Senior Benefits Associate

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Job description

Job Overview:
The Sr. Benefits Associate serves as a hands-on partner for the benefits functions that support data management, system maintenance, accurate and efficient management of NYRA benefits, retirement plans, and leave administrations while ensuring all programs are compliant with regulatory entities and CBAs.

The Sr. Benefits Associate provides guidance; focused on employee benefit education, employee engagement, monitoring of programs, implementation of benefit policies, and cost-effective outcomes within the health and welfare plans. This role requires the Sr. Benefits Associate to use a data driven approach to provide solutions, take initiative, make in scope decisions, mitigate risks, and be responsible for the outcome of those decisions.

Responsibilities:
Responsibilities of the Sr. Benefits Associate include but are not limited to the following:

Employee Engagement:

Deliver a professional, caring, and confidential level of service to employees and retirees utilizing the self-service portal module through all life event benefit provisions, eligibility, and enrollment.

Monitor, identify root causes, resolve, and implement corrective action plans for escalated inquiries to enhance the employee experience.

Manage the annual employee benefits open enrollment and benefits orientation; including but not limited to, employee communication materials, employee self-service portal configuration, benefit rate changes, benefit design enhancements, and system testing.

Employee Benefit Administration:

Recommend employee benefit programs by benchmarking best practices, evaluating, and optimizing employee understanding, acceptance, and interests, costs, regulatory requirements, and competitive advantage. Evaluate proposed employee benefit contracts by studying provisions; estimating impact.

Accountable for annual employee benefits open enrollment, including but not limited to, employee communication materials, employee self-service portal and records, and system testing.

Ownership of the entire life-cycle of employee's benefits including leave of absence administration; ensuring timely delivery and accuracy. This includes meeting with employees upon their benefit eligibility and throughout prior to the leave through return to work while continuously communicating with their manager and HR lead and keeping all parties informed of leave status.

Generate reports and conduct routine audits to ensure vendor compliance in order to minimize financial risk to NYRA and ensure systems are properly capturing the required data.

Provide CBA administration analytics, recommendations and support as it relates to employee benefits. Evaluate and revise internal processes to reduce costs and increase efficiency.

HR Reporting and Technology:

Responsible for interface discrepancies between HRIS and vendors.

Provide timely and accurate reports and analysis.

Compliance:

Serve as the subject matter expert on Plan related issues addressing eligibility, compliance, and annual audit requirements.

Ensure compliance of ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, ERISA, and IRS regulations and reporting requirements.

Develop communications to appropriate employees impacted by the changes.

Process Improvement:

Seek to identify process improvements, improved internal controls and savings opportunities.

Ensures that business units understand, incorporate, and follow NYRA's Shared Values and the following Supporting Behaviors:

Values Others - Achieves Excellence - Enhances the Guest Experience - Demonstrates Business Knowledge

Qualifications:
Bachelor's Degree or Associates Degree with 6+ years relevant experience.

4-6 years of work experience or equivalent combination of education, certifications, technical training, and work experience.

Superior knowledgeable of an enterprise HRMS solution, reporting and analytics required. ACA tracking and third-party systems such as Empire, COBRA administration.

Excellent problem solving, analytical and reporting skills.

High level of professionalism, integrity, and commitment to quality.

Excellent communication skills; verbal, written and listening.

Ability to create and complete project deliverables and documentation in a fast-paced environment.

Highly collaborative; Team player and change agent willing to take on all tasks.

Self-starter with a strong sense of urgency and close attention to detail.

CBP/CEBS certification required. SHRM-CP, and PHR certifications preferred.