Penn State Job Catalog

Additional levels that exist for this job profile can be seen below.

The defined natural career progression within or between job profiles.

Employee Benefits

The Benefits Manager is responsible for all aspects of managing the Benefits function/team. Develops, implements, administers, and maintains benefits programs, policies, and procedures. Ensures programs meet employee needs, comply with legal requirements, and are cost effective.

• Manage the implementation and operationalizing of benefit strategies, major projects and initiatives with large scale/University-wide impact; main focus on health and welfare plans
• Responsible for annual benefit enrollment process, including communication of benefits changes, liaison to IT support for system configuration, vendor file integration, internal training, etc.
• Responsible for resolution and response to employee, dependent and retiree benefits issues and concerns
• Responsible for the successful execution of ad hoc programs, system upgrades that impact benefits operations and implementations
• Actively involved in union negotiation process with respect to benefits and serves as main contact for union leadership and employees for benefits-related issues and concerns
• Responsible for all aspects of the annual active employee Benefits Open Enrollment process
• Responsible for continuous communication with medical vendor management regarding claims, benefit clarification, and overall operational management of the account
• Manage a team of staff members, including hiring, development, and performance management

Level:

– Manager

Base Description:

– Manages direct reports where primary duty is the management of a working unit.

Level Summary:

– Demonstrates proficient ability in work design, project management, financial planning and development of goals for accomplishing unit assignments. Reviews and guides work to ensure conformity to policy and effective approaches. Evaluates employee performance and recommend development opportunities. Demonstrates ability to coach employees. Presents and communicates key university indicatives and connects it to unit contributions. Provides broad guidelines. Develops, evaluates, enhances, and/or implements quality improvement practices. Recommends innovative solutions.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

– Oversees a team (typically 4 or more; no fewer than 2) full
– time direct reports of individual contributors and/or first level supervisors.

Fiscal Responsibilities:

– Monitors and tracks department/area budget
– May plan, forecast, and/or assist in developing budgets
– May have final signature authority for specific area

Problem Solving:

– Encounters varied and complex problems
– Helps to develop creative and/or novel approaches to resolve problems that are difficult in nature but within limited scope
– Modifies, adapts, or refines guidelines if necessary to resolve issues or problems

Independence of Action:

– Works independently on complex or strategic assignments
– Uses existing practices and advanced working knowledge to determine appropriate work methods for the team
– Reviews completed work of others for conformity to policy, and effectiveness of approach
– Delegates advanced tasks to others

Communication and Collaboration:

– Communicates with both internal and external audiences
– Collaborates closely with team members and various areas across the University
– Prepares written and/or verbal presentations or proposals on complex issues and delivers to a broad variety of audiences
– Communicates key university initiatives and how unit’s work contributes to their achievement
– Presents ideas, concepts and instructions in a clear manner, and uses persuasion and negotiation to build consensus and cooperation
– Establishes and maintains networks to facilitate successful communication among units

• Comp Grade – 13
• Minimum – $86,300.00
• MidPoint – $107,900.00
• Maximum – $129,500.00