Benefits Coordinator

$71,572 - $107,357/Yr

Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority - Buffalo, NY

Full-time - Mid Level

Buffalo, NY

Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation

About the position

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

Responsibilities

• Conduct individual and group benefit orientations for new hires.
• Conduct individual and group open enrollment meetings for active employees and retirees.
• Process benefit paperwork for active employees and retirees, relating to new hires and qualifying events.
• Monitor Medicare eligibility for retirees and process required plan changes.
• Maintain medical waiver forms.
• Provide customer support for employees, retirees, and beneficiaries regarding benefit plans and claims issues.
• Act as Company liaison to representatives of health and welfare benefits providers and NYS Retirement and Deferred Compensation Programs.
• Setup and implement all benefit plans.
• Monitor and determine appropriate modifications to the Human Resources Information Systems.
• Manage various employee and retiree benefit programs such as group insurance, life, medical, dental, vision, accident and disability, LTD, Flexible Benefits Plans, and conduct Open Enrollment process and all other benefit changes.
• Coordinate the development, implementation, and communication of benefit plans due to changes in policies, procedures, and collective bargaining agreements.
• Administer pension plans and responsible for all employee distributions of the plans.
• Participate in labor relations as required.
• Resolve payroll and benefit issues.
• Maintain and process premium equivalent information for annual premium increases and premium changes due to collective bargaining changes.
• Administer COBRA and responsible for ACA reporting, Creditable Coverage Disclosure, and other required benefit reporting.
• Prepare the design of RFP's, written communication, and implementation procedures and coordination with the Procurement Department.
• Coordinate wellness initiatives.

Requirements

• Associate's degree in business administration with a concentration in Human Resources.
• 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 ensure maintenance of accurate records.
• Thorough understanding of federal, state, and local regulations pertaining to human resource payroll, employment, and benefit-related matters.
• 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 a plus.

Benefits

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance