Benefits Associate

About University at Albany:

Established in 1844 and designated a University Center of the State University of New York in 1962, the University at Albany's broad mission of excellence in undergraduate and graduate education, research and public service engages a diverse student body of more than 17,000 students in nine schools and colleges across three campuses.

Located in Albany, New York, New York State's capital, the University is convenient to Boston, New York City and the Adirondacks.

Job Description:

This full-time Management Confidential position serves as a key member of the Benefits and Engagement team, which is integral to the employee experience by delivering service excellence supporting career and life events to a diverse, exceptional team of faculty, staff, and professionals. The Benefits Associate is primarily responsible for administering employee benefits and assists with administering leaves and retirement. Additionally, they assist and support engagement initiatives that enhance the employee experience and support retention by creating and maintaining a shared sense of belonging to the University at Albany.

Essential Functions:

Under the direction of the Director of Benefits and Engagement and as part of the benefits and leaves team, the associate will have primary responsibility for administering university benefits and will assist with administering leaves and retirement for approximately 3,500 university employees. The Benefits Associate works collaboratively with the HR team to proactively identify and implement opportunities to engage and enrich employees' experiences and sense of belonging with the University.

• Administer the State's health insurance benefits programs, which include conducting orientation programs, enrollment meetings, and webinars, answering employee questions and concerns, processing enrollment changes and corrections, and reconciling records.
• Develop and/or disseminate benefits information to employees through various channels, such as the HR website, webinars, newsletters, flyers, and orientation sessions. 
• Facilitates and/or delivers various educational opportunities to employees about their available benefits and encourages all employees to best prepare for their future in retirement.
• Responsible for maintaining accurate and up-to-date benefits records and data in the SUNY HR information system (SUNY HR) and related systems for benefits and retirement. This includes ensuring data integrity and security, updating employee records and statuses, generating reports and queries, troubleshooting system issues, testing system enhancements, and providing training and support to users.
• Assist with administering the multiple retirement plans and defined contribution programs and provide guidance on supplemental retirement savings plans, including enrollments, reinstatements/prior service credit, and contributions.  
• Assist with administering the various leave programs available at the university in compliance with all Federal, NYS, and SUNY Leave of Absence policies (i.e., disability, parental, workers compensation, family leave, etc.) as they relate to FMLA, NYS PFL, NYS PPL, and the various union CBAs. 
• Supports the planning and execution of events and programs that support engagement and wellness, such as orientation and onboarding, milestone celebrations, and wellness fairs.

Functional and Supervisory Relationships:

• Reports to the Director of Benefits and Engagement.
• Works closely with three other benefits and leaves staff.
• Works closely with and collaborates with SUNY System Central benefits staff.
• Works collaboratively with all retirement vendor representatives.

Job Requirements:

• Knowledge of and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Ability to work at a high level of attention to detail while maintaining accuracy.
• Excellent independent judgment, including sensitivity to personal information and ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality.
• Ability to develop collegial working relationships with individuals at all organizational levels and with varied backgrounds and experiences.
• Ability to deliver excellent customer service and present to large groups, in person and via remote technologies. 
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Strong research and analytical skills and problem-solving techniques.
• Strong working knowledge of benefits, leaves, and retirement programs and acumen.

Requirements:

Minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
• Minimum of two (2) years of human resources professional experience.
• Demonstrated experience with presenting and/or speaking in front of large groups.
• Demonstrated experience in delivering in-person and virtual customer experience.
• Applicants must demonstrate an ability to develop inclusive and equitable relationships within our diverse campus community.
• Applicants must demonstrate an ability to support diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and belonging relative to their role.

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience directly related to benefits or leaves administration.
• Experience in NYS public employment, including SUNY.
• HRCI, SHRM, or related certification.

Additional Information:

Professional Rank and Salary Grade: Management/Confidential MP; $60,000-65,000.

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, or Clery Act, mandates that all Title IV institutions, without exception, prepare, publish and distribute an Annual Security Report. This report consists of two basic parts: disclosure of the University's crime statistics for the past three years; and disclosures regarding the University's current campus security policies. The University at Albany's Annual Security Report is available in portable document format [PDF] by clicking this link http://police.albany.edu/ASR.shtml

Pursuant to Executive Order 161, no State entity, as defined by the Executive Order, is permitted to ask, or mandate, in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current compensation, or any prior compensation history, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation.  If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Governor's Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at [email protected] .    

THE UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY IS AN EO/AA/IRCA/ADA EMPLOYER

Please apply online via http://albany.interviewexchange.com/candapply.jsp?JOBID=174376

Application Instructions:

Applicants MUST submit the following documents:

• Resume/CV
• Cover letter addressing all the required minimum qualifications and any of the applicable preferred qualifications
• A list of at least three references with contact information

Note: After submitting your resume/CV, the subsequent pages give you instructions for uploading additional documents (i.e. cover letter etc.).

See the FAQ for using our online system. Please contact us if you need assistance applying through this website.

Returning Applicants - Login to your UAlbany Careers Account to check your completed application.

A review of applications will begin on May 1, 2024, and the search will remain open until the position is filled.