Job Number: 4504
Job Type: Temporary Full-Time
Vacancy Reason: Backfill
Temp Contract Length: Up to 12 months
Location: 150 Frederick St - Regional Admin Headquarters
Number of Positions: 1
Division: Human Resources
Hours of Work: 35
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday
Union: Management/Management Support
Grade: Management/Management Support Grade 05
Salary Range: $85,430.80 - $106,779.40 per year
About Us!
The Region of Waterloo is a thriving, diverse community committed to fostering opportunities for current and future generations. Waterloo Region is part of the Dish with One Spoon wampum, a treaty guiding our commitment to:
- Taking only what we need
- Leaving some for others
- Keeping the dish clean
This agreement underpins our vision, mission, and core value, and reinforces our dedication to meaningful reconciliation and equity.
Waterloo Region is home to over 674,000 residents and expected to grow to nearly one million by 2051. Guided by our 2023-2027 Strategic Plan, “Growing with Care,” we prioritize homes for all, climate aligned growth, equitable services and opportunities and a resilient and future ready organization. Our mission is to provide essential services that enhance the quality of life for all residents, while our core value emphasizes caring for people and the land we share. Join us and be part of a team dedicated to making a meaningful difference in our community.
Responsible for developing and implementing benefits programming, including short-term disability programming across the Region. Collaborates with others and advises on benefits initiatives that improve employee experience and contain costs. Supports the development of reports regarding employee benefits and related functions and works directly with the insured benefits carrier to support the annual benefits renewal and costing of benefits proposals in support of collective bargaining and policy change.
Provides leadership, technical supervision, training, and guidance to benefits coordinators in the delivery and administration of the Region’s employee benefits and employee leave programs (e.g., sick, vacation, maternity leave, and bereavement).
- Provides technical expertise, support, guidance, and training to benefits coordinators; periodically assigns and re-directs work to respond to urgent demands (e.g., strikes).
- Develops and maintains benefits program procedures, processes, and related knowledge tools for consistent application and program administration (e.g., long term and short term disability, health, dental, life). Ensures processes and procedures comply with collective agreement rules, legislation, and HR policies.
- Monitors operational compliance with policy, legislation, and standard practices and procedures. Prepares and reviews discrepancies and follows up with appropriate staff, including designated department/program area staff and managers/supervisors across the organization, to resolve discrepancies and provide related direction to correct inaccuracies.
- Leads the benefits team in the delivery of excellent customer service. Ensures the team pursues all reasonable measures to provide client satisfaction per collective agreement rules, laws, and HR policies.
- Liaises with benefits carrier, HR staff involved with labour and employee relations and disability management, and operational management to resolve complex/escalated situations that are outside current benefits offerings/guidelines. Communicates decisions and changes in processes using clear, user-friendly terminology, and respecting client perspectives.
- Supports development and implementation of benefits programming. Runs reports and analyses data. Provides summaries regarding usage, costs, and trends.
- Researches best/leading practices in benefits programming and administration.
- Provides guidance and advice, and makes recommendations on benefits initiatives that improve employee experience and/or contain costs. Works on project teams regarding changes to programming.
- Analyzes and prepares financial information/costing relating to benefits plan annual renewals and proposals/options.
- Prepares monthly payment for benefits carrier. Receives billing information for premiums and reconciles charges by type, group, and GL. Authorizes payments up to $10,000 to benefit carriers and benefits consultant.
- Has oversight and audit responsibility for terminations as they relate to payments over $10,000.
- Provides ongoing support and guidance to designated staff across the organization following and during implementation of new human resources information systems as they relate to time and attendance, and benefits.
- Participates in the preparation and delivery of training materials used by regional employees (e.g., online webcasts, quick tips, in-class training).
- Participates on project teams to represent program interests and contribute to the development and enhancement of new systems. Participates in testing, provides feedback, and liaises with project staff to address issues with system functionality.
- Uses data and runs reports from human resources information system to identify and reconcile data, prepare costing information, and support program development. Conducts related analysis.
- Maintains documentation and other historical records and information related to treatment of complex situations and past practices.
- Provides input to time and attendance and benefits training programs.
- Liaises directly with bargaining agent representatives as it relates to complex matters involving insured and non-insured benefits.
- Works directly with the benefits carrier to support the resolution of complex employee matters, annual benefits renewal, and costing of benefits proposals (e.g., collective bargaining, policy change).
- Performs related duties as required.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Knowledge and skills in group benefits and pension programs and systems, and administrative policies and procedures, normally acquired through post-secondary education in Business Administration, Human Resource Management, or equivalent, plus progressively responsible experience in group pension and benefits administration for union and non-union groups.
- Knowledge and experience working with legislation such as the Workplace Safety & Insurance Act, Pension Benefits Act, Human Rights Code, Employment Standards Act, Service Canada and Canada Revenue Agency requirements, and other legislation related to benefits administration in union and non-union settings.
- Knowledge of and ability to comply with policies, procedures, collective agreements, and related legislation (e.g., employment standards, CRA, WSIB).
- Analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills to identify, monitor, and develop process requirements for compliance; reconcile data; analyze data and prepare reports and costing information to support decisions, resolve issues, and support changes and new programming.
- Math skills to perform costing projections and calculations.
- Ability to work independently, adapt to changing priorities and balance multiple, time-sensitive requests within expected timeframes.
- Anticipates and presents change positively and undertakes appropriate actions to support successful implementation.
- Leadership, consultation, and human relations skills to train, motivate, and support the benefits team; provide direction and guidance to various levels of regional staff regarding benefits (using diplomacy and tact); participate in working groups; present information and recommendations to management; respond to and/or facilitate response to escalations; and participate as an effective team member.
- Ability to read, interpret, and apply collective agreements, reports, correspondence, applicable legislation, training/user manuals, and professional journals.
- Ability to prepare briefing materials and reports, including detailed costing and program information; develop and conduct information sessions and training; and respond to inquiries from HR peers, management across the organization, and union leaders, regarding benefits administration.
- Computer skills with the ability to use software such as Microsoft Office (including Excel); human resources, time and attendance, and document management systems; and benefits plan/carrier system.
- Ability to travel within Waterloo Region.
- Ability to support and demonstrate the Region’s values.
Region of Waterloo is committed to building a workforce through fair, equitable, and accessible hiring practices that allow us to hire qualified staff who reflect the diversity of the community we serve and to promote a respectful, inclusive, and equitable workplace.
We invite all interested individuals to apply and actively encourage applications from members of groups with historical and/or current barriers to equity, including, but not limited to:
- First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples, and all other Indigenous peoples;
- members of groups that commonly experience discrimination due to race, ancestry, religion and/or spiritual beliefs, or place of origin;
- persons with visible and/or invisible (physical and/or mental) disabilities;
- persons who identify as women; and persons of marginalized sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions
For questions or to request accommodations during your recruitment, onboarding or employment, please contact
[email protected], or by calling our Service First Contact Centre at phone number (519) 575-4400.
Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Hiring Process: Region of Waterloo may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to enhance efficiency during the recruitment process. However, applications will also be reviewed by a member of our Talent Acquisition team to ensure a fair and thorough assessment. AI does not make final hiring decisions.
Please note: candidates will be provided an update on their application. Please check your spam or junk folder occasionally as some candidates have noticed our emails in those folders (Gmail and Hotmail in particular).
