Pension & Benefits Specialist

Job Type: Full-Time

Vacancy Status: This posting is for an existing vacancy

Target Salary Range: $53,000-$63,000

The compensation for this position is determined by a combination of skills, experience and is aligned to the market in which the job is posted. Your recruiter will provide additional details about our total rewards package during the hiring process.

Scope of Position

The Pension & Benefits Specialist plays a key role in reviewing and analyzing pension and benefits program activities that support Alterna’s pay-for-performance culture.

The incumbent provides employees with guidance on pension, benefits, and medical leave matters, including short-term disability (STD) and long-term disability (LTD). The role liaises with external partners to resolve discrepancies and employee issues and ensures that programs are administered in accordance with applicable provincial and federal legislation. The incumbent also contributes to special projects and provides operational HR support.

Key Responsibilities

Pension and Benefits

• Provides guidance to employees on pension- and benefits-related matters, including counselling departing and retiring employees on available options and their implications
• Supports the analysis, development, implementation, and administration of pension and benefits programs
• Stays current on emerging pension and benefits trends, supports the implementation of industry best practices, and serves as a subject matter expert on applicable provincial and federal legislation
• Collaborates with pension and benefits providers to resolve issues and support a positive employee experience
• Escalates pension invoice reconciliation discrepancies to the appropriate resource for investigation and resolution and supports the third-party actuary with plan valuations
• Administers employee enrolment, eligibility, and life-event changes for pension and benefits programs, ensuring timely completion and follow-up of outstanding documentation
• Administers retirement programs, including defined benefit and defined contribution pension plans and the group RRSP, in collaboration with third-party providers
• Supports compliance with applicable pension regulations by completing administrative requirements and monthly, quarterly, and annual reconciliations for internal and external audits
• Assists with regulatory pension filings
• Serves as a point of contact for annual external pension and benefits audits and participates in other cyclical audits
• Coordinates and delivers employee education and communications related to pension, retirement, benefits, and leave programs
• Provides consultation and analysis related to the Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP)

Leave Management

• Serves as the primary point of contact for the leave management portfolio
• Follows up with employees on outstanding information and documentation
• Collaborates with the HR advisory team on case management, as appropriate
• Provides managers with timely updates regarding employee leaves and return-to-work plans
• Serves as the primary point of contact for maternity and parental leaves and coordinates related documentation and processes
• Processes leave documentation and liaise with external claims adjudicators and Service Canada, as required
• Coordinates with employees and managers to support returns to work following unpaid, maternity, parental, or disability leaves
• Works with third-party claims adjudicators to support timely returns from medical leave through modified work schedules, workplace accommodations, and ergonomic assessments, as required
• Recommends improvements to leave management processes and policies
• Maintains leave-of-absence trackers and updates procedures to reflect current practices

Reporting

• Analyzes data and produces monthly, quarterly, and ad hoc reports to support the accurate administration of benefits plans
• Creates and maintains user documentation
• Works with third-party vendors to resolve issues and obtain information

Occupational Health and Safety Program Administration

• Receives and reviews monthly health and safety inspection reports from branches and corporate and head offices; serves as the first point of contact for health and safety inquiries; and escalates concerns or urgent matters to the HR Programs & Disability Lead
• Responds to questions and inquiries from employees, health and safety representatives (HSRs), and joint health and safety committees (JHSCs)

Qualifications

• Post-secondary degree in Human Resources or a related field.

• Relevant professional designation or membership, completed or in progress (e.g., HRPA, CEBS, GBA, or RPA)
• Two years of progressive experience in pension and benefits administration, with exposure to other HR disciplines
• Two years of progressive experience in leave management or a comparable case management environment

• Working knowledge of pension and benefits practices and applicable employment standards legislation.
• Experience using HRIS platforms
• Intermediate Excel skills, including the ability to create and manipulate spreadsheets and use formulas, VLOOKUP, and PivotTables
• Working knowledge of Word and PowerPoint, including the ability to create mail merges and import and modify charts and images

Key Skills and Competencies

• Strong attention to detail
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex information clearly and manage sensitive or difficult conversations with tact and professionalism
• Ability to identify opportunities to improve efficiency
• Ability to work effectively and efficiently in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines
• Ability to handle highly confidential information with discretion
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively within an HR environment
• Strong analytical skills and an interest in systems and process improvement

About Alterna Savings

Alterna Savings and Credit Union Limited (Alterna) has delivered The Good in Banking® for over 115 years creating financial services that transform lives for the better, all while giving back to our community. Alterna is made up of Alterna Savings and Credit Union Limited and its wholly owned subsidiary, Alterna Bank.

Alterna is the first full-service, member-owned cooperative financial institution outside Quebec, sharing its expertise with over 210,000 members through a network comprised of 40 branches across Ontario, a call centre and multiple digital channels. Members and customers also benefit from an industry-leading online brokerage and investment management services.

To learn more about Alterna Savings, please visit alterna.ca, X, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

Working at Alterna

We are incredibly proud of our corporate culture, embodying our core values: Collaboration, Integrity, and Respect, where everyone works together towards a common goal; the financial wellbeing of our employees, members, and customers. This commitment has earned us several prestigious employer awards, including the National Capital Region's Top Employers award for nine consecutive years.

* We appreciate all applicants; however, preference will be given to candidates who most closely meet the qualifications, key skills, and competencies outlined above.

* Alterna is compliant with the Ontarians with Disabilities Act and our team strives to provide an accessible accommodation experience. If you have a disability and require accommodations during the recruitment process, please contact our Recruitment Team and let us know how we can accommodate you.

* Alterna does not currently use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to screen, assess, or select applicants