• Manages the evaluation, planning, and administration of the Institution’s various health, welfare, and retirement programs; assesses effectiveness of programs in meeting overall strategic objectives, and oversees the development and implementation of changes and improvements to benefits programs, as appropriate. 
  
  
  
• Leads and supervises staff, fostering a service oriented mindset with emphasis on employee advocacy.
  
  
  
• Interfaces with vendors of Institution benefit plans, legal and actuarial consultants, fund custodians, etc.
  
  
  
• Directs, oversees, and quality controls the development of benefits proposals, negotiation with insurance carriers and external contractors, and administration of contracts or other agreements involving employee benefits.
  
  
  
• Serves as an authoritative source to Institution employees and outside inquiries relative to the Institution’s benefits programs.
  
  
  
• Develops, updates and/or presents various communications (such as announcements, articles, materials for meetings, plan descriptions, benefit statements, etc.).
  
  
  
• Responds to and resolves employee concerns regarding Institution benefits programs; advises, approves, or denies exception requests, as appropriate.
  
  
  
• Serves on designated committees and advisory boards as appropriate in order to maintain open communications with employees, retirees, insurance carriers, and other constituent groups.
  
  
  
• Oversees processing of all documents necessary for implementation of various benefits programs and maintenance of such records as required for compliance with ERISA, COBRA, and other applicable regulations.
  
  
  
• Prepares and submits timely reports required by law to be filed with federal and state agencies; coordinates and prepares various reports related to benefits programs for in-house, insurance and regulatory purposes.
  
  
  
• Informs, gives advice, and counsels management on trends and current development in the field of employee benefits.
  
  
  
• Participates in development, implementation, and maintenance of policies, objectives, short- and long-range planning; develops and implements projects and programs to assist in accomplishment of established goals.
  
  
  
• Develops and manages annual benefits budgets.
  
  
  
• May represent the Institution at various community and/or business meetings; promotes existing and new programs and/or policies.
  
  
  
• Maintains thorough knowledge of benefits, pension, tax and government legislation, socioeconomic trends, and court decisions related to areas of responsibility.  Informs supervisor of developments and trends that presently or potentially impact areas of responsibility.
  
  
  
• Performs such other duties as the supervisor may deem necessary.

College degree with 5-8 years of increasingly responsible benefits specialist experience.

• Considerable knowledge in benefits administration and related laws and regulations.
  
  
  
• Considerable knowledge of retirement plans and benefits.
  
  
  
• Ability to develop long-term plans and programs and to evaluate work accomplishments.
  
  
  
• Ability to present facts and recommendations effectively in oral and written form to all levels of the Institution, including Trustees.
  
  
  
• Ability to analyze facts and exercise sound judgment in arriving at conclusions; ability to make decisions.
  
  
  
• Ability to plan, supervise and review the work of direct reports.
  
  
  
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret the most complex documents.
  
  
  
• Ability to respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries and complaints.
  
  
  
• Ability to foster a cooperative work environment; strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.
  
  
  
• Ability to negotiate and manage contractual arrangements.
  
  
  
• Knowledge of customer service standards and procedures.
  
  
  
• Knowledge of budgeting, cost estimating, and fiscal management principles and procedures.
  
  
  
• Ability to work with computerized databases, word processing, spreadsheets, etc.

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