• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $72,000- $74,000

Position Summary

Reporting to the Assistant Director of Benefits, the Benefits Coordinator will provide independent administrative and analytical support to the Benefits Service Center (BSC), Health and Wellness (H&W),Retirement, Operations, Tuition, and Vendor Relations teams.  The Benefits Coordinator will also support all functional areas within CUHR Benefits, primarily focusing on the BSC and H&W teams.    

Responsibilities

• Serves as a subject matter expert on Columbia University’s medical, dental, vision, prescription drug, tax savings, voluntary benefits, and wellness plans.
• Independently assesses and interprets benefits policies, resolves escalated employee inquiries and makes policy recommendations to leadership based on compliance requirements.
• Partners with legal, finance, and vendor teams to ensure compliance with university policies and industry best practices.
• Monitors benefits compliance documentation and audits employee records to ensure accuracy of benefits enrollment and payroll deductions.
• Supports plan administration, analyzes plan utilization data and provides insights for plan design changes and compliance initiatives.
• Oversees retirement contribution retros/recoups processing and collaborates with Payroll and retirement plan carriers to ensure compliance and accuracy.
• Serves as a key liaison with benefits vendors, managing HIPAA compliance, resolving service escalations, and ensuring optimal service delivery.
• Reviews escalated tuition benefit issues, coordinate resolutions, and support program communications.
• Independently manages front-line customer service via telephone, email, ServiceNow, and Message Center applications, ensuring high professionalism and accuracy in all interactions.
• Extracts, synthesizes, and analyzes data from multiple sources, identifying trends and discrepancies to ensure compliance and accuracy.
• Develops reports using Excel, PeopleSoft, and vendor platforms, providing key insights for leadership.
• Identifies and recommends process improvements to enhance benefits administration, transactions, and customer service efficiencies.
• Participates in benefits-related special projects focused on enhancing employee experience and operational efficiency.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.
• 2-4 years of progressive experience in benefits administration, HR operations, or related fields.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and HR systems (PeopleSoft, ServiceNow, or equivalent HRIS platforms).
• Ability to analyze complex data sets, identify trends, and provide actionable insights.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, work effectively under pressure, and adapt to changing priorities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience in a customer-facing benefits or HR role.
• SHRM-CP, CEBS, PHR, or similar HR/benefits-related certification preferred.
• Knowledge of federal and state regulations related to benefits administration (e.g., ERISA, HIPAA, FMLA).
• Experience working in higher education or large, complex organizations.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.