*Interviews for this position will take place on Monday and Tuesday, November 15th and 16th.

Under the direction of the Vice President, Human Resources, oversees the infrastructure of all benefit plans including: Health, Dental, Life, Long Term Disability, Employee Assistance Program, Retirement and Wellness programs on a daily basis. Interacts and implements the strategy, design and infrastructure of benefits, wellness, and other HR programs. Assesses, projects benefit needs and identifies solutions in collaboration with staff, faculty and administration. Develops and maintains relationships district-wide and delivers value-added service to management and employees. Work requires the use of independent judgment, working from broad institutional and divisional policies and general objectives.

CORE JOB RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Benefits Administration:  Evaluates, selects, implements, and manages all benefits programs and initiatives creating an attractive and competitive benefits program. Oversees benefits plans, policies, programs, and processes, including, administration, communication, and training.  Administers employee benefit program per the Wisconsin Retirement System.  Also administers 403() and 457 retirement programs. Reconciles benefit/enrollment/termination transmittals to ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Leave Administration:  Oversees leave management, Workers Compensation, Americans with Disabilities Act administration, FMLA, Pandemic leave, and and other time off benefits.  Ensure compliance and make recommendations on updates to policies and procedures as needed.
• Data Management, Metrics, and Analysis:  Monitors, maintains and administers benefits in the HRIS system for all eligible associates ensuring that all enrollments follow plan documents, guidelines and policies. Collects, compares data and determines if benefits are competitive in comparison to industry standards and practices.   Conducts routine audits and prepares complex reports as required. Produce and maintain key performance indicators to measure effectiveness and for continuous improvement initiatives.
• College Programming and Communications:  Oversees annual open enrollment process; leads meetings; information sessions, creates drafts and provides information directly to employees.  Develops and implements tools and processes for benefits and wellness programming and communications.  Maintains calendar of Benefits, Wellness and other programs; initiates compliance and reporting requirements; ensures activities are scheduled and delivered utilizing developed timelines in compliance with legal and contractual requirements.
• WTCS Benefits Consortium and other Committee Involvement:  Establishes and maintains cooperative working relationships with institutions of higher education, regional administrators, officials of the State Board of Wisconsin Technical Colleges, staff, faculty, and outside agencies.  Evaluates vendors by applying comparison costs, competitiveness and efficiency measures.  Works with third party vendors, reviews vendor contracts, and oversees service level agreements.  Advises and counsels District employees with benefit plan questions or inquiries; answers questions and provides solutions to benefit program questions and ensures a positive and meaningful employee experience.  Serves as the Chair for the College’s Benefits Committee. Participates in committees, meetings, seminars, workshops or other professional activities as directed or required.
• College Communication and Policy Development:   Implements and prepares communication documents by utilizing media to inform employees of approved new plans or existing plan changes.   Drafts new or revised policies and conducts research and benchmark information from other comparable employers.
• Leadership and Supervision:  Develops and manages high performing team highly skilled and motivated staff focused on the delivery of quality and value-added services, and allocates cross-functional responsibilities and work processes. Responsibilities include hiring, coaching/mentoring, performance management, and progressive discipline as needed.
• Budget Management:  Prepares budget and monitors expenses and revenue throughout the year; analyzes trends and forecast budget implications; maintains fiscal records to ensure compliance with grant payments, consistent with institutional policies.  Stays current and ensures compliance with federal, state and local compensation laws and regulations.
• Continuous Learning and Professional Development:  Maintain current knowledge of best practices and standards in higher education with an emphasis on community Colleges.  Actively organize and/or participate in applicable workgroups, committees and professional associations or conferences to promote continuous learning. Participate in trainings and workshops to increase knowledge, awareness, and practice of the College’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
• Other Duties:  Perform other related duties within the scope of the position as required for the efficient operations of the division and to support institutional objectives.

CRITICAL SKILLS AND CHARACTERISTICS

Benefits Administration:  Tangible knowledge of benefits administration, communications, and compliance.  Knowledge of self-funded insurance plans.  Knowledge of benefits laws and regulations including COBRA, ACA, HIPAA, ADA, FMLA, etc. as well as other laws applicable to benefits.
Data and Systems Management:  Tangible knowledge of Human Resource Information Systems and reporting software.  Ability to interpret regulations and administer benefits plans in compliance with legal requirements; skill using benefit administration/enrollment software.   Ability to operate MS Office Suite—Excel particularly.  Organize and analyze data.
Decision-Making/Strategic Thinking Skills. An ombudsperson must be aware of how all decisions might impact the inquirer, as well as other stakeholders and the college. An ombudsperson must know how to proceed with issues, and help the inquirer assess who should be involved and at what stage.
Conflict Resolution Skills. An essential element of the ombudsperson’s role is that of facilitating the resolution of conflict between employees and vendors. Understanding of what leads to conflict, the nature of conflict, and methods of resolution. The skills used to assist inquirers to resolve their conflicts include:

o   helping people learn how to deal with the matter directly if they wish to do so - serving as a facilitator between the parties via shuttle diplomacy

o   influencing systems change which could obviate the individual problem

• Sensitivity to Diversity Issues.  Sensitive to dealing with individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds and cultures.  Open, objective, and will seek to understand issues from multiple perspectives.   Innovative in developing options that are responsive to differing needs.
• Composure and Presentation Skills.  Maintain a professional demeanor, should have strong presentation skills, and should be able to organize and communicate information to groups of varying size and hierarchical levels in the organization.   Strong written and oratory communicator.
• Integrity.   Reputation for integrity and for dealing fairly effectively and in a timely fashion with all constituents.

CORE COMPETENCIES: