HR Benefits Specialist - Office of Human Resources

POSITION DETAILS

The Graduate Center is the focal point for advanced teaching and research at The City University of New York (CUNY), the nation's largest urban public university. With over 35 doctoral and master?s programs of the highest caliber, the Graduate Center fosters pioneering research and scholarship in the arts and sciences and prepares students for careers in universities and the private, nonprofit, and government sectors. The Graduate Center?s commitment to research and scholarship for the public good is exemplified by its more than 30 centers, institutes, and initiatives, including its Advanced Science Research Center (ASRC), a 200,000 square-foot facility in upper Manhattan, designed to promote collaboration among scientists in five areas of global research and innovation: nanoscience, photonics, structural biology, neuroscience, and environmental sciences.

The Graduate Center (GC) benefits from highly ambitious and diverse students and alumni, who in turn teach hundreds of thousands of undergraduates every year. Through its public programs, the Graduate Center enhances New York City?s intellectual and cultural life.

The Office of Human Resources (OHR) supports a vibrant, diverse, and inclusive employee community at the Graduate Center and at its affiliated CUNY colleges and professional schools, which include Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, Macaulay Honors College and School of Labor and Urban Studies.

Through high-level expertise and services, we seek to create a workplace where faculty, staff, and student employees can thrive. Our comprehensive program includes employee relations, recruitment, benefits, compensation, professional development, coaching, and mentoring, with emphasis on quality and responsiveness.

The HR Benefits Specialist is responsible for Benefits related matters for the School of Labor and Urban Studies (SLU). This position reports to the Benefits Manager at the Graduate Center.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Provides benefits and retirement information to employees; receive, review documents, and process accordingly; responds to inquiries and provides timely resolution of issues with a high level of customer service.
• Partners with the Benefits Manager, and SLU?s HR Manager to assess benefits services and determine best practices and methodologies to add value and efficiencies in terms of orientations, health fairs, information sessions, etc.
• Supports Benefits operations in all areas of benefits; serves as a backup; may attend meetings in absence of Benefits Manager; may liaison with health and retirement plan vendors.
• Partners with the Executive Director of HR to manage the lifecycle of the reasonable accommodations process; This includes, intake, reviewing and tracking requests, generating reports and following-up with employees as needed.
• Collaborates with Benefits Manager, and/or HR staff on the planning and execution of events/activities to: educate community on various benefits offered by CUNY; promote wellness and health; etc.
• As needed, provides guidance on benefits to the Adjunct Coordinator and/or the adjunct population at the Graduate Center; ensures documents have been completed at standard for submittal to CUNY Central for processing.
• Responsible for handling and processing commuter benefits, EdenRed.
• Serves as the point person on benefits, welfare fund, retirement plans, etc. pertaining to classified staff.
• May perform other duties as assigned.

Until further notice, this is a hybrid position, eligible to work remotely and work on-site in the office.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's Degree and four years' related experience required.

A preferred candidate should have:

• Experience in higher education
• Demonstrated experience in Benefits operations.
• Keen attention to details and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Experience presenting and conducting orientation.
• Strong oral, written and interpersonal skills.

CUNY TITLE OVERVIEW

Organizes and provides employee benefits programs for faculty and staff and coordinates benefits matters on behalf of a College or Unit.

• Counsels and assists staff on employee benefits matters
• Designs, creates, and conducts workshops and employee meetings related to benefits and benefits changes, including the annual open enrollment period
• Administers College benefits, providing information to carriers, retirement systems, welfare funds, and others as needed, managing data accuracy and completeness
• May coordinate complex programs, such as worker's compensation or leaves of absence
• Compiles data, monitors benefits statistics, prepares required and ad hoc reports, and conducts routine periodic audits of data entry for the College, CUNY Central, and outside parties as needed
• Represents the College at University benefits related meetings
• Develops and maintains employee benefits manuals, newsletter, policy descriptions, and other needed materials; maintains benefits-related information on College web site
• Maintains accurate, confidential employee records
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Job Title Name: HR Benefits Specialist

CUNY TITLE

Higher Education Assistant

FLSA

Exempt

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

$86,645 - $90,375. Salary commensurate with education and experience.

CUNY's benefits contribute significantly to total compensation, supporting health and wellness, financial well-being, and professional development. We offer a range of health plans, competitive retirement/pension benefits and savings plans, tuition waivers for CUNY graduate study and generous paid time off. Our staff also benefits from the extensive academic, arts, and athletic programs on our campuses and the opportunity to participate in a lively, diverse academic community in one of the greatest cities in the world.

HOW TO APPLY

Please click on "Apply Now" which will bring you to the registration screen. If you are a new user, you must register to apply. If you already have a user ID, please use your existing ID to apply. Please submit a cover letter and resume in Word or PDF format.

CLOSING DATE

March 27, 2025

JOB SEARCH CATEGORY

CUNY Job Posting: Managerial/Professional

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

CUNY encourages people with disabilities, minorities, veterans and women to apply. At CUNY, Italian Americans are also included among our protected groups. Applicants and employees will not be discriminated against on the basis of any legally protected category, including sexual orientation or gender identity. EEO/AA/Vet/Disability Employer.

Job ID

Location

Graduate Center

About CUNY Graduate Center

The Graduate Center, CUNY is the focal point for advanced teaching and research at The City University of New York (CUNY), the nation's largest urban public university. With over 35 doctoral and master’s programs of the highest caliber, the Graduate Center fosters pioneering research and scholarship in the arts and sciences and prepares students for careers in universities and the private, nonprofit, and government sectors. The Graduate Center’s commitment to research and scholarship for the public good is exemplified by its more than 30 centers, institutes, and initiatives, including its Advanced Science Research Center (ASRC), a 200,000 square-foot facility in upper Manhattan, designed to promote collaboration among scientists in five areas of global research and innovation: nanoscience, photonics, structural biology, neuroscience, and environmental sciences.The Graduate Center (GC) benefits from highly ambitious and diverse students and alumni—who in turn teach hundreds of thousands of undergraduates every year. Through its public programs, the Graduate Center enhances New York City’s intellectual and cultural life.

Connections working at CUNY Graduate Center