The Director of Benefits and Retirement Services oversees and manages all employee and retiree benefits programs. This position serves in a leadership role within the Office of Human Resources and works collaboratively with other HR directors on a wide range of human resource matters. The Director acts as an expert consultant and interacts frequently with senior leadership and university administrators.

This position serves as a key liaison with third-party administrators, leads benefit-related audits and renewals, and ensures ongoing communication and education regarding all benefit offerings.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Administer the State of Tennessee’s employee benefits programs, including health and retirement plans.
• Compile reports from HR and benefits databases as needed and reconcile all benefits-related billing invoices to ensure timely and accurate payment.
• Counsel employees on retirement options and assist with the completion of retirement documentation, including post-retirement programs.
• Manage, review, and reconcile employee contribution deferral discrepancies, ensuring payroll accurately reflects participant elections.
• Supervise and manage the work of the HR Generalist, Leave and Benefits, who is responsible for:
  • Paid and unpaid leave programs, including workers’ compensation
  • Administration of the University sick leave bank
  • Leave transfers to and from eligible State agencies
  • Longevity payments
  • Annual programs and activities, including Staff Service Awards, Annual Open Enrollment/Benefits Fair, Retiree Luncheon, and other benefits-related trainings and events
    
    

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong organizational, analytical, and communication skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and HRIS systems
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and integrity
• Knowledge of State of Tennessee benefits programs (preferred)
• Demonstrated experience supervising and managing employees

Physical Requirements

• Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects

Required Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business or related field
• Five (5) years or more of solid benefits administration experience
• Seven (7)+ years of experience in a senior-level Benefits Management role (is preferred)

Certifications (Preferred, but not Required)

• Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) or Certified Benefits Professional (CBP)
• Professional in Human Resources (PHR) or Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR)

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Austin Peay State University is a four-year public, doctoral-level university, with six colleges and four Chairs of Excellence. The University has an enrollment of over 11,000 students and is located in Clarksville, Tennessee, a community of an estimated 150,287 people located approximately 40 miles northwest of Nashville, TN.

Austin Peay State University is a proud supporter of hiring veterans. We hire veterans with equivalent experiences and pay grades from their military service, rather than requiring or preferring only college degrees. Please visit our website for more information on how veterans can qualify for additional employment opportunities at APSU: https://www.apsu.edu/human-resources/hiring-veterans/.

Austin Peay State University (APSU) prohibits discrimination in all employment, programs, and activities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy), disability, age, veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status. For Title IX inquiries or complaints, contact: Chief of Institutional Culture & Title IX Coordinator, LaNeeça R. Williams at williamslr@apsu.edu | 931-221-7690, Browning Building, Room 140, Clarksville, TN 37044. For other non-discrimination concerns, contact: Director of Institutional Culture & Title VI & Title VII Coordinator, Dr. Jo Baldwin at baldwinjapsu.edu | 931-221-7178 or Associate Director of Accessibility Compliance & ADA/504 Coordinator, Jayme Glover at gloverj@apsu.edu | 931-221-7160. View APSU’s full nondiscrimination policy at Policy 6:001.

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The Director of Benefits and Retirement Services oversees and manages all employee and retiree benefits programs. This position serves in a leadership role within the Office of Human Resources and works collaboratively with other HR directors on a wide range of human resource matters. The Director acts as an expert consultant and interacts frequently with senior leadership and university administrators. This position serves as a key liaison with third-party administrators, leads benefit-related audits and renewals, and ensures ongoing communication and education regarding all benefit offerings.