Benefit Services Representative Position - Multiemployer Benefit Funds - Equity-League Benefit Funds

The Equity-League Benefit Funds (“Funds”), located in New York, NY (Midtown Manhattan), are currently seeking a Benefit Services Representative to join our Benefit Services team. The successful candidate will report to the Benefit Services Manager/Assistant Manager and assume responsibilities in supporting the plan participants with their health and retirement benefits. In addition, the successful candidate will also interact collaboratively with the other department staff representatives as well as State agencies and plan vendors to ensure all participant inquiries are responded to in a timely manner.

The Benefit Services Representative position is Union/Non-Exempt and mainly a remote opportunity, with the need to come into the office (located in the Times Square of Midtown Manhattan) as part of a rotating in-person hybrid work schedule.

The Equity-League Benefit Funds are a not-for-profit organization whose primary purpose is to provide benefits to eligible actors and stage managers who are members of Actors’ Equity Association. The Funds provide eligible members with Health (medical, dental, vision and supplemental workers’ compensation), Pension (lifetime monthly income), and 401(k) (accounts in which to accumulate tax deferred income and/or employer contributions in a variety of investment vehicles) benefits. The Funds are a completely separate entity from the Actors’ Equity Association and jointly managed by Trustees appointed in equal number by the Actors’ Equity Association and Broadway League, the latter representing the hundreds of employers who contribute to the Funds. To learn more about the Funds, please visit https://equityleague.org/.

Responsibilities

Provide day-to-day support to the plan participants as it pertains to the following benefits:

 Health Benefits Plan

·    Assist plan participants with explaining, calculating and verifying health (Medical, Dental, and Vision) benefit eligibility.

·    Collect plan participants premium payments as well as required enrollment documents as it pertains to dependent coverage and/or any other enrollment coverage. 

·    Prepare benefit packages for newly eligible plan participants.

·    Explain and interact with participants as it pertains to COBRA continuation coverage as well as explain options for post-COBRA health benefits.  

·    Assist plan participants with benefit inquiries related to medical care, dental care, vision care and prescription drugs.

·    Interact with plan vendors regarding eligibility, coverage and claims inquiries.

·    Interact with State agencies as it relates to subsidized health premium costs.

401 (K) Plan

·    Assist plan participants with explaining 401(K) benefits.

·    Prepare plan packets for eligible plan participants requesting a rollover into the Plan or a withdrawal from the Plan.

·    Process 401K withdrawal applications. 

·    Communicate death benefit options to beneficiaries.

 Pension Defined Benefit Plan

·    Assist plan participants with explaining the pension benefit plan.

·    Calculate pension benefits and process pension applications.

·    Communicate death benefit options to beneficiaries.

Requirements

The ideal candidate will meet the following requirements:

·    Work Experience: Minimum of five years of experience in benefits administration/call center operations, including significant experience with pension, health, and 401(k) administration, or relevant related experience is required.   

·    Educational Background: Four-year bachelor’s degree is required.

·    Special Skills or Credentials:

–   Experience with multiemployer fund operations and regulatory environments administering pension, health, and 401(k) benefits.

–   Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to interact with staff at all levels of the organization, as well as outside professionals and service providers.

–   Strong knowledge of retirement plans Federal regulations, such as contribution limits and annual notices.

–   Strong knowledge of health plans, Federal and Local regulations, such as ACA and Medicare.

–   A professional with excellent judgment and a strong work ethic.

–   Detail oriented with strong analytical skills, including ability to interpret financial and operating information.

–   Proficiency with current technology (especially MS Word, Excel and Outlook) and experience with benefits administration systems.  

To Apply

The Funds offer a competitive salary ranging between $75,000 - $77,000 commensurate with experience, and a comprehensive benefits package to its employees, including a defined benefit (DB) pension benefit, a voluntary pre-tax 401(k) option, employer-paid health insurance, dental and vision insurance as well as generous paid time off.

The Funds are an equal opportunity employer and make employment decisions on the basis of qualifications, merit and business needs. We want to have the best person available in every job.

The Funds are committed to complying with all applicable laws providing equal employment opportunities to individuals regardless of race, color, religion and religious creed, sexual

orientation, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual orientation, and military and/or veteran status, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state or local laws. This commitment applies to all individuals involved in the operations of the company and prohibits unlawful discrimination by any employee of the Funds.

To apply for this position, please e-mail your resume/cover letter and salary requirements summarizing your qualifications to iakande@equityleague.org with the term, “Benefit Services Representative Position” in the subject line.