ADMINISTRATIVE FACULTY JOB DESCRIPTION
APPROVED POSITION INFORMATION
(to be completed by HR)
Effective: June 1, 2015
Title
Range
JCC
2
67675
Specialist, Benefits
Essential Function: Sedentary Work
Description: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force
frequently to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body.
Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time, but may involve walking or standing for brief
periods of time.
1. Summary Statement: State the major function(s) of the position, the role in the
university, and the supervisor’s title.* (This section is used for advertisement of the
position.)
The Specialist, Benefits is responsible for coordinating BCN Benefits functions, such as new hire
eligibility and benefit enrollments, compliance with eligibility standards set by Affordable Care Act
(ACA), faculty RPA plan administration, PERS program compliance and documentation, NDC
enrollments and other ancillary and voluntary benefit programs.
This position provides extensive benefit and retirement counseling for all University of Nevada,
Reno (UNR) and BCN employees. This position is the primary designated BCN Liaison Officer
for all Northern Nevada campuses for PERS related inquiries and approvals, also will hold a
signature authority for RPA plan administration for multiple retirement plans with three different
vendors as well as authorize NDC distributions.
The position will take on a leadership role in developing and implementing Open Enrollment, New
Hire Orientation and other new, innovative educational programs to serve unique, campus-wide
needs.
* Attach an organizational chart with positions, ranges, and names for the division.
2. List the major responsibilities, including percentage of time devoted to each. Provide
enough detail to enable a person outside the department to understand the job
(percentage first with heading and then bulleted information). If line of progression,
define for each range as above.
30% Benefits and Retirement Counseling
 Provide one-to-one or group consultation services to university faculty and staff to
determine the most advantageous benefits products
 Meet with future faculty who are visiting the campus on recruitment trips and educate them
on NSHE benefits; Consult with new hire faculty and staff about medical insurance
options, provide guidance in choosing PPO/HMO plan, retirement plans, tax-sheltered
accounts, and voluntary benefits.
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Specialist, Benefits
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Counsel employees in determining the maximum tax deferred contributions for health
saving accounts and voluntary retirement plans and refer employees to investment
vendors when appropriate.
Provide extensive guidance for HSA/HRA/FSA accounts eligibility and different program
provisions; guide employees through enrollment process.
Counsel and advice faculty and staff at various stages of retirement planning:
o Provide information about NSHE and State of Nevada retirement plans and guide
newly hired employees about the best retirement strategies.
o Counsel mid-career employees about relevant retirement planning strategies,
such as participation in 403b program, discuss PERS years of service purchase
eligibility, etc.
o Provide extensive guidance to employees approaching retirement
Act as a subject matter expert for voluntary benefits:
o Meet with vendors and account representatives;
o Update voluntary benefits materials and information online;
o Organize workshops and vendor event on BCN campuses;
o Educate faculty and staff.
30% Process Compliance and Administration
 Research and keep up-to-date on various benefit and retirement program eligibility
requirements
 Stay informed and advice other HR liaisons of any benefit plan changes as it relates to
health insurance, retiree coverage options and subsidies, tax advantage accounts,
retirement plans, contribution limits and other complex subjects.
 Ensure compliance with PEBP medical insurance plan regulations for active employees
and retirees:
o Review eligibility reports, research contracts to ensure that benefits are being
awarded accurately;
o Communicate to eligible groups of employees about their insurance coverage;
o Coordinate with PEBP and process new hire enrollments and qualifying mid-year
changes as well as retiree enrollment elections.
 NSHE Retirement Plans (RPA, NDC):
o Approve retirement distribution requests and loans from NSHE retirement plans
depending on multiple plan rules: NSHE loan policy, RPA preservation clause,
NDC withdrawal eligibility, etc.
o Confirm separation information and ensure data integrity with vendors.
o Oversee the workflow to ensure retirement paperwork is processed accurately
and timely.
 Execute Purchase of Service contracts with PERS:
o Liaison between PERS and employee when necessary to determine or verify
contact amounts
o Coordinate payments through Payroll in buy-out situations
o Approve, sign and submit contacts to PERS.
o Ensure PERS disability applications are accurate and processed in timely manner.
20% Communication and Education Strategies
 Design, develop and implement communication and marketing strategies across BCN
campuses.
 Conduct New Hire Orientation and modify based on needs/feedback of employees:
 Open Enrollment and other sessions
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Specialist, Benefits
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Conduct open enrollment and other sessions in-person or online each plan year to
communicate plan changes.
Serve as primary developer for new, innovative sessions based on client needs that are
aimed at increasing client awareness about benefit options.
Organize and facilitate educational and informational seminars at any BCN campuses
(Retirement Planning, PERS and PEBP sessions, TIAA CREF seminars and other benefit
vendor workshops)
Participate in benefit fairs when needed (SEC even in UNR, Benefits Fair in WNC, etc…)
Participate in monthly Network meetings and reach out to HR liaisons with important
benefits updates and other information. Invite guest speakers when appropriate.
10% BCN Campus Liaison
 Research and maintain consistent contact with various state agencies and vendors to stay
current as well clarify complex benefits issues. Act as a primary contact for other State
Agencies as well as HR liaisons.
 Act as liaison between employee and state agency and/or other program vendor where
necessary
 Respond to all UNR and BCN faculty and staff benefits questions and inquires through
various communication sources (e.g., email, written, in-person, etc.).
 Handle irate customers and other difficult situations as needed
10% Supervision and support
 Oversees a student worker to prepare new hire orientation and other benefits information
materials, ensure filling and other tasks are completed on time. Approve time card in a
timely manner
 Provides assistance to the Benefits Manager on special projects and assignments when
needed.
 In the absence of the Manager, assumes supervision of the Benefits Staff
3. Describe the types of decisions the position(s) makes independently as part of the core
responsibilities. Provide examples. If a line of progression, describe the decisions made
at the highest level.
The Specialist, Benefits is a high profile position that is responsible for serving as BCN liaison for
all BCN campus in Northern Nevada on decisions related to new hire eligibility determinations,
retirement plans and the voluntary benefits program. The position provides independent
consultation services to faculty and staff for retirement planning and makes specific
recommendations depending on specific needs and eligibility (e.g., Medicare eligibility, etc.). The
position also is the only authority to handle all PERS related issues and analysis of faculty
distribution based on eligibility and loans. Additionally, this position is responsible for developing
and implementing new, innovative training programs to attend to the specific needs of BCN faculty
and staff.
4. Describe the types of problems, issues, action, communications this position typically
takes to the supervisor for resolution and/or consultation. Provide examples. If a line of
progression, describe the supervisory consultation at the highest level.
This position would report any unusual situations having to do with retirement planning that falls
outside normal circumstances; for example, clientele that are exempt from Medicare, rehiring of
NSHE faculty, etc. The position would also report any irreconcilable situations that require
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Specialist, Benefits
management interaction, such as disgruntled faculty or staff. The position also requires guidance
with new plan details that have not yet been established and that would require unique decision
making outside precedent.
5. Select the applicable competencies required to successfully perform the job. The
selected competencies will be evaluated within the Administrative Faculty evaluation as
Competencies for Success.
Competency
Required
Adaptability
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Analytical Thinking
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Communication
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Diversity and Inclusion
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Financial Responsibilities
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Human Resource Responsibilities
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Leadership
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Program/Project/Functional Knowledge
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Resource Responsibilities
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Serving Constituents
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Teamwork
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Other (specify)
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6. Minimum requirements of the position. Minimum requirements should be consistent
with the Job Evaluation Model. If Line of Progression, minimum requirements must be
defined for each range.
Education
Experience
Bachelor’s Degree
Two years of relevant work experience
Master’s Degree
One year of relevant work experience
Relevant Experience: human resources or related field
Certification and Licensure: None
Schedule or Travel Requirements: None
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