HR Retirement Benefits Specialist

Case Western Reserve University is committed to providing a transparent estimate of the salary range available for this position at the time of its posting. The salary range is between $52,705 and $74,873, depending on qualifications, experience, department budgets, and industry data.

Employees receive more than just a paycheck. University employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare, retirement plans, tuition assistance, paid time off, and a winter recess.

Serve as the primary, independent subject matter expert for the day-to-day administration, compliance, and strategic evolution of Case Western Reserve University's (CWRU) retirement plans (Plans A, B, and

C) and the retiree health program. Operating with autonomy, this role guides faculty and staff on retirement benefit-related choices. Through consistent legislative monitoring and the use of data analytics and artificial intelligence, this position delivers proactive insights to support HR leadership's institutional retirement benefits strategy.

Essential Functions

• Provide strategic administration and independent guidance. Serve as the retirement benefit advisor to the Case Western Reserve University community, conducting one-on-one consultations to guide faculty and staff through retirement benefit choices and plan provisions. Administer Faculty and Key Administrative Staff Retirement Plan A, and Staff Retirement Plans B and
  
  C. Determine plan participant eligibility, oversee plan enrollments by current and newly hired faculty and staff, and process participant documents. Function as the primary daily contact and coordinator with external parties regarding plan administration matters (i.e., actuaries, third-party administrators, and trustee), resolving routine and advanced plan operational issues. Administer qualified domestic relations orders (QDROs) and process death claims across all plans.
  
  (40%)
• Provide summaries on current and upcoming regulatory compliance activities. Maintain comprehensive, up-to-date knowledge of plan provisions, relevant Internal Revenue Code sections and regulations, applicable ERISA rules and regulations, and relevant compliance frameworks. Proactively track, research, and evaluate ongoing changes to federal and state retirement laws. Regularly brief the Director of Benefits on legislative shifts to inform the university’s compliance efforts. Assist with regulatory reporting and audit readiness activities;
  
  respond to data requests for annual retirement plan and university financial statement audits; assist with Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) reporting, preparation and distribution of annual fee disclosure notices, census data preparation for non-discrimination testing, and Form 5500 reporting. (25%)
• Provide AI-driven analytics and technology integration. Leverage employee population data, , data modeling techniques, and AI-powered analytical tools to build predictive reports for future-dated plan participation and executive dashboards. Generate data-driven insights to provide enhanced financial guidance to the director of benefits and target communication gaps for employees. Modernize benefit data collection by designing smart HCM queries to audit enrollment accuracy.
  
  Participate in regional and national benchmark surveys, utilizing data automation to research peer institutions and recommend plan optimizations. (20%)
• Provide educational programming and continuous learning. Strategically design, schedule, and execute retirement education programs and group workshops for the CWRU campus. Collaborate closely with investment carriers, HR Administrators, and the Professional Development Center to align educational opportunities with modern…