"Human Resources Benefit Programs Specialist (Temporary)"

About the Position

This position is full-time, temporary through June 30, 2026, with the possibility of reappointment.

Please Note: Review of applications will begin on December 9, 2025.

Under the guidance of the Director of Benefits and Payroll Services, the Benefit Programs Specialist is responsible for administering the university’s employee benefit programs including health, dental, vision, COBRA, CalPERS, and flexible spending accounts. Notifies employees of eligibility and effective date of coverage, communicates benefit plans and eligibility to employees. The incumbent assists employees with health, dental, and vision inquiries, and processes benefits enrollments. Processes new hire, permitting event changes, open enrollments and cancellations. Provides necessary notifications regarding benefit changes, benefit eligibility and other applicable communiques to employees. In addition, the incumbent will participate in software/system upgrades and implementation tasks as it relates to benefits. This assignment also includes some responsibilities with maintaining the HR Benefits website content and may participate in other HR projects as assigned. The incumbent provides guidance and support to benefits team members.

Responsibilities

Benefits Administration

• Confirm employee eligibility for benefits and process new enrollments.
• Collect and verify required documentation for dependents and elections.
• Enter and verify data in MyHR, BAS, CalPERS, and related systems.
• Ensure deductions are correctly processed; follow up with Payroll (PPSD) or SCO for discrepancies.
• Manage annual Open Enrollment, including communication, materials preparation, and data verification.

Compliance and Verification

• Conduct dependent verification for medical, dental, and vision plans.
• Monitor and process 26-year-old dependent terminations and initiate COBRA notifications.
• Process and verify Qualifying Life Events (QLEs) such as marriage, divorce, or birth.
• Audit benefits data for accuracy (e.g., CalPERS, PIMS, MyHR).

Employee Support and Communication

• Respond to employee inquiries and provide benefit information.
• Coordinate and present during New Employee Orientation (NEO) sessions.
• Communicate with union representatives and distribute updated benefit materials.

Reporting and Auditing

• Run and analyze daily benefit reports (e.g., A17, BAS activity).
• Identify and correct processing errors or out-of-sequence transactions.
• Prepare and upload monthly Dental Files to Delta.org.
• Key ACA Safe Harbor data into the SCO ACAS.

COBRA Administration

• Identify employees eligible for COBRA due to resignation, retirement, or timebase reduction.
• Prepare and send COBRA packets and enrollment forms within required timeframes.
• Process enrollments and cancellations; verify updates in CalPERS and payroll systems.

Special Programs

• Administer benefits for FERP participants (Faculty Early Retirement Program).
• Verify eligibility and adjust dental and vision benefits accordingly.
• Process Medicare Part B forms and support CalPERS compliance.

Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge

• To enter this classification at position skill level I, the incumbent must have a basic foundation of knowledge of the principles of organization, administration and management.
• Basic knowledge of research techniques and statistical methods.

Abilities

• Ability to analyze and find solutions to problems, work independently, communicate effectively, and write clear and concise reports.

Education

• This foundation would normally be obtained through a bachelor’s degree or professional training program specific to the position (e.g. Certified Public Accountant) and directly related work experience, or a combination of education and experience which demonstrates the ability to perform the essential functions of the position.

Required Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree in a related field, or an equivalent combination of directly related experience, education and training.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and to exercise considerable discretion, diplomacy, and good judgement.
• Ability to handle highly sensitive materials and situations, to include confidential files, and consistently using oral and listening skills.
• Ability to plan and organize multiple tasks and prioritize work, including setting and meeting deadlines.
• Demonstrated technical literacy with standard office computers, including proficiency with PeopleSoft, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, email, calendaring, and internet communications.
• Ability to draft and compose written correspondence and reports with sufficient knowledge of English grammar, punctuation, and spelling, including good proofreading and editing skills, at a level required for this position.
• Demonstrated ability to work relatively independently and apply good judgment in solving a wide range of problems, developing practical and thorough solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing, consistently using effective listening skills.
• Ability to maintain composure and tact during high stress situations and under heavy workload, with conflicting priorities, frequent interruption, and other demands.
• Ability to effectively handle multiple/changing priorities in a sometimes stressful environment while adhering to deadlines.
• A background check (which may include: checks of employment records, education records, criminal records, civil records, motor vehicle records, professional licenses, and sex offender registries, as position requires) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be employed with the CSU.

Preferred Skills and Knowledge

• Experience in Higher Education.

Salary and Benefits

PLEASE NOTE: The starting salary placement depends on qualifications and experience and is anticipated to be in the range of $4,261.00 per month to $6,213.00 per month.

Cal State East Bay offers a broad range of benefits that includes medical, dental, vision, retirement (CalPERS), 401k, 457, 403(b), dependent and health care reimbursement accounts, life insurance, vacation and sick, 14 paid holidays, one personal holiday and tuition fee waiver.

For more information on the benefits program, please visit our benefits website. The CSU Total Compensation Calculator demonstrates the significance of our benefits package.

This position may be eligible to participate in the Cal State East Bay hybrid telecommute program subject to management approval.

Classification

Confidential Administrative Support I

About Cal State East Bay

Cal State East Bay's beautiful main campus is located in the Hayward hills with panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay shoreline. Situated above the city of Hayward, the campus offers an ideal setting for teaching and learning and yet easy access to the many cities along the bay. The University has a satellite campus in Concord, a professional development center in Oakland and a significant presence online. Founded in 1957, Cal State East Bay is one of 23 universities of the California State University system (CSU). Cal State East Bay is recognized as a regionally engaged and globally oriented university with a strong commitment to academic innovation, student success, engaged and service learning, diversity, and sustainability.