Benefits Assistant

Org. Setting and Reporting

The United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund was established in 1949 by the United Nations General Assembly to provide retirement, death, disability, and related benefits for staff of the United Nations and other member organizations of the Fund. The Pension Fund pays benefits in 17 currencies to more than 80,000 beneficiaries who reside in 190 countries, and services more than 140,000 participants who work in the 24 member organizations of the Pension Fund. The Fund has offices in New York (United States) and Geneva (Switzerland) and two liaison offices in Nairobi (Kenya) and Bangkok (Thailand), respectively.

The United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund-Pension Administration (UNJSPF-PA) comprises about 250 staff from diverse countries and cultures, based across four prominent duty stations (New York, Geneva, Bangkok, and Nairobi). We are a career employer offering unique opportunities for growth within the United Nations system. We offer staff competitive benefits, including up to six weeks of annual leave per year, a defined benefit pension plan (not subject to variation of capital markets), parental leave, a comprehensive insurance plan, and flexible working arrangements subject to operational requirements. Our office is located in the heart of Manhattan, within walking distance from the Grand Central Station hub, in a state-of-the-art facility (the One Dag Hammarskjöld building).

This position is located in the Client Services Unit, within the Pension Administration of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF). The incumbent will report to the Chief of the Client Services Unit, who reports to the Chief of the Section. The Client Services Unit provides services to the clients of the UNJSPF, advising them on participation, separation and benefit related issues and the correct application of the Fund’s Regulations and Rules and the Pension Adjustment System.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities Within delegated authority, the Benefits Assistants will be responsible for the following duties:

• Providing information to individual participants and retirees/beneficiaries as well as administrative staff of the member organizations of the Pension Fund on participation, entitlements and benefits.
• Advising clients in person, on the phone or in writing with regards to participation and benefit related enquiries.
• Undertaking necessary research in order to provide accurate information; ensuring responses to queries conform to the provisions of the Pension Fund’s Regulations and Rules and the Pension Adjustment System.
• Routing relevant requests to appropriate parties within the Fund’s secretariat.
• Initiating administrative procedures as they relate to proof of residence, changes in country of residence, etc.
• Advising relevant units, e.g., Insurance Section and the Federation of Associations of Former International Civil Servants (FAFICS) and the Associations of Former International Civil Servants (AFICS) at local and international locations, with respect to status of retirees and beneficiaries.
• Monitoring and controlling Certificate of Entitlement-related verifications, releases, suspensions and benefits.
• Initiating computer runs for monthly activation and/or termination of benefits.
• Processing and auditing administrative actions and procedures relating to Fund participation (validation, restoration and transfer of pension rights).
• Running and auditing estimates of future benefit options and entitlements and all types of pension benefits, computer generated or manually processed, including with regard to the application of the Pension Adjustment System.
• Reviewing and processing applications for Emergency Fund assistance.
• Participating in the standardization of procedures and texts for communications originated by the Section.
• Participating in the training activities related to the Section’s work, including the preparation of training material, compilation of relevant information, and provision of training to individuals outside the Section.
• Assists with the collection and analysis of data as well as preparation of data presentations and reports for information sharing, responding to queries, knowledge management, planning and decision making.
• Assists with visualizations and updating information material such as web pages or brochures.
• Training junior staff, as needed.
• Performing other duties as may be required.

Education

• High school diploma or equivalent is required.

Work Experience

• A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in employee benefits administration or related area is required. The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced to five (5) for candidates who possess a first-level university degree or higher. At least two (2) years of experience in client services is desirable. One (1) year or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable. Experience in a pension fund in the area of client servicing or processing entitlements is desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations Language is an advantage.

Source: https://careers.un.org/jobSearchDescription/239308?language=en