orientation sessions, ensuring seamless integration of benefits information and accurate onboarding for new employees.
Provides support to Assistant Director to resolve HRIS system issues. May work with cross-functional units as needed.
Meets with employees and assists employees with enrolling in benefit election data into the state benefits portal including dependent profiles, beneficiaries, coverage levels, monthly premium rates, and other relevant factors. Ensure all necessary documents are uploaded and processed accurately.
Responsible for data accuracy and integrity related to benefits operations data.
Analyzes data for development of recommendations, corrections, and/or resolutions.
Review deduction errors, including analysis of premium reports to make determinations, investigate discrepancies, and draw conclusions from error/report analysis. Takes appropriate action to reconcile, balance premiums, and/or correct deductions through payroll.
Troubleshoot and collaborate with supervisors and state agencies to resolve employee document requests, benefits issues, and/or premium discrepancies.
Assist Payroll with off-cycle supplemental deductions file transfer to People First for late processing.
Analyzes state benefits report to determine if premium refunds are needed. Processes refund through state agency and notifies Payroll on when the refund can be processed for payment.
Ensures terminated employees university paid premiums are ended in the state system to ensure fiscal responsibility.
Evaluate and confirm position Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) changes with departments for benefits eligibility purposes and relays information with other functional areas of HR as appropriate.
Coordinate and manage the Open Enrollment process in conjunction with the Assistant Director, including communicating enrollment periods, updating benefits materials, and providing guidance to employees on benefits options and changes.
Meets with employees regarding retirement inquiries, and/or to assist with processing retirement paperwork. Reviews retirement paperwork and approves with signature before sending it to the state for processing. Also assists and approves in-service rollovers.
Assist new employees with retirement plan enrollment and confirm that all changes are correctly reflected in the University HR System (HRIS). Verify retirement payroll deductions for all employees, ensure accurate enrollment, and troubleshoot discrepancies as needed.
Review all new hire Florida Retirement System (FRS) Certifications and validate dates within myFRS to ensure compliance with new member guidelines, Reemployment Limitations, and Rehiring. Addresses reemployment red flags with employee, department supervisor, and FRS as required. May consult with Assist Director of Benefits Operations and other functional areas of HR , as needed.
Generate reports from the state reporting services, analyzes the data, and draws conclusions to ensure the accuracy of the retirement reporting information Identifies and resolve discrepancies or errors related to the retirement program requirements.
Assists employees with setting up 403b and 457b accounts with our approved investment providers. Enrolls employees into correct retirement accounts in the University HR System (HRIS) and monitors deductions. Reviews and determines that all changes employees want to make are accurate and approves forms to be sent to investment providers.
Coordinates the Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP) and DROP Terminations. Works with FRS as necessary to troubleshoot DROP personnel actions.
Process FICA Alternative Plan distribution requests. Review and decide if the request can be approved based on the FICA distribution policy.
Lead for Worker's Compensation claims in partnership with employees, supervisors and third-party administrators. Monitors claims for status updates and return-to-work progress. Submits wage statements to third-party administrator and coordinates with Pay & Leave team to ensure accuracy and to ensure overpayments are not occurring.
Coordinate and organize the annual Benefits Fair in conjunction with the Assistant Director. This could include selecting and liaising with vendors, scheduling sessions, preparing promotional materials, and ensuring all logistics are in place. Provide support during the event, answer employee questions about benefits offerings, and assist with enrollment and information dissemination to ensure employees have a clear understanding of available benefits options.
Assist with the Osprey Update announcement and calendar for Benefits and Retirement. Serve as backup to other Benefits Coordinators, HR Associates, and front desk functions as needed.
Other duties as assigned by HR leadership.