Lead Benefits Specialist - Back Office

Join our team at the California State University, Office of the Chancellor, and make a difference in providing access to higher education. The CSU Chancellor's Office is the headquarters for the nation's largest and most diverse system of higher education.

About the role

The California State University, Office of the Chancellor, is seeking a Lead Benefits Specialist - Back Office to provide support and coordination for various benefit program areas within Shared Services. The incumbent will perform highly complex technical tasks and operational support for benefits administration, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and alignment with organizational goals. This role serves as a functional lead, providing expert guidance on HR policies, resolving complex issues, and improving processes and workflows.

Responsibilities

• CHRS Functional Lead: Serve as a functional lead resource for CHRS benefits data integrity, coordinating audits, overseeing updates, and providing advanced guidance on enrollment and eligibility matters.
• Benefits Deduction Oversight: Lead the administration, audit, and reconciliation of benefit deductions (health, vision, dental, life, LTD) in coordination with the State Controller’s Office (SCO), ensuring accuracy and resolving discrepancies.
• Dental Benefits Coordination: Oversee the submission, reconciliation, and compliance of dental enrollment data with CSU providers, addressing complex issues and ensuring timely processing.
• Retired Employee CalPERS Coordination: Serve as the lead resource for Retired Annuitant and Faculty Early Retirement Program (FERP) appointment auditing, ensuring proper retirement coding and compliance with CalPERS and employment regulations.
• Systemwide Discrepancy Resolution: Lead cross-functional collaboration to investigate and resolve data inconsistencies across CHRS, SCO (PIMS), dental, vision, and CalPERS systems.
• ACA Compliance Leadership: Coordinate ACA data monitoring and compliance efforts, ensuring accurate coding in SCO PIMS, SCO ACAS, and PeopleSoft; resolve complex errors and provide guidance on federal and state regulatory requirements.
• CalPERS Functional Oversight: Serve as the lead liaison for CalPERS administration, overseeing service credit purchases, validating membership eligibility, and resolving arrears and enrollment discrepancies.
• Collective Bargaining: Support the collective bargaining process by reviewing recommended changes to benefit provision language within collective bargaining agreements (CBA) and providing input to Assistant Directors.
• Lead Work Coordination: Assign and direct work, monitor performance, provide coaching and feedback, and contribute to employee performance evaluations (without administrative supervisory authority).

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field (Human Resources or Business) or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
• Minimum of four years of professional benefits experience incorporating complex and comprehensive knowledge.
• Experience with the CSU CHRS PeopleSoft Benefits Administration module.
• Experience in Human Resources in higher education.
• Experience with PIMS/CIRS and policies, procedures, and regulations pertaining to Human Resources Information Systems.
• Advanced knowledge of human resources principles, practices, and applicable regulations.
• Demonstrated experience leading the development, implementation, and enhancement of HR standards, policies, and procedures.
• Strong project coordination and organizational skills to lead complex initiatives and prioritize competing demands.
• Advanced analytical skills to evaluate and interpret complex data and develop well-supported conclusions.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to present complex information and advise stakeholders.
• In-depth functional knowledge of PeopleSoft Benefits Administration modules.
• Expertise in investigating and resolving complex benefits issues and assessing organizational impact.
• Ability to independently plan, coordinate, and execute work involving diverse and high-volume demands.
• Comprehensive knowledge of CSU guidelines, state and federal laws, educational codes, and collective bargaining agreements.
• Working knowledge of payroll business practices and their integration with benefits and HR operations.
• Proven ability to serve as a primary liaison with campuses, the State Controller’s Office, CalPERS, benefit vendors, and other external agencies.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with custom CHRS Benefits reports and queries.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision Benefits
• Generous vacation plan
• 15 paid holidays a year
• Tuition waiver education program (also applies to eligible family members)
• Membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)

Pay

The anticipated salary hiring range is up to $88,008 per year, commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Schedule

This position may be located at a CSU campus or the Chancellor's Office in Long Beach, CA. Flexibility to telecommute two days a week, with three days on-site at the designated reporting campus.

This recruitment is open to current CSU employees only.