Job Description
Job ID: 365529
About the Job 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.
Qualifications 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 and Benefits 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
How To Apply 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
[email protected] or call (612) 624-8647.
Diversity 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:
Employment Requirements 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.
About the U of M 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).
Job Tags
Holiday work, Full time, Flexible hours,