Coordinator, Leave and Disability Benefits Programs

BASIC FUNCTION:

Under supervision of Manager of University Benefits, coordinates the university’s leave programs including Family and Medical Leave, disability leave, military leave, leave of absence without pay, leave donation. Assists in administration of the workers’ compensation, long-term disability, life insurance and voluntary indemnity benefit programs. Trains and counsels managers, supervisors and employees on leave policies, processes and compliance. Reports to Manager, University Benefits.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES/ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Duties/essential functions may include, but not be limited to, the following: 
Counsel employees and supervisors about FMLA rights and responsibilities, disability and other leaves while maintaining appropriate confidentiality of medical information.

Train co-workers, supervisors, managers on FMLA regulations, policies and procedures.

Verify employee eligibility for FMLA and other leaves in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, university policy, and collective bargaining agreements.

Review medical certification to determine leave eligibility; clarify and authenticate medical documentation when necessary.

Coordinate leave approval process from request to approval/denial including required notices of eligibility and designation of leave.

Track and maintain accurate paper and electronic records of FMLA and other leave utilization.

Communicate with university employees, supervisors and department managers during leave application process, period of approved leave, and return to work.

Interface with workers’ compensation administrative staff to ensure proper integration with FMLA and other disability leave benefits.

Assist in the administration of the leave donation program including eligibility determination, communication with donors, coordination with Payroll and tracking of leave usage.

Create and maintain management reports related to leave program utilization and trends.

Process Long-term Disability (LTD) insurance applications to include enrollment verification, employee counseling, assisting with application process; filing of all application forms; monitoring of application.

Process life insurance death and dismemberment claims to include enrollment and beneficiary designation verification, employee/beneficiary counseling, assisting with application process; filing of all application forms; monitoring of application.

Serves as a liaison with voluntary indemnity insurance and long-term care providers. Assists in the coordination of employee group meetings and presentations.

Assists employees with disability retirement applications and files employer forms to retirement system.

Develop and maintain metrics related to programs and assist in determining the effectiveness of programs in achieving stated goals.

Serve on various department, division, and University committees.

Perform related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources or closely related field of study. Three years of demonstrated benefits –related experience including FMLA and leave administration, long-term disability and life insurance claims processing.

Knowledge Of:

Family and Medical Leave (FMLA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) laws and regulations
Long-term disability and life insurance claims processing
State retirement systems (OPERS, STRS)

Skill In:

Public speaking
Verbal and written communication
Customer service orientation
Applying policies and procedures to specific situations
Collecting, assembling and analyzing data, preparing reports, monitoring progress
Working effectively with others in a wide variety of situations and tolerance for ambiguity
Utilizing Microsoft Office Suite and other applicable software *
Organizing information and projects
Adhering to deadlines

Ability To:

Work in a high volume and fast-paced environment
Be results and people oriented
Work independently and as part of a team
Multi-task while managing multiple projects and assignments
Perform operational, transactional and technical tasks within the HRIS system

Assessments:

Asterisk (*) indicates knowledge, skills, abilities which may require assessments. Assessments could take the form of interview questions, a request to provide work samples or a written or practical test to assess job related competencies.

Working Conditions/Physical Requirements:

None

Value Statement

Kent State University is committed to the creation and nurturing of a diverse community of individuals through inclusive excellence. Diversity involves recognizing the value of differences and the inclusion of all members of the community. This is a core value of the organization as we strive for a culturally diverse student body, faculty and staff that reflect the multicultural nature of Ohio, the nation, and our world.