Senior Benefits Specialist

VCU Human Resources has an exciting opportunity for a Senior Benefits Specialist to join our team!


All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes: comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave granted up front, employer-funded retirement plans and employee retirement savings options with cash match, generous tuition benefit, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more. Learn more at “Why VCU?” https://hr.vcu.edu/careers-at-vcu/why-work-at-vcu/ and more about VCU’s employee benefits: https://hr.vcu.edu/current-employees/benefits/a-z-list-of-benefits/.


Position Summary/Overview:

The Senior Benefits Specialist demonstrates excellence in benefits administration and customer service, ensures accurate and effective technical implementation of VCU benefit programs and transactions within the university’s systems and databases, and administers data sharing and interfaces with benefit vendors. Responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to:

-Supports and assists faculty and staff throughout the VCU employment cycle, from hire to separation/retirement, with effective benefit consultation, participant administration, and customer service.
-Develops informational resources and programming for faculty and staff to support and encourage effective utilization of benefit programs.
-Provides benefit support to retirees of the university’s Optional Retirement Plan
-Collaborates with the Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS) team and payroll to ensure accurate and effective technical implementation of benefits and deductions in HRIS and payroll systems.
-Oversees the day-to-day operational administration of the university’s employee benefit programs.
-Responds to and resolves employees’ benefits questions and problems, processes transactions, manages documentation and internal audits, and delivers employee training.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Demonstrated knowledge of, and experience administering benefits programs in compliance with state, local and federal benefits laws and regulations, including but not limited to COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, and IRS code for 403(b), 401(a), and 457 programs.
• Experience in administering governmental health & welfare plans.
• Demonstrated technical competence with HRIS and payroll systems including experience with benefit and deduction implementation projects.
• Experience delivering employee training programs.
• Ability to document and explain complex concepts clearly in standard oral business English and standard business written English at or above the college level.
• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff and student environment or commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience with Ellucian Banner software, the Commonwealth of Virginia Cardinal Human Capital Management(HCM) system, and Virginia Retirement System Navigator (VNAV).
• Experience administering employee enrollments and changes for the Commonwealth of Virginia State Health Benefits Program, the Virginia Retirement System, 403(b) and 401(a) retirement programs.
• Demonstrated successful experience in delivering small- and large-scale employee training.
  College degree in Human Resource Management, Business, or a related discipline.

Salary Range: $63,000 - $90,000

Department: Human Resources
Employment Type: UF - University Employee FT
Restricted Status: No
FTE: 1
Exemption Status: Exempt

University Job Title: Senior HR Specialist 1-3, Human Resources (23214-23216)

ORP Eligible: No