Human Resources Associate - Benefits Team

at  Montana State University

The Office of Human Resources projects pride and enthusiasm in support of the University’s mission and strategic plan by providing leadership, guidance and administration of classification, recruitment, payroll, benefits and employee/labor relations in a professional and dedicated manner to the Montana State University Bozeman campus, Agricultural Experiment Stations and Extension Service.
The person in this position is an effective team member within the Office of Human Resources providing support and excellent customer service. Responsibilities include: assisting and responding to inquiries/requests regarding employee benefits, maintenance of a variety of spreadsheets, and extensive use of a relational database (Banner) as required.
Opportunities are available to motivated persons to learn all aspects of HR while serving as backup in other areas.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS – EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

• Work experience with an emphasis on customer service in a main office setting or an equivalent combination of relevant education and/or experience.
• Demonstrated experience effectively interpreting and communicating detailed information, procedures, and directions clearly and accurately, in person, by telephone, and through business correspondence and email to a wide variety of individuals both internal and external to the organization.
• Demonstrated experience organizing and prioritizing multiple work assignments, meeting deadlines, and exercising adaptability to changing priorities.
• Demonstrated experience using personal computers and various software such as word processing, spreadsheets, database, presentation, email and internet. Microsoft Office software preferred.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS – EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

• Experience using multi-relational databases.
• Successful experience providing customer service in a complex organizational environment.
• Familiarity with human resources and/or benefit policies and procedures.

POSITION SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS/ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under direct supervision, this position provides benefits information, data entry processing support and excellent customer service within and external to the Office of Human Resources.

The Human Resources Associate – Benefits Team is responsible for, but not limited to, consulting with employees and departmental contacts on the Montana University System benefits programs:

• Determines eligibility for benefit enrollment
• Responds to benefits inquiries from managers and employees on plan provisions, benefits enrollments, status changes and other general inquiries.
• Assists with the benefits enrollment and re-enrollment process.
• Communicates, monitors, maintains, reporting on and reconciling technical and detailed benefits-related data.
• Provides and receives necessary training and cross-training internally and externally and serves as backup to other HR Associates as needed.
• Provides an exceptionally high level of customer service, judgment, discretion, attention to detail and ability to communicate effectively.
• Maintains confidentiality and exercises discretion at all times.
• Work is performed in a high-volume dynamic environment.