Pension & Benefit Advisor

**Department** Vice-President Finance & Administration - Shared Services HR Services

**Salary range** $54,977.40 to $74,669.16

**Hours per week** 35

**Grade** 8

**Posted date**

**Closing date** September 30, 2025

**Position Type** Full Time - Operating Funded

**Description**:
This position is a part of the Non-Academic Staff Association (NASA).

This position offers a comprehensive benefits package.

**Location -**This role is hybrid with a mix of remote and in-person. Work primarily takes place at Enterprise Square, Edmonton.

**Working at the University of Alberta**
- The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages and cultures of First Nations, Métis, Inuit and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community._

The University of Alberta is a community of knowledge seekers, change makers and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to over 14,000 faculty and staff, more than 40,000 students and a growing community of 300,000 alumni worldwide.

Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross-section of people — from our students and community members, to our renowned researchers and innovators, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger and more just. Learn more.

**Working for the Shared Services**

Established in 2021, Shared Services is a growing unit responsible for supporting the university in its human resources, finance and IST administrative processes. We are fortunate to work with faculty, staff, students, alumni, external vendors, and many other third parties.

Working with Shared Services means working with a close-knit community of smart, approachable teams who collaborate, exchange knowledge and identify solutions. Our team of expert problem solvers work with the community to ensure the end-to-end delivery of the diverse catalogue of services we are responsible for meets the service level expectations we have committed to.

**Position Summary**

Reporting to the Team Lead Workforce Administration, the Pension and Benefits Advisor is primarily responsible for providing timely and critical support and advice to faculty and staff and overseeing the integrity of benefits plan entitlements and reporting.

The Pension and Benefits Advisor ensures that employee benefit and pension plans enrollments, changes and terminations are completed in a timely and accurate manner and that employees are provided with advice, consultation and education about the benefit and pension offerings available to them and their families. The Pension and Benefits Advisor is also responsible for administering the University’s defined benefit (PSPP, UAPP) and defined contribution (ASRP, EDCSRP) pension plans in accordance with federal, provincial, and plan regulations.

**Duties**
- Provides consultation, education, and advice to employees on benefit program offerings, plan costs, election options, enrollment, change and termination processes and procedures, family eligibility, coordination, and other specialized benefit-related questions
- Reviews and manages the daily event maintenance and open enrollment processes within the Benefits Administration module, including daily reports to ensure employees have made the right selection to enroll in initial benefits upon hire, rehire, promotion or transfer
- Enrolls employees in optional benefits (supplemental health, optional coverages, etc.) upon receipt of completed forms
- Meets with individual employees to process benefit changes related to significant life events affecting the employee, such as retirement and termination
- Works with the Leave Administrators to provide advice and assistance to employees when life events impact benefits such as maternity and parental leave, partial leave, illness leave, vacation leave, recurring term inactive period, long-term disability, termination, layoff, reduced duties leading to retirement and retirement
- Prepares premium calculation costs for employees wishing to pre-pay benefits while on an unpaid leave of absence
- Consults with 3rd party benefit providers and employees to resolve and clarify issues regarding coverage and claims
- Administers and maintains annual benefit programs such as academic child care, student declarations, health spending account and personal spending account allocations
- Works with Functional Analysts to define business and reporting requirements, set up and maintain benefit and pension plans and design PeopleSoft HCM processes and system functionality
- Manages member termination & retirements in 3rd party pension enrollment systems (Ben Plus/EOS) for UAPP (Universities Academic Pension Plan) and PSPP (Public Service Pension Plan)
- Coordinates with Pension Specialist to review, validate and update data for year-end pension reporting in accordance with plan deadlines. Reviews benefit rate and progra