Partner, Benefits

The Benefits Partner administers university benefit programs, ensuring accurate processing, regulatory compliance, and high-quality service delivery. This role coordinates the day-to-day operations of health, welfare, retirement, and related programs, and serves as a trusted subject matter expert for complex employee inquiries. The Benefits Partner contributes to program evaluation, supports clear and effective communications, and drives continuous process improvements to enhance the overall employee benefits experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Provides professional consultative services to faculty and staff regarding benefits eligibility, enrollment, life events, retirement options, and status changes.

• Manages day-to-day administration of assigned benefit programs, ensuring alignment with plan provisions, university policy, and regulatory requirements.

• Reviews and approves benefit enrollment transactions and policy exceptions within established parameters and coordinates with vendors to ensure accurate implementation.

• Engages with internal partners and external vendors to resolve discrepancies, eligibility disputes, billing issues, and other non-routine matters.

• Participates in annual open enrollment, including testing system changes, reviewing materials, responding to escalated questions, and supporting implementation timelines.

• Maintains internal databases and reporting tools, audits data for accuracy, and prepares standard and ad-hoc reports to support monitoring and decision-making.

• Contributes to the development and delivery of benefit orientations, presentations, and communication materials to promote understanding and utilization of programs.

• Supports evaluation of benefit programs by gathering data, analyzing trends, and identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, compliance, and employee experience.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Preferred Skills & Experience

• 6 years of experience in administering health, welfare, or retirement programs in a large or complex organization.

• Experience administering health, welfare, retirement, or leave programs in a complex organization.

• Experience coordinating open enrollment or benefits communications initiatives.

• Experience working with benefits vendors, brokers, or third-party administrators.

• Knowledge of benefits benchmarking, program evaluation, or cost analysis.

• Experience developing benefits presentations, communications, or training materials.

• Experience leading projects or mentoring junior staff.

Minimum Skills & Experience:

• 4 years of experience in human resources and/or benefits administration.

• Bachelor's degree in human resources, or Business Administration, or Public Administration, or in related field(s)

• Working knowledge of health, welfare, retirement, and related employee benefit programs.

• Knowledge of applicable federal and state benefits regulations (e.g., ERISA, COBRA, ACA, HIPAA).

• Ability to administer benefits programs and resolve non-routine employee inquiries and issues.

• Ability to interpret benefits policies, procedures, and plan provisions for employees and departments.

• Strong analytical skills to review benefits data, identify discrepancies, and support program operations.

• Ability to coordinate with vendors, HR partners, and internal stakeholders to resolve benefits issues.

• Ability to manage projects or workstreams related to benefit programs, communications, or system updates.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present benefit information.

• Ability to prioritize tasks, manage competing deadlines, and maintain service quality.

• Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education

The budgeted salary range for this position is $83,000 - $90,000. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer alignment, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

To support faculty and staff well-being, USC provides benefits-eligible employees with a broad range of benefits and perks to help protect their and their dependents' health, wealth, and future. These benefits are available as part of USC's total rewards package.

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