Benefits & Leaves Specialist

Please review the  Fall Term 2021 COVID-19 Vaccination Policy prior to applying to this position.

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Supervisor, Pension and Benefits, the Benefits and Leaves Specialist is responsible for providing prompt, knowledgeable and courteous support to a client group comprised of administrative, faculty, support staff and retirees.  The Benefits and Leaves Specialist is responsible for quality and administrative effectiveness with respect to Seneca’s benefit plans, leave programs and CAAT Pension Plan and works in accordance with the relevant collective agreements, plan documents, policies and legislated requirements.

Responsibilities:

Administering College Health, Dental and Life Insurance Plans and maintaining accurate data in both internal and external systems

• Meets with new full-time hires, reviews enrolment documentation for completion, determines waiting periods, and informs active employees and retirees of entitlement, eligibility options, coverage, claim submission procedures, premium costs etc., in accordance to their respective Plan.
• Tracks coverage changes due to age and informs employees of coverage changes; Resolves complaints or problems referred by employees or retirees with Sun Life benefit claims and payments.
• Informs and instructs employees with respect to life insurance conversions, and death benefits; issues annual benefit premium payment receipts to retirees.
• Distributes Sun Life drug cards.

Administering the College Leave Plans 

• Informs employees and their supervisors on the procedures for application of leave of absence without pay, prepaid leave, pregnancy/parental leave, professional development leave and 10-month positions (summer layoff).
• Provides detailed written documentation to employees and verbally explains the effect the leave has on salary and benefit entitlements.
• Processes benefit arrangements, monitors and ensures timely submission of benefit premium payments from employees on leave of absence without pay. 
• Calculates SUB payments for pregnancy/parental leave and salary entitlements for employees returning from leave.

Administers the CAAT Pension Plan

• Processes documentation on benefit entitlement to ensure deductions are processed by Payroll in a timely manner.
• Enrols employees and responds to questions regarding the plan options and reviews enrolment documentation for completion and submission to CAAT.
• Processes CAAT Pension Plan buybacks for leaves.

Other

• Other duties include calculating salary, premium costs and leave entitlements for less than full load assignments.
• Maintaining and updating benefits and vacation transfer information in HRIS.
• Contributes to process improvement.

Qualifications: Education

• Three (3) year post-secondary degree/diploma in Human Resources.  If education is in a different field, please state how it is related.
• Enrollment in Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) or Canadian Human Resources Leader (CHRL) program would be considered an asset.

Experience

• Three (3) years of progressive experience within Human Resources, with emphasis on Benefit Administration.
• Knowledgeable and conversant with applicable legislation/policies and procedures governing employee pension and benefits including Employment Standards, Human Rights Code, Revenue Canada guidelines and associated programs.

Skills

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to effectively interpret and explain benefit and pension details to multi-cultural/racial/able Staff.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills to ensure timely processing of partial-load benefits to meet payroll deadlines and contractual obligations of benefit carrier.
• Excellent pension and benefit knowledge combined with analytical, time management and problem-solving skills to ensure customer enquiries are handled in an effective and timely manner.
• Strong computer skills using Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and Word, and other database packages; PeopleSoft experience is an asset.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, accuracy and numeracy skills are required to handle complex calculations.
• Positive outlook with ability to act independently or contribute as a team player, as the incumbent is required to assist coworkers in benefits and pension areas.                    
• A high degree of diplomacy, confidentiality and professionalism is required.
• Experience working with collective agreements is considered an asset.

Note:  A skills assessment test may be administered during the recruitment process.