Benefits Specialist

Who we are:

The Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA) represents over 117,000 members and nearly 400 locals across the state and employs a full-time staff of over 160. Our members are public school teachers, faculty, professional staff, and education support professionals working at public schools, colleges, and universities. As a member-driven organization and the largest union in New England, our collective power makes MTA an influential voice for educators, students, and their communities. We are proud to be an advocate for social, racial, and economic justice and for a public education system that provides one of the cornerstones of a democratic society.

Employee Benefits Manager

Reporting to the Director of Human Resources, the Employee Benefits Manager develops, implements, administers, and maintains all benefits programs, policies, and procedures. The Manager will counsel employees on benefits related issues and administer and manage the day-to-day operations of all retirement and health insurance programs along with both the 401k and the Pension Plan.

Salary: $90,000 - $125,000

Essential Responsibilities:

• Manage and administer all employee benefit programs.
• Ensure compliance with applicable government regulations. Ensure timeliness and accuracy of required reporting.
• Coordinate daily benefits processing. Handle new enrollments, COBRA, terminations, changes, beneficiaries, disability, accident and death claims, rollovers, QDROs, QMCSOs, distributions, and compliance testing.
• Counsel employees on all leave-of-absence requests and ensure the submission of disability paperwork for medical, family, disability, and other federal and state leave programs.
• Responds to benefits inquiries from managers and employees on plan provisions, benefits enrollments, status changes and other general inquiries.

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Oversee maintenance of employee benefits files, benefits billing and maintain benefits database and updates employee payroll records.
• Prepare annual Pension Plan Census by collecting and organizing data for actuarial assessments. Review data in conjunction with actuarial evaluation.
• Design and distribute materials for benefits orientations, open enrollment, and summary plan descriptions.
• Explains retirement benefit plan policies, procedures, and legal requirements to employees and beneficiaries.
• Acquires and distributes relevant information and documentation to plan participants and beneficiaries.
• Develops and maintains records of participants and beneficiaries including active, deferred, retired, and terminated vested participants.
• Coordinates with actuaries, plan administrators, accountants, and other professionals to provide verified and compiled data for administration of benefits.
• Coordinate placing plan participants into pay status
• Ensures the accuracy of all benefits enrollments in ADP to provide vendors with accurate eligibility information.
• Lead new-hire orientations and Distributes all benefits enrollment materials and determines eligibility.
• Performs quality checks of benefits-related data.
• Enrolls employees with carriers and process life status changes.
• Administers the tuition reimbursement program.
• Provides necessary reports for allocation/billing charges.
• Ensures the organizations and plans compliance with the applicable provisions of COBRA, HIPAA, and ERISA.
• Partner with Finance and Accounting on Employee Benefit administration
• Ensures the accuracy of all benefits enrollments in ADP to provide vendors with accurate eligibility information.
• Assists with new-hire orientations and distributes all benefits enrollment materials and determines eligibility.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to clearly explain all benefits and retirement plan options in easily understood terms.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Thorough understanding of ERISA laws, regulations, and agency interpretations or opinions related to employee benefits and retirement benefits.
• Advance proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite or related software.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Human Resources, or related field required or equivalent experience
• At least three years of experience with retirement, insurance benefits, financial planning, or actuarial services required.
• SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP desired

*MTA reserves the right to waive any qualifications at its discretion*

The MTA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all staff..