Lead Benefits Specialist - Back Office

Join our team at the California State University, Office of the Chancellor, and make a difference in providing access to higher education. We are currently seeking experienced candidates for the position of Lead Benefits Specialist - Back Office. The CSU Chancellor's Office, is the headquarters for the nation's largest and most diverse system of higher education. The CSU Chancellor's Office offers a premium benefit package that includes outstanding vacation, health, and dental plans; a fee waiver education program; membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (PERS); and 15 paid holidays a year.

The anticipated salary hiring range is up to $88,008 per year, commensurate with qualifications and experience.

THIS RECRUITMENT IS OPEN TO CURRENT CSU EMPLOYEES ONLY.

Confidential Administrative Support III

The California State University, Office of the Chancellor, is seeking a Lead Benefits Specialist - Back Office to be responsible for providing support and coordination for various benefit program areas within Shared Services. The incumbent will perform a variety of highly complex technical tasks and provide operational support for benefits administration.

Independently performs complex Shared Services benefits back-office work with a focus on operational excellence and benefits administration. Provides expert guidance on HR policies and compliance, resolves complex issues, and improves processes and workflows. Administers and supports benefit operations, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and alignment with organizational goals. Partners with internal teams, vendors, and leadership to implement programs, manage reporting and reconciliations, and deliver timely, high-quality results with a high degree of autonomy and accountability.

Under the general direction of the Assistant Director, Shared Services Benefits - Back Office, the Lead Benefits Specialist - Back Office will perform duties as outlined below:

CHRS Functional Lead: Serve as a functional lead resource for CHRS benefits data integrity, coordinating audits, overseeing updates, and providing advanced guidance on enrollment and eligibility matters to ensure accuracy and compliance.

Benefits Deduction Oversight: Lead the administration, audit and reconciliation of benefit deductions (health, vision, dental, life, LTD) in coordination with the State Controller’s Office (SCO), ensuring accuracy, resolving discrepancies, and identifying process improvements.

Dental Benefits Coordination: Oversee the submission, reconciliation, and compliance of dental enrollment data with CSU providers, addressing complex issues and ensuring timely and accurate processing.

Retired Employee CalPERS Coordination: Serve as the lead resource for Retired Annuitant and Faculty Early Retirement Program (FERP) appointment auditing, ensuring proper retirement coding, and maintaining compliance with CalPERS and employment regulations.

Systemwide Discrepancy Resolution: Lead cross-functional collaboration to investigate and resolve data inconsistencies across CHRS, SCO (PIMS), dental, vision, and CalPERS systems, partnering with HR and payroll stakeholders to improve data integrity.

ACA Compliance Leadership: Coordinate ACA data monitoring and compliance efforts, ensuring accurate coding in SCO PIMS, SCO ACAS, and PeopleSoft; resolve complex errors and provide guidance on federal and state regulatory requirements.

CalPERS Functional Oversight: Serve as the lead liaison for CalPERS administration, overseeing service credit purchases, validating membership eligibility, ensuring accurate enrollment and PSR processes, and resolving arrears and enrollment discrepancies. Review PIMS and CIRS for payroll reporting errors to resolve issues.

Collective Bargaining: Support the collective bargaining process by collecting and reviewing recommended changes to benefit provision language within the collective bargaining agreements (CBA), responds to requests from campus and CO HR staff on changes to union language proposals and provides input to the Assistant Directors.

Lead Work Coordination: Assign and direct work, monitor performance, provide coaching and feedback, and contribute to employee performance evaluations. Does not have administrative supervisory authority, including responsibility for hiring, discipline, leave approval, or final performance evaluations, which remain with the Assistant Director.

This position requires:

-Bachelor’s degree in a related field (Human Resources or Business) or equivalent combination of education and work experience is required. A minimum of four years of professional experience benefits experience that incorporates complex and comprehensive knowledge.

-Additional experience which demonstrates acquired and successfully applied knowledge and abilities shown above may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.

-Experience with the CSU CHRS PeopleSoft Benefits Administration module.

-Experience in Human Resources in higher education.

-Experience with policies, procedures, and outside regulations pertaining to Human Resources Information Systems.

-Experience with PIMS/CIRS.

-Experience in policies, procedures, and outside regulations pertaining to Human Resources Information Systems.

-Advanced knowledge of human resources principles, practices, and applicable regulations, with the ability to serve as a lead resource and provide expert guidance in specialized areas.

-Demonstrated experience leading the development, implementation, and enhancement of human resource standards, policies, and procedures to improve compliance and operational effectiveness.

-Strong project coordination and organizational skills to lead complex initiatives, prioritize competing demands, and ensure timely completion of multiple assignments.

-Advanced analytical skills to evaluate and interpret complex data, identify trends or risks, and develop well-supported conclusions and recommendations.

-Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to effectively present complex information, influence outcomes, and advise management and stakeholders.

-In-depth functional knowledge of PeopleSoft Benefits Administration modules, with the ability to lead system troubleshooting, analyze impacts, and recommend process or configuration improvements.

-Expertise in investigating and resolving complex benefits issues, assessing organizational impact, and proactively identifying and mitigating potential problems.

-Demonstrated ability to independently plan, coordinate, and execute work involving diverse and high-volume demands, exercising initiative and sound professional judgment.

-Advanced skills in research, policy analysis, and program evaluation, including data collection, interpretation, and development of strategic recommendations.

-Comprehensive knowledge of CSU guidelines, state and federal laws, educational codes, and collective bargaining agreements, with the ability to interpret and apply complex requirements accurately.

-Working knowledge of payroll business practices and procedures and their integration with benefits and HR operations.

-Ability to balance independent decision-making with collaborative problem-solving, maintaining accountability for results.

-Proven ability to serve as a primary liaison with campuses, the State Controller’s Office, CalPERS, benefit vendors, and other external agencies, facilitating effective communication and resolution of complex issues.

-Experience with custom CHRS Benefits reports and queries preferred.

Priority consideration will be given to candidates who apply by September 1, 2026. Applications will be accepted until the job posting is removed.

Please click "Apply Now" to complete the California State University, Chancellor's Office online employment application.

Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, the CSU provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who self-disclose by contacting the Senior Human Resources Manager at (562) 951-4070.

Please view the Notice of Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Gender or Sex and Contact Information for Title IX Coordinator at: https://www2.calstate.edu/titleix

This position requires new hire employment verification to be processed through the E-Verify program administered by the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (DHSUSCIS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA).

If hired, you will be required to furnish proof that you are legally authorized to work in the United States. The CSU Chancellor’s Office is not a sponsoring agency for staff and Management positions (i.e., H1-B VISAS).

Per the CSU COVID-19 Vaccination Policy, it is strongly recommended that all Chancellor’s Office employees who are accessing office and campus facilities follow COVID-19 vaccine recommendations adopted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) applicable to their age, medical condition, and other relevant indications.

California State University, Office of the Chancellor, as part of the CSU system, is a State of California Employer. As such, the University requires all employees upon date of hire to reside in the State of California. As of January 1, 2022, the CSU Out-of-State Employment Policy prohibits the hiring of employees to perform CSU-related work outside the state of California.

The Chancellor's Office policy requires that the selected candidate successfully complete a full background check (including a criminal records check) prior to assuming this position.

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