Title: EMPLOYEE BENEFITS & LEAVE SPECIALIST
Employee Classification: Professional 52 Wks Non-Unit
Department: Human Resources
Salary Range: $ 54,477.00
Who we are:
We are not-for-profit: St. Louis Community college (STLCC) is a non-profit institution dedicated to empowering students, expanding minds, and changing lives. Employees are committed to strengthening the St. Louis community with inclusive and transformative education.
We are a respected employer: For 60 years, STLCC has served the St. Louis community, expanding to 4 main campuses, 2 education centers, 2 workforce training centers, and 5 centers of excellence. More than one-half of the households in St. Louis have at least one member who has taken classes at STLCC.
We make an impact in the community: Through credit courses, continuing education, and workforce development programs, STLCC annually serves nearly 69,000 students. More than 80% of career and technical graduates employed in their fields or continue their education at four-year institutions within six months of graduation. STLCC sends more transfer students to Missouri’s four-year colleges/universities than anyone else.
We value Diversity, equity & inclusion: STLCC is committed to fostering an atmosphere of appreciation for all people, regardless of race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or class.
What you get:
Benefits package [for full-time employees]: STLCC offers one of the best benefit packages in the St. Louis area. As a STLCC employee you will have access to a 100% match on your contribution to retirement, two health insurance plans options that are no cost to the employee - including an HSA option, low-cost life insurance with a 3x salary benefit, and other low-cost benefits including dental, vision, AD&D, ST LT disability insurance.
Opportunity to grow: Over half of our employees have served the college for more than 12 years, exploring different career paths and advancing to higher level positions.
Education & training opportunities: STLCC offers tuition waivers for employees [full-time and part-time] + their dependents. Full-time employees can take advantage of tuition reimbursement for other institutions after just 6 months of service, and an annual professional development allotment.
Work/life balance: Full-time STLCC employees have access to a generous time off package, including holidays, vacation, personal days, medical leave, and other leave options. Our holiday schedule even includes a paid winter holiday at the end of the calendar year.
Commitment to wellness: STLCC HR boasts a dedicated health and wellness specialist who is enthusiastic about creating a culture of wellness throughout the College. With access to college wellness vendors, employees are educated, motivated, and rewarded for healthy behaviors. STLCC employees and anyone living in their household also have access to an employee assistance program (EAP) that can help them with virtually any life need.
The basics of this position:
The Employee Benefits and Leave Specialist is responsible for supporting the ongoing administration of the employee health and welfare benefits and leave of absence programs; providing support and assistance to employees, former employees, retirees and peers.
What you'll do:
- Assist with the administration of health and welfare employee benefit programs and assures compliance with all applicable state and federal regulations.
- Coordinates the design and communication materials for the annual benefit enrollment and employee orientations to enhance the employee experience.
- Works closely with benefit plan administrators and carriers to resolve complex employee, former employee and retiree issues, HRIS integrations and benefit appeals.
- Assists with benefit plan renewals, contract negotiations, RFP/RFI proposal as needed.
- Regularly audits HRIS data and resolves issues; identifies reporting needs and works with HRIS to build the reports. Involved in data gathering, maintaining reports, and building new reports.
- In partnership with leadership, plans and coordinates between brokers, providers, HRIS and employees to execute open enrollment annually.
- Performs special projects as needed such as completing benefit surveys to assist in benchmarking.
- Works closely with payroll to coordinate benefit deductions.
- Communicates with employees regarding their needs for leave and/or modified work schedules.
- Ensures that employees are aware of their responsibilities and of any documentation and notice required to qualify for and to take leave.
- Oversees the leave of absence process, while working closely with The Hartford to answer questions related to leave of absence eligibility, assist with determining leave eligibility, designating leave as FMLA-qualifying, requesting medical certification as needed, and accounting for intermittent and reduced schedule leave use.
- Maintains reasonable communication with employees on leave to facilitate smooth and timely return to work, relays communication between employees and their managers during leave within reason.
- Advises managers and employees on the interaction of leave laws with paid time off and short-term and long-term disability benefits.
- Oversees the return-to-work process for employees returning from leave of absence.
- Work closely with Labor and Employee relations regarding leave requests, which may include accommodation requests under the ADA.
- Administers other college time-off programs as assigned in accordance with internal policy and applicable laws.
- Preserves confidentiality of employee medical documentation and files.
- Maintains knowledge of all applicable leave and accommodation laws including the FMLA, ADA, and state and local laws.
- Assists with new-hire orientations.
- Assists employees regarding benefits claim issues and plan changes.
- Maintains all benefits enrollment materials and determines eligibility.
- Enrolls employees with carriers and process life status changes.
- Responds to benefits inquiries on plan provisions, benefits enrollments, status changes and other general inquiries.
- Effectively interprets FMLA and ADA implications as they relate to leaves of absences/disabilities.
- Responsible for open-enrollment process.
- Provides necessary reports.
- Performs other leave and benefit related duties as assigned.
Education, experience, and other requirements:
• Bachelor’s degree in human resources or related field required.
• Two years of human resource experience required.
• Working knowledge of employee benefit plans, policies, procedures, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA, ADA, and other US Labor Laws.
• Working knowledge of employee benefit plans and administration required.
• Experience with employee leaves case management preferred.
• SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP preferred.
• Completion of specialized certification or training on FMLA/leave administration a plus.
• Experience in handling sensitive, confidential information.
• Ability to raise issues proactively and in a timely manner.
• Ability to work independently and exercise good judgment.
• Demonstrates a sense of urgency and a proactive approach to resolving problems.
• Able to communicate effectively and build relationships with all levels of the college.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite with strong to expert level Excel skills. Working knowledge of Banner HRIS, a plus.
• Effective time management and organizational skills required.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Detail oriented.
