Role Responsibilities

Are you an organized, detail-oriented professional with a passion for employee benefits and pension administration?

Do you have experience or education with benefits programs and providing exceptional client service?

As a Benefits Program Assistant you will play a critical role in supporting the development and maintenance of benefits policies and programs within the Alberta Public Service while also providing senior administrative support to the Manager, the Director, and the pension and benefits policy team in achieving effective service delivery and business goals.

Your key responsibilities include:

• Administration of the Paid-Up Life Insurance Plan, administering group life insurance waivers, verifying and processing life insurance claims on employee and dependent deaths and verification processes under the Long-Term Disability Income Continuance Plan.
• Liaising with a variety of internal and external sources such as payroll, departments, employees, retirees, beneficiaries and legal entities. 
• Maintenance of program area records and responding to enquiries related to the unit/branch programs and services. 
• Maintaining and establishing administrative best practices and priorities, scheduling meetings, tracking, and updating statistical information from a variety of sources.
• Utilizing the Government of Alberta IMAGIS/1GX systems as relating to pension and benefits information.
• Maintaining office supplies and technical resources. 
• Working with other administrative contacts in the branch, PSC, and other departments as needed, as well as other policy/program and service delivery area contacts to ensure the appropriate tracking and processing of information.

Please click on this link to view the job description for this position.

APS Competencies

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

This link will assist you with understanding competencies:
https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/custom_downloaded_images/psc-alberta-public-service-competency-model.pdf.
 

• Systems Thinking – Understands how the policies, services, activities, and actions of the unit add value to the PSC and GoA as a whole. Considers how their own work impacts the work of others and the team’s success.
   
• Creative Problem Solving – Looks for ways to improve processes and challenges the way things have always been done. Contributes ideas to solve common problems. 
   
• Drive for Results – Sets goals and prioritizes work.  Takes corrective actions when required. Operate consistently with the APS values.
   
• Agility – Readily help out when required and be open to new and diverse ideas. Takes advantage to improve services by changing how work is done.
   
• Build Collaborative Environments – Contributes positively to the team by actively sharing information and listening and accepting other’s differences and points of view.
   
• Develop Networks – Builds relationships by following through on commitments, demonstrating integrity, respect for others and taking an interest in work issues and activities. 

Qualifications

Minimum Recruitment Standard: 

• High school diploma and three years of related experience. 

Equivalency: 

• Directly related experience or education considered on the basis of: one year of experience for one year of education or one year of education for one year of experience.

Preference is given to candidates who have:

• Experience or education within Human Resources, benefits and/or pension administration.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.
• Research skills to gather information for the Benefits Policy Leads.   
• Understanding of GoA Procurement, Finance, IT and accommodations processes and requirements.
• Written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to be compassionate when providing advice and information to beneficiaries of deceased employees or retirees.
• Excellent interpersonal skills accompanied with tact and the ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with departmental staff and inter-government contacts.
• Excellent organizational, prioritization, and time management skills. 

Assets:

• Understanding of HR Directives and Collective Agreement related to benefits policy would be an asset.
• Understanding of the Life Insurance Policies, Dental Plan Trust Agreement and Extended Medical and Prescription Drug Agreements would be an asset. Experience writing and publishing articles and/or news releases for an organization.

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification.
Refer to https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-minimum-recruitment-standards.

Notes

Final candidates for this position will be asked to undergo a security screening. This competition is used to fill any future opportunities at the same level or lower-level classification.
 
Location:
This position works out of the Peace Hills Trust Tower, located at 10011 – 109 Street, Edmonton (Hybrid, i.e. work from home two days per week)

Hours of work: 36.25 hours per week  

Links and information on what the GoA have to offer to prospective employees.

• Working for the Alberta Public Service - About the Alberta Public Service | Alberta.ca

• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) - https://www.pspp.ca

• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information - https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-benefits

• Professional learning and development - https://www.alberta.ca/professional-development-support-directive

• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool – https://researchapscareers.alberta.ca

• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance

• Opportunity to participate in flexible work arrangements such as working from home up to two days per week and modified work schedule agreement

• Leadership and mentorship programs