Senior Benefits Specialist

Job Title: Senior Benefits Specialist

Salary: $74,568.00 Annually

Department: The Office of Human Resources

Pay Grade: ADM5

Reports To: Manager, Total Rewards and Employee Experience

FLSA Status: Exempt

Unit: Administrative
Opening Date: 07/01/2026

Closing Date: 07/05/2026 11:59 p.m.

GENERAL STATEMENT OF JOB

Administers the College's comprehensive benefit program, using the most effective communication channels to inform and collaborate with a diverse, unionized workforce.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Essential Functions:

1. Provides leadership and strategic guidance regarding employee benefits, including but not limited to, retirement plans, medical, dental, short- and long-term disability policies, and leave of absences. Ensures federal and State of New Jersey compliance in all employee benefit programs.
2. Plans and manages the development, periodic maintenance, and distribution of all communications, guides, plan documents, and department website content relating to all employee benefits from inception to completion.
3. Supervises the Benefits Coordinator, with a focus on timely and accurate benefits enrollment data entry and recording, as well as first-line customer service to employees on benefits-related information. Backs up the Benefits Coordinator functions when the Coordinator is unavailable.
4. Serves as one of the College's Certifying Officers with the NJ Division of Pensions & Benefits, requiring both responding to Division requests for information and certifying submissions in the Division's online system. This includes enrollments, updating eligible ABP job titles with the Division, termination memos, certifying salaries, and responding to requests for service credit purchases.
5. Reviews and responds to ABP carrier requests for information and approvals.
6. Guides employees throughout the entirety of the retirement process.
7. Serves as liaison with Middlesex County Joint Health Insurance Fund (MCJHIF) contacts on medical and prescription plan administration, as well as with the College's insurance broker on dental plan administration.
8. Leads the effort on the department's Open Enrollments, including all logistical planning, routine audits, crafting communications, and scheduling on-campus benefits carrier visits.
9. Manages all aspects of employee leaves of absence in compliance with federal and State laws, College policy and procedures, and collective bargaining agreements. Assists and guides employees on all components of their leave of absences. Coordinates with Payroll and employees' supervisors. Tracks and is able to report on each employee leave.
10. Acts as departmental point of contact on Workers Compensation claims.
11. Leads department efforts on all wellness and Employee Assistance Program (EAP) initiatives, including coordination with third-party plan administrators.
12. Manages all procedures and administration of COBRA benefits.
13. Contributes to all areas of the Human Resources function on an as needed basis.
14. Coordinates and manages the intake and initiation of employee ADA accommodation requests.
15. Collaborates with the Payroll team to support the accurate implementation of benefit elections and deductions, with overall responsibility for benefits administration residing in this position.
16. Performs other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's Degree
• Four (4) year of related work experience, with a focus on human resources or benefits administration
• Experience managing employee leaves of absence administration
• Excellent customer service, written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
• Demonstrated knowledge of federal, state, and local benefit laws and compliance topics, including HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA, NJFLA and more

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with NJ Division of Pensions & Benefits plans, including administration of retirement plans
• Knowledge of ADP Workforce Now
• CEBS, PHR, SPHR, or SHRM certification
• Experience working in an education environment, preferably at a college or university

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

SCHEDULE : Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Evenings and weekends as needed

RETIREMENT : Pension Eligible

NJ First Act

Any Middlesex College employee hired after September 1, 2011 will have to meet the New Jersey residency law requirement.


Equal Opportunity Employer

Middlesex College is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, age, gender, marital status, familial status, religion, affectional or sexual orientation, atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait, genetic information, liability for service in the armed forces of the United States, or disability.

Affirmative Action and Compliance Statement

Middlesex College is firmly committed to a policy of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action. The College will implement this policy to assure that the educational programs, activities, services, benefits and employment opportunities offered by the College are available to all persons regardless of sex, race, creed, national origin, ancestry, nationality, color, marital status, civil union or domestic partnership status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity, age, handicap (and/or disability), service in the armed forces, atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait, genetic information, refusal to submit to genetic tests, or refusal to make available results of genetic tests, in accordance with State and Federal laws. All employees and students are expected to accept these principles and to reflect their spirit in everyday relationships with fellow employees and students. Inquiries regarding compliance may be directed to the Affirmative Action Officer, Middlesex College, Chambers Hall, 2600 Woodbridge Avenue, Edison, New Jersey 08818-3050.