Benefits Consultant - Time Away, Disability & Life

Official Title: HR Consultant 1 - Benefits
Working Title: Benefits Consultant - Time Away, Disability & Life

As a member of the University of Minnesota's Total Rewards department, oversees the University's time away, disability and life insurance benefits ensuring a competitive set of offerings that are fiscally responsible and responsive to employee needs. Provides expert benchmarking, analysis, design, implementation, monitoring, and communication of these programs and assists with other benefit projects as assigned. Responsible for vendor relationships. Provides consultation to University stakeholders and committees.

Essential Responsibilities

• Designs, implements and analyzes the University's time away, disability and life insurance benefits to ensure plans meet the University's stated strategies.
• Conducts benchmarking to ensure time away, disability and life insurance benefits are competitive with the University's stated employments markets. Proactively recommends design changes to ensure plans remain competitive.
• Works closely with the University Budget office and the Health Programs finance team to provide financial models of proposed policies and benefit plan designs. Works with data warehouse vendor when appropriate.
• Provides in depth consultation to human resource staff and employee governance groups to ensure optimal time away benefit offerings are developed on University and employee needs.
• Works with Leave team, OHR Contact Center and OHR Benefits Administration to ensure staff is trained on all time away, disability and life insurance benefits and are effectively administering the programs.
• Partners with OHR Communications and OHR Benefits Counseling to develop and implement communications and education strategy that brings practical understanding of benefits to our employees, retirees and their family members in simplified terms.
• Significant leader and partner in preparing change management plans for significant benefit changes and introductions.
• Manages all time away, disability and life insurance vendors including RFPs, price negotiations, agreements about benefits provided, performance guarantees and expectations, identification of systems requirements, and reporting expectations.
• Assists in the design and modification of time away and leave policies. Including gaining support for recommended changes and effectively communicating the final policy. Examples of policies currently include:
  • Paid medical leave and disability benefits for faculty and P&A employees
  • Parental leave for employees
  • Bereavement leave for faculty and P&A employees
  • Unpaid personal leaves for faculty and P&A employees
  • Vacation leave for faculty and P&A employees
  • Professional development leaves for P&A employees
  • FMLA leave
  • Vacation donation program for civil service and union-represent
  • Sick & Safe
  • Paid MN Family Medical
• Works closely with Compliance and Contracting consultant to ensure time away, disability and life insurance documents, contracts and policies are in regulatory compliance.
• Assists with other health and welfare benefits on an as-need basis.
  

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources or a business-related field
• Minimum of 6 years of progressively responsible benefits experience, including experience with making benefit changes that require cost/benefit assessment, financial modeling and change management.
• Knowledge of benefit issues, trends and practices with experience in translating benefits benchmarking into proposed changes for the future.
• Knowledge of benefit regulations.
  
  Required Competencies & Skills
  
• Strong analytical, problem solving and decision-making skills
• Comfortable managing mid to large-scale benefit changes
• Strong communication skills across all levels of an organization
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Ability to foster positive partnering relationships among a variety of University stakeholders, employee governance committees and carrier/vendors.
• Able to see the large picture as well as the granularity of a situation/project Strong negotiating skills

Preferred Education & Experience

• Master's in Human Resources, Business, Public Health, Healthcare Administration or related field
• Professional benefits certification or demonstrated work toward certification, from a recognized professional or educational organization is preferred. (i.e.: CEBS, CBP)
• Experience with HRMS system and outsourced benefits administrator
• PeopleSoft experience

Pay Range: $80,000 - $105,000; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 75%-100% Appointment

Position Type: Faculty and P&A Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume. A resume and cover letter are required for consideration.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).