Benefit Specialist

Position Summary

Reporting to the Senior Human Resources Consultant, the Benefits Specialist is responsible for providing guidance to employees on benefit options, discussing retirement packages and ensuring benefit eligibility rules follow the City of Regina’s collective agreements and benefit contract requirements. The Benefit Specialist facilitates benefit presentations to new hires, retirees, and large employee groups This role administers the leave of absence program including tracking various stages of employee leaves along with discussing and collecting benefit payments. The Benefits Specialist is responsible for inputting data in relation to employee life cycle changes into the HR Management System in a timely, accurate manner.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• First point of contact for employee benefit inquiries. Provides guidance to employees on benefit options, provides forms, and reviews employee benefit changes.

• Inputs employee benefit information into the HRMS system related to, for example, new hires, position changes, terminations, and retirements.
• Prepares communications for employees on enrollment processes and changes.
• Facilitates benefit information sessions to operating areas, new hires, and retirees.
• Liaises with external benefit carriers regarding employee benefit inquiries.
• Meets with employees experiencing benefit claim issues and acts as a liaison between the employee and benefit carrier. 
• Meets with beneficiaries regarding employee and dependent life claims. Communicates directly with the Executor or the Will or legal representatives when preparing documentation required for life claims.
• Discuss payroll and benefit termination and retirement packages with employees.
• Responsible for administering the Leave of Absence program for payroll and benefits.
• Develops procedure manuals for various benefit processes and step-by-step guides for employees to help utilize the benefit carrier claim system.
• Works with large data sets, updating, verifying, and inputting (e.g., casual employee hours)
• Manages benefit carrier plan administration portal to ensure employee data is accurate, provide balances to employees, access to benefit cards.
• Knowledge of benefit provisions outlined within benefit and pension contracts.
• Ensuring consistency of organization changes with people movement, and/or provide decision options about the application of policies and procedures.
• Promotes compliance in accordance with legislation, regulations, collective agreements, and policies as they pertain to employee movement.

Working/Other Conditions

• Our ideal candidate demonstrates credibility, discretion, and exceptional customer service while handling sensitive information.

• Adapts to business needs with problem-solving skills, clear communication, and openness to diverse perspectives.

• Handles difficult conversations with tact and professionalism.

• Possesses strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to follow structured procedures.

• Excels in collaboration, relationship-building, and managing multiple priorities under tight deadlines.

Key Qualifications

• The ideal candidate will have a diploma or degree in business administration or equivalent designation, coupled with a minimum of 3 years’ experience administering benefit plans.  
• Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) is preferred.
• Familiarity in working with multiple unions and collective agreements.
• Intermediate MS office application is required and various system platforms, (Oracle, Time & Attendance system) experience is preferred.