The University of Maine System (UMS) is accepting applications for a Senior Benefits Specialist to collaborate closely with HR teams, employees, and external vendors to ensure the effective design, implementation, and administration of various benefit plans. This person also coordinates and administers activities and duties related to employee benefits and retiree benefits to ensure compliance with UMS policies, federal and state leave regulations (such as the Family Medical Leave Act, ADA, etc.), union contracts and non-represented handbooks, as well as relative benefit plan documents. Performs activities related to the coordination of non-personal leaves of absence; medical including FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act) and non-FMLA and return to work with non-occupational injuries or illness, assists employees to remain at or return to work with all necessary support and resources. Provides expert level, customer service to all types of employees, managers, and human resources on complex benefit and leave matters. Addresses walk-ins, telephone, fax, and email inquiries regarding employee and retiree benefits, leaves of absence, and retains accurate records in MaineStreet HRMS for proper reporting, billing, and account reconciliation. Responds to and resolves inquiries with timely, accurate, and professional responses ensuring efficient service and support according to standard processes, union contracts and handbooks, legal and UMS policies and protocol; solves problems and interprets complex requests and escalates where appropriate.
Please review the complete job description for more details.
Salary: The normal hiring range for this position is $50,000 to $55,000, commensurate with experience. For current UMS employees, the salary will also take into consideration existing pay for transfer or promotion.
Benefits: The University of Maine System offers a highly competitive benefits package that includes (but is not limited to):
- 13 paid holidays plus earned vacation and sick time
- Health, Dental, and Vision insurance
- Short-term disability insurance and employer-paid long-term disability insurance
- Employer-paid basic life insurance and supplemental life insurance
- Tuition waiver program for employees and their dependents (spouse, domestic partner, and dependent children)
- 403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution
To learn more, please review the Benefits Information Summary.
Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Will consider a hybrid or remote schedule for the right candidate.
Required Qualifications:
- Working knowledge of retirement plans (both defined contribution and defined benefit plans), health and wellness benefits, including retiree health/Medicare.
- Working knowledge of all pertinent federal and state regulations affecting leave programs including FMLA and state leave laws and ADA.
- Ability to make proactive and well-informed decisions which consider the impacts and implications for compliance with UMS policies and external regulations.
- Ability to work professionally with sensitive, proprietary data & information while maintaining confidentiality.
- Ability to understand and resolve complex data, file integration, and record keeping issues.
- Ability to exercise sound judgment in responding to inquiries; understands when to route inquiries to the next level.
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in education and experience.
- Excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to interact effectively and professionally with individuals at all levels, both internal and external.
- Experience working within established policies, procedures, and practices of an organization.
- Self-motivated with strong organizational skills and superior attention to detail.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master’s degree.
- Several years’ experience in working with employee benefits, preferably in a senior or leadership role.
- Experience working in higher education with multiple unions.
- Experience working with employees on sensitive issues involving financial, health, and disability concerns.
Important items to know about the recruitment process:
- Review of applications will begin immediately. For full consideration, materials must be submitted by May 2, 2025.
- Materials received after the initial review date will be reviewed at the discretion of the University.
- Incomplete application materials cannot be considered.
- Candidates selected to proceed to the final stages of the search process will be requested to provide three (3) names and contact information for references.
- The successful applicant is subject to appropriate background screenings.
- We are not able to consider applicants who require Visa sponsorship.
In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University of Maine System does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity, or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability physical or mental, genetic information or veterans or military status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5713, 207-581-1226. TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).