General Summary:

Reporting directly to the Vice Chancellor for Human Resources, the Director of Benefits (Director) will be responsible for the high-level management and oversight of the university’s strategic benefits program, as well as for the day-to-day operations of benefits administration for all university employees. Primary among the Director’s varied responsibilities will be ensuring that university and external constituents receive the highest level of customer service, including prompt and accurate communications regarding benefits matters, from the UMass Boston benefits team.  The Director will serve as a campus liaison to the Massachusetts Group Insurance Commission (GIC) with regard to all aspects of health, life, long-term disability and other GIC-provided benefits and will play a similar role in managing the university’s relationship with the various health and welfare trusts through which university employees receive dental insurance. The Director also will manage the university’s provision of strong customer-service oriented support to employees retiring from the university, including ensuring smooth collaboration with all aspects of the university’s interface with the GIC, the Massachusetts State Employees Retirement System (MSERS) and the university Optional Retirement Program (ORP).  The incumbent will meet with employees, provide information on the processing of retiree health care; provide overview of other health insurance options in retirement; and process salary verifications for the processing of previous state time for retirement. The Director also will ensure the smooth and effective operation of all other benefits operations, including management of the university tuition waiver process, health care spending and dependent care savings accounts, commuting-related benefits, various discount programs available to university employees and all other university benefits programs.  The Director also will ensure that all required benefit-related records are properly maintained in accordance with applicable requirements and that benefit deductions are properly entered in the university HR information system in a timely and accurate fashion. 

Examples of Duties:

• Provide high level management of the strategic and day-to-day operations of the benefits unit within the Department of Human Resources, as well as working directly with constituents and clients at all levels across the organization.
• Provide direct and top-quality customer service to all campus and external constituents, both in person and online. 
• Develop and implement performance metrics for the benefits team and leverage the same to promote excellence and accountability within the team, including with regard to responsiveness and timeliness of customer service.
• Oversee new employee benefits orientation program to ensure its quality and effectiveness, including as it relates to timely staff benefit enrollment. Recommend and, upon approval by the vice chancellor, implement enhancements to expand the depth and breadth of the process.  Collaborate with HR team colleagues to enhance and expand onboarding programming for new hires.
• As a member of the department senior leadership team, work effectively with colleagues to promote effective collaboration with other areas of the HR team and contribute to a positive and productive team environment.
• Partner effectively with the HRIS group to analyze and take prompt action as appropriate on the data provided in various reports designed to enhance benefits operations, such as those documenting staff conversations between benefited and non-benefited status.  Review biweekly Benefit related reports to ensure proper data entry prior to payroll deadline.
• Ensure that the campus relationship with the Group Insurance Commission (GIC) is properly managed in all respects, including keeping abreast of all GIC requirements and benefits changes.
• Devise and oversee a comprehensive strategy for providing accurate and effective benefits-related communications to employees to promote positive workplace engagement and enhance the HR department’s customer service position.  This will include maintaining the benefits website and patterning with the recruitment team to update and maintain hiring information.
• Oversee all benefits team operations to ensure that they are seamless and effective; these include yearly open enrollment, health/benefits fairs; and new hire benefits onboarding.
• Ensure that the benefits team responds in a prompt and accurate way to all retirement inquiries.  Serve as a university point person for retiring employees and the GIC; meet with retiring employee or potential retiring employee and provide information on the processing of retiree health care, including cost, direct billing, retiree deduction timing and mandatory Medicare Type A enrollment; provide overview of other health insurance options in retirement; process salary verifications with regard to calculation of pensions, leave of absences, dates of employment, etc. for the processing of buy back of previous state time for retirement.
• Provide oversight over other benefit-related programs, including but not limited to. Metlife Insurance, credit union, Fidelity, third party transportation benefit vendor, supplemental retirement (403b/457b), Smart Plan, employee assistance program, and employee discount program; ensure that university staff are kept abreast of changes in such programs,
• Respond to inquiries from the State Board of Retirement, Group Insurance Commission, Board of Higher Education and other benefit-related agencies; receive and respond to inquiries from agency staff and provide counseling to employees regarding health, life, disability insurance, retirement options and benefits after retirement, as well as deferred compensation plans and/or tax-sheltered annuity programs.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited university and a minimum of 7-10 years of benefits administration experience are required. 
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Ability to effectively manage team members.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, and other administrative software applications.
• Ability to effectively manage direct reports in a primarily in person office environment.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality of information and discretion in handling and disseminating confidential information.
• Ability to explain the procedures, guidelines, and policies governing benefits and administration.

Preferred Qualifications

• Progressively responsible supervisory experience, as well as documented history of strong leadership skills.  
• Knowledge of public sector benefits administration, especially in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
• Experience working in a unionized environment a plus, as is prior experience in higher education administration.
• Relevant certification in benefits and/or human resources (e.g., PHR/SPHR).

Application Instructions:

Please apply online with your resume, cover letter and list of three references. 

Review of candidates will begin following the application closing date.

Salary Range: Commensurate with experience

This is a non-union exempt position. 

All official salary offers must be approved by Human Resources.

UMass Boston is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, we will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations for the hiring process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact HRDirect@umb.edu or 617-287-5150.