AFSCME Pennsylvania Council 13

Health and Welfare Benefits Fund Manager

Based in Harrisburg, PA

 

Job Title: Health and Welfare Benefits Fund Manager
Salary: $80,168.52 – $130,101.72

How to Apply: 
Submit cover letter and résumé via email to: recruiting@afscme13.org

About AFSCME Council 13
Pennsylvania Public Employees Council 13, AFSCME, AFL-CIO (AFSCME Council 13) is the largest public employee union in Pennsylvania. Established in 1973, Council 13 works to improve wages, benefits, and working conditions for public and private non-profit employees who protect and serve the citizens of the Commonwealth. We represent more than 35,000 members employed at the state, county, township, borough, and city level, as well as in health care and social service facilities. Along with our affiliated local unions, we provide resources in representation, collective bargaining, organizing, political and legislative advocacy, and education to ensure members’ respect and dignity in the workplace.

Overview
The Benefits Fund Manager performs advanced professional and managerial work overseeing the administration of the AFSCME Health & Welfare Fund and AFSCME Council 13 employee healthcare programs. The position is responsible for managing collectively bargained health and welfare benefits, including prescription, dental, vision, disability, and healthcare plans; growing the portfolio of AFSCME collective bargaining units utilizing the Fund’s plans; managing health benefits for employees of Council 13; supervising benefits staff; directing financial administration of the Fund; ensuring regulatory compliance; and serving as the Executive Director's liaison to the Pennsylvania Employees Benefit Trust Fund (PEBTF).

Working under the general direction of the Executive Director and Fund Trustees, the Benefits Fund Manager exercises independent judgment in administering benefit programs, managing vendor and trustee relationships, monitoring financial performance, and ensuring compliance with applicable federal and state laws.

Primary Responsibilities
AFSCME Health & Welfare Fund Administration

• Direct the daily administration of the AFSCME Health & Welfare Fund, providing prescription, dental, vision, and disability benefits for eligible non-state employees covered under collective bargaining agreements. 
• Maintain productive working relationships with participating employers, Trustees, third-party administrators, consultants, and benefit vendors. 
• Prepare financial reports and monitor Fund revenues, expenditures, reserves, and operating budgets. 
• Manage the planning, preparation, and facilitation of semi-annual Trustee meetings by developing agendas, preparing reports and supporting documentation, presenting key operational and financial information, and ensuring follow-up on Trustee decisions.
• Supervise, train, evaluate, and support Fund staff. 
• Review and authorize payment of benefit claims administered by Delta Dental, National Vision Administrators (NVA), and BeneCard. 
• Review and approve Fund operating expenses and vendor invoices. 
• Maintain benefit rates, contracts, and service agreements. 
• Monitor benefit utilization, claims experience, and emerging healthcare trends to support informed decision-making. 
• Develop programming to engage existing and prospective plan participants and their families on the benefits of coverage under the Health and Welfare Plan, including before, during, and after collective bargaining.
• Advise staff representatives around crafting the strongest benefit proposals to retain existing contracts and expand into new areas
• Coordinate the annual independent financial audit and provide supporting documentation. 
• Maintain and update reference guides. 
• Coordinate renewal of the ERISA Bond and Fiduciary Liability Insurance. 
• Prepare and submit all required governmental filings and regulatory reports. 

Council 13 Employee Healthcare Administration

• Administer healthcare benefit programs for AFSCME Council 13 employees and retirees, including Aetna medical plans, Aetna Medicare Advantage, PEBTF supplemental benefits, Mental Health Consultants, and Health Advocate. 
• Coordinate employee enrollments, status changes, retirements, and terminations. 
• Assist with negotiating renewal rates, contracts, and benefit plan modifications. 
• Review and approve healthcare vendor invoices. 
• Coordinate Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) mailings, Open Enrollment communications, Medicare notifications, and COBRA administration. 
• Provide benefit consultation and technical support during collective bargaining negotiations. 

Executive Director Liaison to PEBTF

• Serve as the Executive Director's primary representative to the Pennsylvania Employees Benefit Trust Fund (PEBTF). 
• Assist Commonwealth members with benefit issues by coordinating with Commonwealth agencies and PEBTF staff. 
• Represent AFSCME Council 13 at PEBTF Trustee, Finance Committee, Eligibility Committee, Task Force, RFP, Pre-Negotiation, Get Healthy Appeals, and Open Enrollment Steering Committee meetings. 
• Communicate benefit developments, policy changes, and recommendations to Council leadership. 
• Support strategic healthcare planning and benefit initiatives involving PEBTF. 

Education and Experience
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Business Administration, Human Resources, Public Administration, Finance, Healthcare Administration, or a closely related field, and at least five (5) years of progressively responsible experience administering employee benefits, health and welfare funds, healthcare programs, or employee benefit plans. Experience with labor unions, Taft-Hartley benefit funds, public-sector healthcare programs, or collectively bargained benefit plans is strongly preferred.

An equivalent combination of education and experience demonstrating the required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of employee health and welfare benefit programs, including medical, prescription, dental, vision, disability, Medicare, and retiree healthcare plans. 
• Working knowledge of ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, ACA, Medicare, fiduciary responsibilities, and applicable federal and state regulatory requirements. 
• Experience managing benefit fund finances, budgets, vendor contracts, and financial reporting. 
• Ability to analyze benefit utilization, claims experience, financial data, and healthcare trends to support strategic planning. 
• Demonstrated experience negotiating and administering vendor agreements and third-party administrator contracts. 
• Strong leadership and supervisory skills, including the ability to mentor staff and manage multiple priorities. 
• Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and presentation skills, including the ability to communicate complex benefit information to Trustees, members, employers, and staff. 
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects while meeting deadlines. 
• High degree of integrity, discretion, and confidentiality in handling sensitive financial, medical, and personnel information. 
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and benefits administration, financial reporting, and database systems. 
• Commitment to providing high-quality service to union members, retirees, employers, and Council leadership. 

Physical Requirements
Work is generally performed in an office environment and requires regular use of a computer and other standard office equipment. The position requires attendance at Trustee meetings, committee meetings, negotiations, and occasional travel throughout Pennsylvania. Evening meetings and extended work hours may be required during Open Enrollment, negotiations, audits, or other peak periods.