Job Details

Senior Benefits Specialist

Position Number: 6285055
Location: Santa Clara, CA
Position Type: Human Resources

Senior Benefits Specialist

Position Title:
Senior Benefits Specialist

Position Type:
Regular

Hiring Range:

$81,850 to $91,800/annually; Compensation will be based on education, experience, skills relevant to the role, and internal equity.

Pay Frequency:
AnnualPosition Purpose

Under the general guidance of the Manager of Benefits, the Senior Benefits Specialist is part of a team of Specialists that are responsible for the administration of the University's benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, and retirement. This position has an emphasis on leave of absence and workers compensation administration: ensuring compliance with applicable rules and regulations, monitoring trends and emerging legislation, and recommending process improvement.

The Senior Benefits Specialist serves as a point-of-contact for employees (faculty and staff), former employees, and vendors/providers regarding the University's benefit programs. In administering these programs, this position also works closely with Human Resources colleagues and other members of the campus community.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

General Benefits Administration 30%

Respond to benefit-related inquiries promptly and accurately and resolve or escalate concerns, with a focus on providing excellent customer service to members of the University community
Support successful onboarding of new hires by conducting group benefit orientations and/or 1:1 meetings, troubleshooting enrollment issues, and monitoring HCM and vendor systems and reports to ensure accurate completion of enrollment
Meet with and provide benefits education to retiring or other separating employees as needed
Process qualified life event transactions by evaluating documentation, approving or denying events in HCM system, and monitoring benefit changes to ensure consistency with event
Assist with annual benefits Open Enrollment
Assist with testing HCM system releases and configuration changes

Faculty and Staff Leave Processing 30%

Serve as internal point of contact for employees, managers, and other University staff regarding leaves of absence and/or modified work schedule processes and policies. Ensures that employees are aware of their responsibilities and of any documentation and notice required to qualify for and to take leave
Ensure third party administrator is handling leaves in accordance with company policy and leave regulations
Partner with Payroll to integrate SCU pay with payments made by short-term disability, paid family leave, and workers' compensation programs.
Partner with benefits team member handling accommodations to coordinate services and ensure proper administration of leaves granted as an accommodation
Prepare leave of absence reports as requested by management
Monitor existing and emerging leave regulations, including FMLA and state and local laws.
Recommend process and/or policy changes based on new or updated legislation, employee feedback, and evolving technology capabilities.

Workers' Compensation Administration 10%

Serve as point of contact for employees, managers, and other University staff regarding processes and policies related to work-related illness and injury
Provide timely outreach to injured employees to coordinate their initial care and treatment.
File workers' compensation claims timely and accurately.
Work closely with risk broker and TPA to ensure appropriate handling of claims
Prepare reports required by government agencies and as requested by management.
May administer a Return to Work and transitional work program for injured employees in order to aid employees to return to work sooner with less lost time

SCU employee education benefit program (Tuition Remission, Tuition Reimbursement, Tuition Exchange) - 15%

Serve as primary point of contact for the education benefit program.
Manage annual notice to employees and solicitation of applications and enrollment forms.
Certify eligibility and process enrollments
Coordinate eligibility with Bursar's office and the Tuition Exchange Organization
Conduct Employee Education Benefit Workshops and meet individually with faculty and staff on program eligibility, guidelines and process
Prepare and deliver all communications to employees and tuition exchange applicants
Manage quarterly tuition remission payments with Financial Aid and Bursars offices
Coordinate the awarding of annual tuition exchange scholarships
Calculate all taxable tuition amounts for employees for payroll processing and communicate imputed taxable income to employees.
Audit all tuition payments on a quarterly basis and make adjustments as needed
Prepare annual education benefit utilization reports
Research and resolve any discrepancies reported by participants
Develop continuous process improvements

Other Related Duties 15%

Educate campus community regarding topics related to areas of responsibility
Join in the University community via committees, projects, and events.
May have primary or backup responsibility for other related duties including, but not limited to: running and/or troubleshooting vendor enrollment/contribution files, compliance with COBRA, 1095-C data validation and distribution, Workday maintenance and user guides, life insurance EOI process, and benefits website content.
Other HR duties and special projects as assigned.

Qualifications

Knowledge

Extensive knowledge of Leave related federal and state regulations and other legal protections afforded by FMLA and other applicable laws.
Knowledge of Workers Compensation regulations
Strong knowledge of laws and regulations related to employee benefits
Commitment to understand and support Santa Clara University's distinctive Jesuit education vision and willingness to model institutional values of competence, conscience and compassion, in pursuit of its mission and goals.

Skills

Excellent listening, interpersonal, and communication skills
Research and analytical skills
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint or equivalent

Abilities

Ability to comprehend and interpret benefit information as it applied to the daily operation of the benefits department.
Ability to handle confidential information with sensitivity and discretion.
Ability to exercise professional and courteous demeanor in responding to internal (faculty and staff) and external customers
Ability to identify and troubleshoot problems.

Education and Experience

Required:

Bachelor's degree required or equivalent combination of education and experience
Five years of related work experience in Human Resources, with a minimum of two years experience in leave management and employee benefits administration

Preferred:

Experience with Workers' Compensation is highly desirable
Certification in CEBS, CBP, SHRM-CP/SCP, HRCI-PHR/SPHR
Higher Education professional work experience
Workday Human Capital Management (HCM) work experience

Physical Demands

The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, the California Fair Employment & Housing Act, and all other applicable laws, SCU provides reasonable accommodations for qualified persons with disabilities. A qualified individual is a person who meets skill, experience, education, or other requirements of the position, and who can perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

Considerable time is spent at a desk using a computer terminal.
May be required to travel to other buildings on the campus.
May be required to attend conference and training sessions within Bay Area or in- or out-of-state locations.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described below are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

Typical office environment.
Mostly indoor office environment
Offices with equipment noise.
Offices with frequent interruptions

EEO Statement

Santa Clara University is an equal opportunity employer. For a complete copy of Santa Clara University's equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policies, see https://www.scu.edu/title-ix/policies-reports/

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972

Santa Clara University does not discriminate in its employment practices or in its educational programs or activities on the basis of sex/gender, and prohibits retaliation against any person opposing discrimination or participating in any discrimination investigation or complaint process internally or externally. Information about Title IX can be found at www.scu.edu/title-ix. Inquiries can also be made to the Assistant Secretary of Education within the Office for Civil Rights (OCR).

Clery Notice of Availability

Santa Clara University annually collects information about campus crimes and other reportable incidents in accordance with the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. To view the Santa Clara University report, please go to the Campus Safety Services website . To request a paper copy please call Campus Safety at (408) 554-4441. The report includes the type of crime, venue, and number of occurrences.

Americans with Disabilities Act

Santa Clara University affirms its commitment to employ qualified individuals with disabilities within the workplace and to comply with the Americans with Disability Act. All applicants desiring an accommodation should contact the Department of Human Resources, and 408-554-5750 and request to speak to Indu Ahluwalia by phone at 408-554-5750 or by email at iahluwalia@scu.edu.

Telecommute

Santa Clara University is registered to do business in the following states: California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and Illinois. Employees approved to telecommute are required to perform their work within one of these states.

To view the full job posting and apply for this position, go to https://wd1.myworkdaysite.com/en-US/recruiting/scu/scu/job/Santa-Clara-CA/Senior-Benefits-Specialist_R6228