What are the responsibilities and job description for the Compensation & Benefits Specialist position at Inside Higher Ed?
Job Title: Compensation & Benefits Specialist
Location: Albany State Rec. Location
Regular/Temporary: Regular
Full/Part Time: Full-Time
Job ID: 296268
About Us
Albany State University is a fully accredited senior unit of the University System of Georgia. Employees receive benefits provided by the University System of Georgia, including, but not limited to, medical and major medical insurance, group life insurance, participation in the Georgia Teachers' Retirement System, Optional Retirement Plan (Faculty and exempt employees only), Social Security and Tuition Assistance Program after six months of employment.
Location
Our West Campus is located at 2400 Gillionville Road, Albany, GA 31707. Our East Campus is located at 504 College Drive, Albany, GA 31705. The Human Resources office for both campuses is located on the West Campus in Building K, Suite 209.
Job Summary
The Compensation & Benefits Specialist focuses on the deep, hands-on administration and day-to-day execution of the organization's total rewards programs. This role ensures that benefits operations run smoothly and acts as the primary point of contact for resolving complex employee escalations, processing vendor paperwork, and supporting the operational steps of key HR cycles.
Sponsorship is not available for this position.
Responsibilities
Benefits Administration & Employee Support
Required Qualifications
Salary is commensurate with education and experience.
Required Documents to Attach
Cover letter
Resume
Transcripts
A list of at least 3 professional references with their contact information.
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities
For more information or questions about a job posting, please contact the Office of Human Resources at (229) 500-2026, or by email at hrasu@asurams.edu. For technical support, please call the USG Service Desk at (877) 251-2644, or by email at support@usg.edu.
USG Core Values
The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.
Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.
Institutional Values
Excellence
We achieve outcomes of the highest quality, hold ourselves accountable to the highest standard and are committed to continuous improvement in University programs and services.
Respect
We are directed by tenets of ethics, treating other with courteous regard, and being civil in our interactions.
Community
We strive to build community and value a good mindset.
Teamwork
We seek partnerships within the University and community. We practice a supportive spirit that results in the implementation of plans, actions and shared results.
Learning
We cultivate a practice of global pedagogies in a learning environment.
Conditions of Employment
All selected candidates are required to successfully pass a Background Check review prior to starting with Albany State University.
Certain positions may also require the selected candidate to submit to or have:
Albany State University is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The University is committed to maintaining a fair and respectful environment for living, working, and studying. To that end, and in accordance with federal and state law, Board of Regents policy, and University policy, the University prohibits harassment of or discrimination against any person because of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment, pregnancy, and medical conditions related to pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity or national origin, religion, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran or military status by any member of the ASU Community on campus, in connection with a University program or activity, or in a manner that creates a hostile environment for members of the ASU community.
For questions or more detailed information regarding this policy please contact the Albany State University Office of Human Resources at (229) 500-2026. For individuals requiring disability-related accommodations for participation in any event or to obtain print materials in an alternative format, please contact the Disability Resource Center at 229-500-3442.
Location: Albany State Rec. Location
Regular/Temporary: Regular
Full/Part Time: Full-Time
Job ID: 296268
About Us
Albany State University is a fully accredited senior unit of the University System of Georgia. Employees receive benefits provided by the University System of Georgia, including, but not limited to, medical and major medical insurance, group life insurance, participation in the Georgia Teachers' Retirement System, Optional Retirement Plan (Faculty and exempt employees only), Social Security and Tuition Assistance Program after six months of employment.
Location
Our West Campus is located at 2400 Gillionville Road, Albany, GA 31707. Our East Campus is located at 504 College Drive, Albany, GA 31705. The Human Resources office for both campuses is located on the West Campus in Building K, Suite 209.
Job Summary
The Compensation & Benefits Specialist focuses on the deep, hands-on administration and day-to-day execution of the organization's total rewards programs. This role ensures that benefits operations run smoothly and acts as the primary point of contact for resolving complex employee escalations, processing vendor paperwork, and supporting the operational steps of key HR cycles.
Sponsorship is not available for this position.
Responsibilities
Benefits Administration & Employee Support
- Serve as the primary point of contact for complex benefits questions and issue resolution with carriers, vendors, and employees.
- Facilitate daily benefits operations, including handling enrollments, life events, eligibility audits, file feeds, and invoice reconciliation.
- Execute the operational steps of annual Open Enrollment activities, including system testing, employee communications, and vendor management.
- Support the hands-on administration of specialized programs, such as ADA accommodations, EAP, wellbeing initiatives, and medical or work schedule accommodations.
- Assist in managing employee-related claims processes, such as death claims and disability.
- Maintain highly accurate compensation and benefits data within HRIS platforms, ensuring consistency and auditability.
- Provide administrative and operational support during annual compensation planning cycles, including processing merit increases, promotions, incentives, and salary adjustments.
- Assist managers and HR partners by answering frontline compensation inquiries and helping interpret policies.
- Administer and maintain salary ranges, job architectures, and internal pay structures to ensure accuracy, internal consistency, and audit readiness.
- Conduct job evaluations and market benchmarking using compensation surveys and external labor market data to support competitive pay positioning.
- Perform detailed pay equity analyses, including assessments of range penetration and pay variances, and support the development of remediation actions.
- Provide complex data modeling and lifecycle support for annual merit, promotion, and incentive planning cycles.
- Integrate HRIS, survey, benefits, and workforce data to generate technical reporting and insights that inform long-term compensation strategy and labor cost planning.
- Ensure day-to-day compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, including FLSA, ACA, COBRA, ERISA, and HIPAA.
- Assist with regulatory filings, documentation maintenance, and gathering necessary files for internal and external audits.
- Partner with HRBP and Payroll to streamline administrative processes and improve data quality.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, or a related field is preferred.
- 3-5 years of hands-on experience in benefits administration, HR operations, or total rewards.
Salary is commensurate with education and experience.
Required Documents to Attach
Cover letter
Resume
Transcripts
A list of at least 3 professional references with their contact information.
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities
- Strong communication and customer service skills for direct employee support and escalation resolution.
- Highly detail-oriented with strong problem-solving abilities.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities, handle administrative workflows efficiently, and meet deadlines.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive employee information with sound judgment.
- Collaborative, solutions-oriented, and committed to continuous improvement.
For more information or questions about a job posting, please contact the Office of Human Resources at (229) 500-2026, or by email at hrasu@asurams.edu. For technical support, please call the USG Service Desk at (877) 251-2644, or by email at support@usg.edu.
USG Core Values
The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.
Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.
Institutional Values
Excellence
We achieve outcomes of the highest quality, hold ourselves accountable to the highest standard and are committed to continuous improvement in University programs and services.
Respect
We are directed by tenets of ethics, treating other with courteous regard, and being civil in our interactions.
Community
We strive to build community and value a good mindset.
Teamwork
We seek partnerships within the University and community. We practice a supportive spirit that results in the implementation of plans, actions and shared results.
Learning
We cultivate a practice of global pedagogies in a learning environment.
Conditions of Employment
All selected candidates are required to successfully pass a Background Check review prior to starting with Albany State University.
Certain positions may also require the selected candidate to submit to or have:
- a credit check completed for "Positions of Trust" and/or approved departmental purchase card usage
- a motor vehicle report for positions that require driving an Albany State University vehicle
- a successful pre-employment drug test
Albany State University is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The University is committed to maintaining a fair and respectful environment for living, working, and studying. To that end, and in accordance with federal and state law, Board of Regents policy, and University policy, the University prohibits harassment of or discrimination against any person because of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment, pregnancy, and medical conditions related to pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity or national origin, religion, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran or military status by any member of the ASU Community on campus, in connection with a University program or activity, or in a manner that creates a hostile environment for members of the ASU community.
For questions or more detailed information regarding this policy please contact the Albany State University Office of Human Resources at (229) 500-2026. For individuals requiring disability-related accommodations for participation in any event or to obtain print materials in an alternative format, please contact the Disability Resource Center at 229-500-3442.