Pension Specialist

**Division**:

- Human Resources

**Important Notices & Amendments**:
**This position**currently falls within our hybrid model**, allowing the employee to**typically**work**a minimum of**50% of**your** time**at your regular work location and the other 50% of time at home.**

**Temporary Duration**:
Approximate Duration: 6-12 months

**About Us**:
Serving a diverse urban and rural population of more than 475,000, Niagara Region is focused on building a strong and prosperous Niagara. Working collaboratively with 12 local area municipalities and numerous community partners, the Region delivers a range of high-quality programs and services to support and advance the well-being of individuals, families and communities within its boundaries. Nestled between the great lakes of Erie and Ontario, the Niagara peninsula features some of Canada’s most fertile agricultural land, the majesty of Niagara Falls and communities that are rich in both history and recreational and cultural opportunities. Niagara boasts dynamic modern cities, Canada’s most developed wine industry, a temperate climate, extraordinary theatre, and some of Ontario’s most breathtaking countryside. An international destination with easy access to its binational U.S. neighbour New York State, Niagara attracts over 14 million visitors annually, as well as a steady stream of new residents and businesses.

At Niagara Region, we value diversity - in background and experience. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We aspire to hire and grow a workforce reflective of the diverse community we serve. By doing so, we can deliver better programs and services across Niagara.

For the Region's full employee equity statement, Working at Niagara Region - Niagara Region, Ontario.

**Don’t have every qualification?**

**Job Summary**:
Reporting to the Manager Total Rewards, the Pension Specialist leads pension projects, identifies and implements process redesign opportunities, promotes pension education and knowledge, and ensures all pension areas are administered effectively and efficiently. Manages escalated pension matters, service issues, and service provider concerns while ensuring compliance with various pension and tax legislations, collective bargaining agreements, policies and by laws. Consults with internal partners on pension matters.

**Education**:

- Post-secondary diploma in Business or Human Resources.

**Knowledge**:

- 5 years’ experience in human resources or payroll with at least 3 years of direct experience in pension administration, compensation, or and benefits administration.
- 5 years’ experience in human resources with breadth in total rewards, payroll, T4 reporting, labour relations, disability management, and/or recruitment experience in a multi-union environment is preferred.
- Advanced proficiency in MS office tools, particularly advanced in Excel, databases (HRIS/Payroll), PeopleSoft,
- Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) or Certified Human Recourses Professional or Leader (CHRP, CHRL) designation is preferred.

**Responsibilities**:

- Leads pension administration and compliance, research, analysis, process design and process implementation of pension administration and reporting._ _(30%)_
- Works closely with external service providers and internal partners to continuously review pension administration processes; identifying operational efficiencies and modifying and/or developing standardized processes that leverage new and existing technology, eliminate duplication, improve data accuracy, and enhance accessibility.
- Oversees day to day pension reporting accuracy and compliance by auditing biweekly payroll cycles, ensuring payroll errors or inaccuracies are corrected, establishing repayment plans, providing education and direction where required.
- Maintains a broad understanding of the corporation and its structure to create solutions that are aligned to the needs of the business while creating a positive employee experience.
- Leads pension review project(s), including the development of collective bargaining proposals to identify risks and opportunities and develop recommendations to ensure compliance and accuracy.
- Delivers exceptional service for employees and internal clients across the corporation and manages pension vendor relationship on behalf of the Niagara Region. Responds to inquiries, offers consultation and education to plan members and vendor and provides guidance and interpretation of pension processes, policies, and plan details._ _(25%)_
- Manages ongoing relationships with pension provider, monitoring service levels, investigating and resolving complaints, errors and complex pension issues. Recommends solutions where applicable working with plan members and OMERS to ensure alignment with the plan design, policies, and procedures.
- Facilitates life insurance claims and supports beneficiaries and dependents through the claim and survivor continuation of benefits processes. Ensures positive be