BENEFITS COORDINATOR

$71,572 - $107,357/Yr

Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority - Buffalo, NY

Full-time

Buffalo, NY

Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation

About the position

The Benefits Coordinator is responsible for the design and administration of employee and retiree benefit programs at the Authority. This role involves providing guidance and participating in activities related to various benefits, including retirement, health, dental, optical, life insurance, and disability. The position requires independent judgment and initiative, working under the supervision of the Director, and includes interpreting regulations and policies governing benefits programs.

Responsibilities

• Conducts individual and group benefit orientations for new hires.
• Conducts individual and group open enrollment meetings for active employees and retirees.
• Processes benefit paperwork for active employees and retirees, relating to new hires and qualifying events.
• Monitors Medicare eligibility for retirees and processes required plan changes.
• Maintains medical waiver forms.
• Provides customer support for employees, retirees, and beneficiaries regarding benefit plans and claims issues.
• Acts as Company liaison to representatives of health and welfare benefits providers and NYS Retirement and Deferred Compensation Programs.
• Responsible for the setup and implementation of all benefit plans.
• Monitors and determines appropriate modifications to the Human Resources Information Systems.
• Works closely with MIS to determine best methods for communication, data management, data automation, and best use of current technology.
• Manages various employee and retiree benefit programs such as group insurance, including life, medical, dental, vision, accident, and disability.
• Conducts Open Enrollment process and all other benefit changes (Medicare eligibility, etc.) and COBRA administration.
• Coordinates the development, implementation, and communication of benefit plans due to changes in policies, procedures, and collective bargaining agreements.
• Administers pension plans and is responsible for all employee distributions of the plans.
• Participates in labor relations as required.
• Resolves payroll and benefit issues.
• Maintains and processes premium equivalent information for annual premium increases and changes due to collective bargaining.
• Responsible for ACA reporting, Creditable Coverage Disclosure, and other required benefit reporting.
• Prepares the design of RFPs, written communication, and implementation procedures in coordination with the Procurement Department.
• Coordinates wellness initiatives.
• Performs a variety of other related duties as required.

Requirements

• An associate's degree in business administration with a concentration in Human Resources.
• A minimum of five (5) years of increasingly responsible Human Resources experience in benefits administration.
• Thorough knowledge and experience in administering pension plans and New York State Retirement System.
• Thorough knowledge of health care and other employee benefit programs.
• Knowledge of Human Resources Information Systems to maintain accurate records.
• Thorough understanding of federal, state, and local regulations pertaining to human resource payroll, employment, and benefit-related matters.
• Knowledge of Authority personnel policies and practices to provide advice and resolve problems.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficient in the use of MS Office, especially Excel and Word.

Nice-to-haves

• Professional Human Resources certification preferred.
• Experience in union and non-union settings preferred.
• Knowledge of Lawson and Kronos is a plus.