Benefits Specialist

Cayuga Health and its affiliates are the region's leading healthcare system and most trusted providers of integrated health services, empowering our people in our mission to equitably improve the well-being of the communities we serve. Our commitment to providing extraordinary healthcare begins with our team of extraordinary professionals who are continuously discovering clinical innovations and enhancing access to the most up-to-date facilities, equipment, technologies, and research protocols. Cayuga Health's commitment to our employees includes competitive compensation, comprehensive employee benefits programs, and the opportunity to explore and build a career in healthcare through our many professional development programs. 

The Benefits Specialist at Cayuga Health System is responsible for managing and administering comprehensive employee benefits programs, ensuring compliance with legal requirements and organizational policies. This exempt role involves conducting employee consultations, overseeing invoice management, coordinating open enrollment, and managing FMLA-payroll related functions. The Benefits Specialist also handles daily administrative duties, such as managing email inquiries and leading special HR projects. This position plays a critical role in supporting employees with their benefits and ensuring the smooth operation of benefits and leave management programs.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Employee Consultations: Conduct bi-monthly on-site meetings with employees to provide expert assistance and guidance on retirement benefit enrollment and processing.
• Invoice Management: Oversee the preparation, coding, and submission of weekly claim invoices and monthly administrative invoices for CMC and SCH, ensuring accuracy and compliance with financial procedures.
• Pension Mailings: Supervise and assist in the completion of term vested pension mailings, maintaining meticulous records and adherence to deadlines.
• Open Enrollment Coordination: Assist with the coordination of the Open Enrollment process, including planning, communication, and execution of enrollment activities.
• FMLA Package Preparation: Oversee the preparation of FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act) packages, ensuring all documentation is accurate and compliant with legal requirements.
• FMLA-Related Payroll Support: Provide expert support for payroll changes and timekeeping related to FMLA, ensuring compliance with company policies and legal regulations.
• Email Management: Manage and respond to the Benefit and Retirement daily email inboxes, providing timely and accurate information to employees and resolving complex inquiries.
• HR Projects: Lead special HR projects, demonstrating initiative and expertise in handling various human resources-related tasks and ensuring successful project outcomes.
• Additional Duties: Perform all other duties as assigned, utilizing professional judgment and expertise to address emerging needs and challenges within the HR department.

Required Skills and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Human Resources, Finance or a related field. 4 years equivalent combination of education, work experience, and relevant HR-related certifications may be substitutable.
• Strong knowledge and understanding of insurance regulations, plan designs.
• Familiarity with COBRA, HIPAA, ERISA, FMLA, ACA and related state and federal regulations.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, to ensure trust and compliance with Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act (HIPAA).
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-volume environment, and to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective positive working relationships with co-workers and CHS team members.
• Ability to apply proactive and innovative solutions to everyday challenges.
• Working knowledge of all applicable employment laws.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

Preferred Skills and Experience:

• Benefits or HR certifications (e.g. CEBS, PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP) or relevant certifications preferred.

Location and Travel Requirements:

• Hybrid - Travel to Cayuga Health System (CHS) locations for various meetings, events, and collaborations will be required. This may include periodic visits to our facilities in Ithaca, New York, and surrounding areas. Travel frequency will depend on organizational needs, project requirements, and scheduled events. The incumbent should be flexible and able to accommodate occasional travel as necessary to effectively fulfill the duties and responsibilities of the role

Pay Range Disclosure:

• $65,000 - $80,000 per year

Cayuga Health System and its affiliates are committed to treating all patients, providers, staff and volunteers equitably and with dignity, ensuring the highest levels of safety, care and respect, and striving to recognize and overcome biases and policies that contribute to disparities in healthcare access, equitable care and positive health outcomes for all.

We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer, supporting the growth and health of our employees and community by embracing the rich diversity, needs and circumstances of all peoples and prioritizing opportunities to build a diverse and inclusive workplace. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable protected characteristics.

If you require reasonable accommodation to complete a job application, pre-employment testing, a job interview or to otherwise participate in the hiring process, please contact the Cayuga Health Talent Acquisition team at talentacquisition@cayugahealth.org.

Current Openings for Benefits Specialist Jobs at Cayuga Health System