Benefits Assistant

Org. Setting and Reporting

These positions are located in the Health & Life Insurance Section of the Finance Risk and Management Service Division of the Finance Division of the United Nations Office of Programme Planning, Budget and Accounts (OPPFB). The incumbent will report to a Benefits Officer. The Health and Life Insurance Section is responsible for the administration of the medical, dental and life insurance programme of active and retired staff and their eligible household members, and coordinates with the various offices such as insurance carriers to resolve issues, processing death claims for life insurance, and following up on the status of claims.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Benefits Assistant will be responsible for the following duties: • Determines eligibility for enrolment in, and processes applications for medical dental and life insurance schemes offered for active staff members at the New York Headquarters and internationally, the After-Service Health Insurance programme (ASHI), and the After-Service Life Insurance programme (ASLI). • Reviews/processes applications for enrolment in the After-Service Health Insurance programme (ASHI) and After-Service Life Insurance programme (ASLI). • Advises staff members on details pertaining to the UN medical, dental and life insurance programmes and provides necessary information to (prospective) participants in the ASHI and ASLI programmes. • Assists with the Annual Insurance Enrolment Campaign. • Reviews/processes Medical Insurance Plan (MIP) hardship claims and organizes/maintains MIP data. • Prepares certificates of insurance coverage and drafts memoranda/letters/emails to carriers and subscribers on insurance matters. • Performs reconciliations and other basic accounting functions. • Corresponds with beneficiaries, attorneys, the insurer, and other UN officials about routine life insurance matters in order to secure documents necessary for claims to go forward. • Instructs insurance carrier regarding payment of benefits and forwarding of benefit cheques. • Maintains the integrity of the insurance subscriber's data in the United Nations' ERP system. • Keeps other plan participant files or records organized and up to date at all times and ensures that these files contain proper documentation of actions taken. • Performs other related duties, as assigned.

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge of the United Nations Health and Life Insurance rules and processes. Knowledge of insurance policies, procedures, and practices at the United Nations. Ability to apply conceptual, analytical and evaluative skills in health insurance operations. Ability to conduct independent research and analysis, identify issues, formulate options and make conclusions and recommendations. Shows pride in work and in achievements. Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter. Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results. Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns. Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work. Planning and organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies. Identifies priority activities and assignments;adjusts priorities as required. Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work. Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning. Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary. Uses time efficiently. Client orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be "clients" and seeks to see things from clients' point of view. Establishes and maintains productive partnerships withclients by gaining their trust and respect. Identifies clients' needs and matches them toappropriate solutions. Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside theclients' environment to keep informed and anticipate problems. Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects. Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of experience in employee benefits administration or related finance areas such as staff benefits and entitlement calculation is required. The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced to three (3) years for candidates who possess a first-level university degree or higher. Experience in both employee benefits and entitlements accounting is desirable. Experience in the UN's ERP (Umoja), SAP or similar information systems is desirable. Experience in the application of UN Staff Regulations and Rules or those of a similar international body is desirable. Experience in servicing clients involving the use of a customer relationship management system e.g., INeed or similar is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

This post is financed by extrabudgetary funds. Appointment or assignment against this position is for an initial period of one year. The appointment or assignment and renewal thereof are subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval or extension of the mandate. This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. Applicants for positions in the General Service and related categories must be authorized to work for the United Nations in the duty station where the position is located. Eligible applicants selected from outside the duty station are responsible for any expenses in connection with their relocation to the duty station. Staff members subject to local recruitment are not eligible for allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. This post is financed by [type of funding e.g. the Support Account for Peacekeeping Operations].

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term "sexual exploitation" means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term "sexual abuse" means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term "sexual harassment" means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator's working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on "Manuals" in the "Help" tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS' BANK ACCOUNTS.