Benefits Specialist (Two Positions)

Working Title: Benefits Specialist (Two Positions)

State Role Title: Human Resource Analyst I

Position Type: Full-time Staff (Classified)

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt: Not Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: Human Resources, Training and Performance

Department: 100210 - Human Resources

Pay Rate: Pay Range

Specify Range or Amount: $46,500 - $50,000

Is this a JMU only position? No

Is this a grant-funded position? No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? No

Beginning Review Date: 01/29/2025

About JMU:

James Madison University is a publicly funded university with a beautiful campus and a supportive community that is committed to preparing students for the future. The university offers excellent comprehensive benefits which include paid vacation, sick, parental, and community service leave in addition to 19 paid holidays a year; affordable health insurance; retirement through the Virginia Retirement System. We also offer a work-life balance and integration program, Balanced Dukes, that is designed to support the overall wellbeing of our employees and a Tuition Waiver Program that allows employees to have tuition waived for undergraduate and graduate level courses taken at JMU.

Visit our Prospective Employee site to learn more about what makes JMU a great place to work: bit.ly/JMUEmployment

General Information:

The JMU Office of Human Resources seeks a Benefits Specialist to provide excellent customer service and accurate policy interpretation of all employee benefits.

Duties and Responsibilities:

* Serving JMU employees by providing customer service in the form of guidance, interpretation, and counseling regarding benefits including: health insurance, life insurance, ADA, Workers' Compensation, FMLA, and VSDP, while ensuring compliance with applicable state policies and procedures for JMU/state benefits by answering employee questions and researching and resolving benefit issues.
* Counseling employees during benefit sign-up sessions to ensure new full-time employees have a full understanding of their benefits and processing all benefits paperwork to Payroll Services following sign-up sessions.
* Assisting with special open enrollments by conducting individual and departmental meetings, when requested.
* Conducting exit interviews for full-time employees as they are separating employment from the university and processing all benefits and data collection following the exit interview.

Qualifications:

Required:
* Demonstrated ability to research problems, apply analytical techniques and follow through on issues to resolution.
* Attention to detail, strong organizational skills and a commitment to quality customer service is a must.
* Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
* Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work with a wide variety of people.
* Moderate to advanced data entry skills.
* Demonstrated computer proficiency in a Windows based environment, preferably Microsoft Word and Excel.
* Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and work in a high volume work setting is a must.

Additional Considerations:
* Knowledge of benefits policies and procedures including FMLA, ADA, COBRA, HIPAA, leave, Workers' Compensation, health insurance, retirement, life insurance, 403(b) plans, etc.
* Knowledge of state benefits policies and procedures
* Experience with data base management or PeopleSoft
* Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish is preferred

Conditions of Employment:

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

EEO Statement:

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at (540) 568-3597 or jobs@jmu.edu. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.