Benefits Coordinator

Eastern Michigan University; Ypsilanti, Northern (MI, KY); Hybrid; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Eastern Michigan University is seeking a Benefits Coordinator to support the Benefits function, counseling employees on health and welfare programs, LOA, and workers’ compensation. The role oversees program administration, data entry, and vendor reporting across multiple systems.

Responsibilities include tracking and reporting for LOA and workers’ compensation, administering benefit plans and deductions, and coordinating with Payroll and IT to ensure timely, accurate processing.

Qualifications

• Requires a bachelor's degree or eight years of equivalent work experience.
• Demonstrated independent judgment and ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills and punctuality with deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Counsels employees regarding health and welfare programs, LOA, and workers’ compensation and handles inquiries and issues.
• Leads LOA and workers’ compensation administration tracking and reporting.
• Administers benefit plans, elections, and deductions; conducts data entry for enrollment, changes, LOA, and workers’ compensation.
• Generates standard and ad hoc reports; collaborates with IT to create new reports as needed.
• Liaises with HR, Payroll, Finance, and academic departments to provide training and technical assistance.

Skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Confidentiality

Deadline-driven

Education

Bachelor's degree

Equivalent work experience

Tools

Banner ERP

Crystal Reports

Argos

MS Office

Job description

Title: Benefits Coordinator

Employee Classification: AH - Administrative Non-Exempt

Pay Grade: AH 02

Division: Academic and Student Affairs

Subdivision:Total Rewards

Department: University Human Resources

Campus Location: Main Campus

General Summary

Under general direction, support the efficient and effective operation of the Benefits function by counseling employees in all health and welfare programs, leave of absence (LOA), and workers’ compensation. Oversees health and welfare programs, leave of absence (LOA), workers’ compensation, and system data entry and administration across different platforms and vendor reporting systems.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Counsels employees regarding all health and welfare programs, LOA, and workers’ compensation. Assists in the handling of routine benefits, LOA and worker compensation inquiries, and complaints and issues to ensure quick, equitable, and courteous resolution.
• Leads the administration, tracking, and system reporting for LOA and workers’ compensation programs to ensure they are administered according to plan provisions and company regulatory guidelines.
• Assists in the administration of benefit plans, employee elections, and deductions.
• Performs basic data entry into systems and databases primarily for benefit plan enrollment, deductions, benefit changes, LOA, and workers’ compensation. Assists with other changes including but not limited to new hires, promotions, transfers, salary changes, retirements, and terminations.
• Assists with university-wide initiatives, such as benefits orientation, annual open enrollment, retirement programs, and wellness programs.
• Collaborates with Payroll to understand and set due dates for personnel and benefit-related actions; monitors payroll cycles and paces work to meet established deadlines.
• Audits benefit vendor/carrier invoices and works directly with benefit vendors to reconcile discrepancies, and to create and submit payment requests for approval.
• Modifies query variables to run standard reports. As directed, generates more complex and ad hoc reports; completes Request for Services (RFS) forms and works with IT to create new reports as needed.
• Liaises with HR, Business and Finance, and academic departments to provide technical assistance, troubleshoot, investigate, and resolve problems, determine due dates for personnel and benefits-related actions, and provide training support.
• Documents and maintains procedural manuals and policies for HRIS and benefit vendor databases.
• Analyzes data flows to identify process improvements and recommends and helps implement workflows to streamline HR operations and benefits administration.
• As directed, participates in efforts to research, recommend, and implement new HR modules or systems for benefits, LOA, and workers’ compensation administration.
• Cross-trains designated staff to provide assistance during peak periods of activity.
• Stays abreast of trends, laws, regulations, best practices, and technologies related to assigned functional areas.
• Assists with planning and implementing special events and works on special projects.
• Perform related departmental duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree, preferably in Business Administration, Computer Information Systems, Human Resource Management, or a related behavioral science field, OR eight years of equivalent work experience; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience that demonstrates the ability to perform all essential duties of the position is required.
• Working knowledge of Human Resources principles and practices, typically acquired through at least one year of work experience in a Human Resources related position, OR through a combination of graduate-level coursework and related internship experience is required.
• Demonstrated independent judgment, strong verbal and written communication skills, and the ability to maintain confidentiality, meet deadlines, and interact with all levels within an organization are required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Personal computing skills, including working knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet, and database management software (specifically Microsoft Word, Excel, and Access) are required. Proficiency with Banner ERP and Crystal or Argos report-writing tools is preferred.
• Knowledge of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and EEO laws and regulations is preferred.
• Experience working in a higher education or healthcare setting, a unionized environment, or another fast-paced, dynamic HR environment is preferred.

Special Instructions

Appointment Percentage:

100%