Temporary Senior Benefits Specialist

Middlesex College•Edison, NJ

About The Position

Administers the College’s comprehensive benefit program, using the most effective communication channels to inform and collaborate with a diverse, unionized workforce.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree
Four (4) year of related work experience, with a focus on human resources or benefits administration
Experience managing employee leaves of absence administration
Excellent customer service, written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
Demonstrated knowledge of federal, state, and local benefit laws and compliance topics, including HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA, NJFLA and more

Nice To Haves

Experience with NJ Division of Pensions & Benefits plans, including administration of retirement plans
Knowledge of ADP Workforce Now
CEBS, PHR, SPHR, or SHRM certification
Experience working in an education environment, preferably at a college or university

Responsibilities

Provides leadership and strategic guidance regarding employee benefits, including but not limited to, retirement plans, medical, dental, short- and long-term disability policies, and leave of absences. Ensures federal and State of New Jersey compliance in all employee benefit programs.
Plans and manages the development, periodic maintenance, and distribution of all communications, guides, plan documents, and department website content relating to all employee benefits from inception to completion.
Supervises the Benefits Coordinator, with a focus on timely and accurate benefits enrollment data entry and recording, as well as first-line customer service to employees on benefits-related information. Backs up the Benefits Coordinator functions when the Coordinator is unavailable.
Serves as one of the College’s Certifying Officer with the NJ Division of Pensions & Benefits, requiring both responding to Division requests for information and certifying submissions in the Division’s online system. This includes enrollments, updating eligible ABP job titles with the Division, termination memos, certifying salaries, and responding to requests for service credit purchases.
Reviews and responds to ABP carrier requests for information and approvals.
Guides employees throughout the entirety of the retirement process.
Serves as liaison with Middlesex County Joint Health Insurance Fund (MCJHIF) contacts on medical and prescription plan administration, as well as with the College’s insurance broker on dental plan administration.
Leads the effort on the department’s Open Enrollments, including all logistical planning, routine audits, crafting communications, and scheduling on-campus benefits carrier visits.
Manages all aspects of employee leaves of absence in compliance with federal and State laws, College policy and procedures, and collective bargaining agreements. Assists and guides employees on all components of their leave of absences. Coordinates with Payroll and employees’ supervisors. Tracks and is able to report on each employee leave.
Acts as departmental point of contact on Workers Compensation claims.
Leads department efforts on all wellness and Employee Assistance Program (EAP) initiatives, including coordination with third-party plan administrators.
Manages all procedures and administration of COBRA benefits.
Contributes to all areas of the Human Resources function on an as needed basis.
Performs other duties as assigned.