Job Details

Senior Benefits Specialist
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Position Number: 5669845
Location: Santa Clara, CA
Position Type: Human Resources

Senior Benefits Specialist

Position Title:
Senior Benefits Specialist

Position Type:
Regular

Hiring Range:

$69,600 to $81,850; Compensation will be based on education, experience, skills relevant to the role and internal equity.

Pay Frequency:
Annual
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 retirement plan administration: ensuring compliance with plan documents and applicable rules and regulations, monitoring trends and emerging legislation, and recommending plan and 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 45%

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 the event
Assist with annual benefits Open Enrollment
Assist with testing HCM system releases and configuration changes

Retirement Plan Administration 40%

Review and approve/deny participant transaction requests (paper or electronic), monitor recordkeeper election files to ensure accurate HCM system enrollment, support 5500 audit, resolve semi-monthly recordkeeper payroll errors, determine vesting eligibility and update vesting records for 401(a) plan
Ensure accuracy of retirement records by performing ongoing audits of HCM system and recordkeeper records
Lead annual non-discrimination testing of retirement plans
Log cash transfers after each payroll and document reasons for discrepancies between payroll and recordkeepers

Other Related Duties 15%

Work with HR Fiscal Operations and/or University Finance Office as needed to ensure proper funding of retirement, HSA, and FSA accounts.
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, benefits website content, administration of education benefits.
Other HR duties as assigned

Qualifications

Knowledge

Strong knowledge of laws and regulations related to employee benefits
Demonstrated knowledge of Tax Deferred Annuity and/or Defined Contribution retirement plans
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
Excellent time management skills
Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint or equivalent; advanced Excel skills preferred

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.

Education

Bachelors degree is required, or equivalent experience; and

Experience

Five years of related work experience in Human Resources, with a minimum of two years experience in retirement administration

Preferred qualifications:

Certification in CEBS, CBP, SHRM-CP/SCP, HRCI-PHR/SPHR
Higher Education professional work experience
Workday Human Capital Management (HCM) work experience
Project Management 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

Equal Opportunity/Notice of Nondiscrimination

Santa Clara University is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all Federal and California State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. Applications from members of historically underrepresented groups are especially encouraged. For a complete copy of Santa Clara University's equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policies, see https://www.scu.edu/title-ix/policies-reports/

COVID-19 Statement

The health and safety of the University community is a top priority. The University strongly recommends that all employees are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 as the vaccination and boosters are safe, effective tools that significantly minimize the chances of serious illness and hospitalization. Please contact Human Resources if you have any questions.

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.

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. Information about Section 504 and the ADA Coordinator can be found at https://www.scu.edu/oae/, (408) 554-4109, oae@scu.edu. 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.

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_R4990