Benefits Manager

Minimum Qualifications Required Qualifications :

Education : Bachelor's Degree in Human Resource or Benefits Management, Business, Communications, Finance, Psychology, Sociology or related fields.

Experience : Five or more years of experience working in Benefits, Human Resources or Benefits-related field, including 3+ years' experience administering employee benefits or insurance benefit information.

Experience : Three or more years managing one or more direct reports.

Strong client service skills and a proven track record of success working with benefits providers, human resources, and / or benefits clients necessary.

Excellent computer, analytical, and problem-solving skills necessary.

Excellent spreadsheet and data organizational skills, including strong knowledge of Excel, including formulas and pivot tables is highly preferred.

Ability to work independently and collaboratively, whether onsite or remotely.

Ability to work in a hybrid environment, adept at maintaining work communications and relationships to fulfill responsibilities in a remote work situation.

Ability to self-manage in a fast-paced environment and to troubleshoot issues as they arise.

Excellent interpersonal, analytical, and written communication skills.

Ability to think creatively and solve problems and must be able to work effectively and efficiently within strict deadlines as part of a team.

Good listener, clear communicator, and organized planner.

Collaborative and solutions-focused problem solver, with demonstrated consensus building skills.

Preferred Qualifications :

Experience with SUNY and / or New York State Benefits administration.

Experience with collective bargaining agreements and environment.

Experience with higher education systems and environments.

Knowledge of New York State and Federal, higher education and retirement laws governing Benefits administration.

Three or more years working with institutional investments, retirement-related Internal Revenue Code and applicable New York State, Federal and higher education retirement laws governing public plans preferred.

Familiarity with SUNY's retirement program and / or higher education plans using annuities preferred.

Public speaking experience welcome.

Supervisory experience welcome.

Has desire to work in team environment with long-term professional development objectives.

Duties Description Job Summary

The Benefits Manager is an externally facing representative of the SUNY University-wide Benefits team. This individual collaborates with all team members, taking the lead with the non-retirement benefits the department sponsors (Long-term Disability and Paid Family Leave for UUP and M / C employees) as well as the non-retirement benefits we administer and advocate for on behalf of our 29 State campuses.

This individual is the main day-to-day benefits administrator, interacting directly with Human Resources and Benefits Administrators at our 64 State University and community college campuses, our internal SUNY and New York State business partners, and our external benefits providers and business partners.

This team member will work closely with business partners and colleagues to manage day-to-day operations, to resolve issues as they arise, and to provide leadership and planning in discovering and implementing long-term solutions.

The Benefits Manager oversees departmental project work, is responsible for all deliverables to internal and external business partners, and maintains a set of smoothly run benefits deliverables.

This team member will supervise the Benefits Specialist on our University-wide Benefits team.

This team member will assist the Director in managing relationships with approved vendors / business partners for non-retirement benefits.

Duties and Responsibilities

Partners with Director to build and maintain excellent relationships with all SUNY campus administrators, participants, leadership, and internal clients.

Partner with Director in overseeing relationship with our Long-term Disability and Paid Family Leave insurance provider (currently The Standard), with a focus on their custom Ergonomic Assessment program for SUNY M / C and UUP employees.

Lead day-to-day contact for The Standard.

Oversees The Standard's Ergonomic Assessment program activities with participating campuses.

Provide Long-term Disability and Paid Family Leave administration, including reconciling billing, fielding questions and addressing issues with insurance provider and campuses.

Partners with Director to provide high-level oversight of ongoing Benefits programs, including service agreements with existing Benefits providers and crafting RFPs for potential new Benefits providers.

Represents the SUNY retirement program at industry, State and SUNY non-retirement Benefits events.

Direct involvement in the development, review and updating of all non-retirement Benefits-related policies and procedures.

Leads benefits issues resolution process as situations arise on particular and across all SUNY campuses, coordinating with SUNY Counsel's Office, dedicated outside counsel for SUNY retirement plans and others (.

campus administrators, SUNY leadership, Office of the State Comptroller, Civil Service, Payroll) to facilitate resolution while providing direct assistance, outreach and support as needed.

Lead benefits-related projects and provides analysis of processes and system interdependencies.

Leads the design and delivery of ongoing non-retirement Benefits-related training for campuses.

Develops and implements communications and educational programming for campuses and employees.

Fields Benefits inquiries, including coordinating department responses to FOIL requests.

Oversees the maintenance and updates to both public and private SUNY Benefits-related web sites.

Oversees the revision, maintenance and dissemination of benefits publications, forms and literature.

Conducts research and analyzes data related to the operation and administration of Benefits programs.

Assume role of first and potentially main customer service representative for SUNY campus Benefits Administrators and potentially SUNY employees seeking assistance and issue resolution related to the Benefits we sponsor and / or administer.

Proven skills in deconstructing complex situations and facilitating better communal understanding.

Resource for campuses on questions related to health care plans, workers' compensation insurance, and other benefits, including, flex spending limits, leave coordination, etc.

Assist campuses with union benefit questions, including redirecting inquiries to proper authorities.

Coordinate and project manage annual Benefits Administrators Meeting.

Coordinate and schedule bi-monthly calls / virtual video meetings with State campus Benefits Administrators.

Assist University-Wide Benefit leadership, including Director with evaluation of information, identifying trends and exploring enhancements to programs.

Oversee development of Discount programs (maintaining vendors, fielding campus issues / questions).

Handle and manage retirement plan arrears calculations (verifying calculations from campuses, double-checking employee eligibility, et al).

Manage and update Benefits documents, announcements, and website pages as needed.

Assist in data collection and coordination of retirement plan issues and initiatives (forced distributions, look-backs, sponsorship reports, employee enrollment issues, .

Develop educational and training materials with University-wide Benefits teammates, campus administrators and business partners.

And all other duties assigned by the Director.