This position is responsible for confidentially managing the administration and delivery of comprehensive benefits and leaves programs offered to New York State employees as required by law, established policies, and/or collective bargaining agreements. Serves as a confidential resource and consultant to employees navigating benefit related coverage and leave options. The manager serves as The Research Foundation for SUNY secondary benefits administrator.
What makes SUNY Cortland a great place to work?
- Our positions provide predictable salary progressions, and many offer permanency.
- Generous benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance, various retirement program options, paid family leave and/or parental leaves, flexible spending and dependent care accounts, long term disability and tuition reimbursement.
- SUNY Cortland prioritizes work-life balance and well-being in all forms. The university’s state-of-the-art Student Life Center is free for employees to use, with membership options for families. SUNY Cortland’s Child Care Center welcomes the children of employees and community members, as space allows. Alternate work schedules are available with a supervisor’s approval.
- Professional development opportunities exist through training, continuing education programs, tuition reimbursement and conference travel, based on funding.
- Cortland County and surrounding areas offer easy access to arts, entertainment, outdoor recreation and much more. Experience Cortland dives deep into the region’s offerings
Major Responsibilities
Benefits Administration
- Manage the administration of health insurance benefits program for NYS (NYSHIP) employees (i.e. new employee on-boarding/enrollments and employee changes/updates based on bargaining unit or employer changes) pursuant to IRS and Civil Service regulations.
- Manage the multiple retirement plans (i.e. ERS, TRS, PFRS) and defined contribution programs (i.e. SUNY ORP Retirement Plan) as well as providing guidance on supplemental retirement savings plans.
- Work closely with SUNY Payroll and the Office of State Comptroller as it pertains to enrollments, reinstatements, prior service credit, and contributions.
- Process and provide individual off-boarding services to retirement eligible NYS employees which requires review of an individual’s years of service, specific retirement plan enrollment/tier, health insurance eligibility, including coordination of Medicare enrollment as needed.
- Participate in the promotion and communication of NYS benefits packages through presentations, website notices and updates, seminars, and other outreach.
- Develop, update, and review benefit policies and procedures.
Leaves Administration
- Oversee the administration of leave programs available to employees and partner with the Benefits and Leaves Specialist to ensure employees are informed of the leave options available to them.
- Ensure compliance of all Federal, NYS and SUNY Leave of Absence policies (i.e. disability, maternity/paternity, workers compensation, family leave, etc.) as they relate to FMLA, and the various CBAs.
- Monitor, track and manage long term leaves of absence and provide adequate outcomes and information to employees related to an individual’s entitlement of such benefits such as long-term disability (LTD), disability retirement and other options.
- Assist the university’s designee for reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as needed by providing consultation and/or information to support pre-and post-employment ADA requests for reasonable accommodation in compliance with Federal, NYS and SUNY policies, requirements and agreements.
- Partner with the Benefits and Leaves Specialist to facilitate internal restricted duty assignments in accordance with university policies, and Collective Bargaining Agreements.
Research Foundation Benefits Administration
- Provide direction and guidance to the Benefits and Leaves Specialist in the management and administration of RF benefits and leaves programs.
- Serve as The Research Foundation for SUNY secondary benefits administrator.
Engagement Programs
- Participate in and support employee engagement initiatives related to recognition and reward programs, socialization activities, and employee surveys.
- Collaborate with HR Leadership in the review of employee engagement surveys and make recommendations to address areas of concern.
Supervision
- Supervise the Benefits and Leaves Specialist providing ongoing training, coaching, and management of performance including ensuring annual performance evaluations are completed in a timely manner.
Analytics and Assessment
- Prepare ad hoc reports such as number of annual leave requests for FMLA, PFL, PPL, and worker’s compensation and retirement reports.
- Analyze benefits, leave and employee engagement data to identify patterns, positive and negative trends, and provide forecasts based on internal and external data.
- Participate in process improvement initiatives.
Service
- Attend a minimum of three events on campus
Functional and Supervisory Relationships
- Reports to the associate vice president for human resources
- Supervises the benefits and leaves specialist
- Works closely with the director of employee relations, appointment manager, and payroll manager
- Works with employees across all organizational levels
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required in human resources, business administration, psychology, counseling or a closely related field plus a minimum of 2 years professional work experience in employee benefits; or
- Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 4 years professional work experience in employee benefits
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience administering employee benefits within New York State public employment
- Experience administering benefits in a unionized setting
- Prior supervisory experience
About the University
A top public university of approximately 6,600 students located in the geographic center of New York State, SUNY Cortland provides accessible, affordable education to students from across the U.S. body. One of 13 comprehensive universities in the State University of New York system, SUNY Cortland prides itself on its rigorous undergraduate and graduate programs in the liberal arts, sciences, education, and professional studies. For more than 150 years, SUNY Cortland has provided unmistakable value for students seeking a well- rounded academic, athletic, and social experience. The University ranks among the top campuses in the nation on Money magazine’s “Best Colleges for Your Money List,” fields a powerhouse Division III athletics program and boasts an impressive network of alumni making a difference in education, business, government, fitness, medicine and many other fields.
EEO Statement
The State University of New York at Cortland is an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity/Americans with Disabilities Act (AA/EEO/ADA) employer. The university actively seeks applications from women, veterans, individuals with a disability, members of underrepresented groups or anyone that would enrich the diversity of the university.
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