Description

Job Type: Full-Time

Vacancy Status: This posting is for an existing vacancy

Target Salary Range: $53,000-$63,000

The compensation for this position is determined by a combination of skills, experience and is aligned to the market in which the job is posted. Your recruiter will provide additional details about our total rewards package during the hiring process.

Scope of Position

The Pension & Benefits Specialist plays a key role in reviewing and analyzing pension and benefits program activities that support Alterna’s pay-for-performance culture.

The incumbent provides employees with guidance on pension, benefits, and medical leave matters, including short-term disability (STD) and long-term disability (LTD). The role liaises with external partners to resolve discrepancies and employee issues and ensures that programs are administered in accordance with applicable provincial and federal legislation. The incumbent also contributes to special projects and provides operational HR support.

Key Responsibilities

Pension and Benefits

- Provides guidance to employees on pension- and benefits-related matters, including counselling departing and retiring employees on available options and their implications
- Supports the analysis, development, implementation, and administration of pension and benefits programs
- Stays current on emerging pension and benefits trends, supports the implementation of industry best practices, and serves as a subject matter expert on applicable provincial and federal legislation
- Collaborates with pension and benefits providers to resolve issues and support a positive employee experience




- Escalates pension invoice reconciliation discrepancies to the appropriate resource for investigation and resolution and supports the third-party actuary with plan valuations
- Administers employee enrolment, eligibility, and life-event changes for pension and benefits programs, ensuring timely completion and follow-up of outstanding documentation
- Administers retirement programs, including defined benefit and defined contribution pension plans and the group RRSP, in collaboration with third-party providers
- Supports compliance with applicable pension regulations by completing administrative requirements and monthly, quarterly, and annual reconciliations for internal and external audits
- Assists with regulatory pension filings
- Serves as a point of contact for annual external pension and advantages audits and participates in other cyclical audits
- Coordinates and delivers employee education and communications related to pension, retirement, benefits, and leave programs
- Provides consultation and analysis related to the Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP)

Leave Management

- Serves as the primary point of contact for the leave management portfolio
- Follows up with employees on outstanding information and documentation
- Collaborates with the HR advisory team on case management, as appropriate




- Provides managers with timely updates regarding employee leaves and return-to-work plans
- Serves as the primary point of contact for maternity and parental leaves and coordinates related documentation and processes
- Processes leave documentation and liaise with external claims adjudicators and Service Canada, as required
- Coordinates with employees and managers to support returns to work following unpaid, maternity, parental, or disability leaves
- Works with third-party claims adjudicators to support timely returns from medical leave through modified work schedules, workplace accommodations, and ergonomic assessments, as required
- Recommends improvements to leave management processes and policies
- Maintains leave-of-absence trackers and updates procedures to reflect current practices

Reporting

- Analyzes data and produces monthly, quarterly, and ad hoc reports to support the accurate administration of benefits plans
- Creates and maintains user documentation
- Works with third-party vendors to resolve issues and obtain information

Occupational Health and Safety Program Administration

- Receives and reviews monthly health and safety inspection reports from branches and corporate and head offices; serves as the first point of contact for health and safety inquiries; and escalates concerns or urgent matters to the HR Programs & Disability Lead
- Responds to questions and inquiries from employees, health and safety representatives (HSRs), and joint health and safety committees (JHSCs)

Qualifications

- Post-secondary degree in Human Resources or a related field.
- Relevant professional designation or members

📌 Pension & Benefits Specialist (Ottawa)
🏢 Alterna
📍 Ottawa