Pension and Benefits Specialist

Ready to start your next chapter with NAIT?

At NAIT, we’re passionate about building a team of talented, dedicated professionals who share our commitment to excellence and innovation. Your skills and experience can shape the future of education and make a real impact in our community.

If this opportunity feels like the right fit for you, we encourage you to apply and join us in creating a brighter future – together.

Important Application Deadline Notice

Please note that Workday closes job postings at 11:59pm MST on the day before the posting end date listed above.

To ensure your application is received, submit no later than 11:59pm MST the day prior to the posting end date.

Internal NAIT Employees

Current NAIT employees are welcome to apply for this opportunity. To be considered, please submit your application through the NAIT Jobs Hub rather than the external career site.

Job Description

Reporting to the Manager, Payroll and Benefits, the Benefits and Pension Specialist provides specialized administration, audit, reconciliation, and employee support for NAIT’s benefit and pension programs. The position is responsible for administering benefit and pension activities through Workday business processes, ensuring employee benefit events, pension enrollments, leaves, terminations, billing, remittances, and related data changes are completed accurately and on time.

The position supports employees, Payroll, Human Resources, Finance, Alberta Blue Cross, Alberta Pension Services Corporation/LAPP, and other service providers by resolving benefit and pension inquiries, investigating discrepancies, validating data, and ensuring accurate administration of benefit and pension entitlements.

The Benefits and Pension Specialist conducts regular audits and reconciliations between Workday, payroll, benefit carrier records, pension records, and internal tracking tools to maintain data integrity, identify exceptions, and support compliance. The position also contributes to continuous improvement by reviewing processes, identifying gaps, recommending controls, and supporting efficient and consistent service delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Benefits Administration and Workday Event Processing – Facilitating the enrollment process for various benefits programs, including health insurance, dental coverage, Long-term disability, AD&D, and Life insurance. This position provides support to employees during enrollment periods, address inquiries, and ensures accurate processing of benefit elections.

• Pension Administration and Reconciliation – Reconcile premium paid (employee and employer) and reimbursements for overall cost and liability for current pension and benefit program. Perform monthly reconciliation of invoices against payroll deductions.

• Audit, Data Integrity and Compliance Monitoring – Conduct regular audits and reconciliation between Workday, payroll, benefit carrier records, pension records, and internal tracking tools to maintain data integrity, identify exceptions and support compliance.

• Employee Advisory Services and Stakeholder Support – Overseeing the administration of pension plans, including coordinating enrollments, processing bi-weekly contributions and declaration, contributory and non-contributory leave management, year-end APS reporting, retro pension adjustment calculation, buyback audit and remittance, PA calculation and amendment for buybacks, CLCR post-regularization refund, and triennial pension audit. This position liaises with pension providers, addresses employee queries, and ensures compliance with regulatory requirements.

• Process Improvement, Reporting, and Vendor Management – Provide internal training to HR team on pension and benefits programs, act as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) for all NAIT employees and serve as the liaison to external vendors.

• Backup support for Senior Payroll & Benefits Specialist to ensure continuity of critical payroll, benefits, and pension functions.

Skills & Abilities

• Strong technical knowledge of benefit and pension processes, legislation, collective agreement provisions, payroll impacts, and Workday benefit event administration

• Working knowledge of Alberta Employment Standards, Alberta Labour Relations Code, Privacy and Protection of Personal Information Act (POPA), Income Tax Act (Canada), Employment Insurance Act, Public Sector Pension Plans Act and LAPP governing regulations

• Working knowledge of benefit carrier contractual provisions and policy requirements

• Strong oral and written communication skills

• Strong team player with a commitment to professionalism and excellent customer service

• Strong time management and organizing skills

• Ability to multi-task several projects/initiatives with strict deadlines

• Advanced Microsoft Excel skill with using pivot table, vlookup and xlookup formulas, macro

Qualifications

• Post-secondary diploma in a related field such as Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, Human Resources or a related discipline

• A minimum of three years of full-cycle payroll experience

• Experience with LAPP and benefits administration, including managing defined benefit (DB) pension plans and self-insured benefit programs

• Payroll Leadership Professional (PLP) designation an asset

• Pension Administration Certificate an asset

• Advanced excel skills, experience with Workday or other HRIS platforms and experience in benefits evaluation and implementation would be an asset

Applicants with education credentials earned outside of Canada should have their credentials evaluated by World Education Services (WES), International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) or the Comparative Education Services (CES).

Remuneration

Refer to salary range noted on this posting, plus a comprehensive benefits package.

The compensation range for this job posting is : $71,783.10 - $95,103.59

NAIT is committed to a transparent, fair, and human-centered hiring experience. All candidates are assessed directly by our recruitment and hiring teams.

About NAIT

We are known as one of Alberta’s top employers. Being part of a community that makes a difference in the lives of students, staff, industry clients and partners, NAIT’s culture reflects our shared values of respect, collaboration, celebration, creativity, and accountability.

People are what make NAIT great, and we prioritize the employee experience. For eligible positions, we offer benefits and unique perks focusing on health and wellness, work-life balance, recognition, and professional and personal growth. In addition to excellent vacation time, eligible employees receive paid time off between Christmas and New Year’s.

NAIT supports a flexible work environment, enabling staff to request approval for on-campus, off-site, or hybrid work arrangements based on the nature of the role. Please note that remote positions require employees to reside within Canada.

NAIT is committed to fostering a safe environment that supports equity and cultivates inclusion through our Centre for Community and Belonging (CCB) and our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Strategy. We are a proud partner of the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion. While we encourage all qualified applicants to apply, only those being considered will be contacted. If you require any assistance or accommodations, please connect with us at careers@nait.ca.

Please submit a resume and cover letter to be considered for this opportunity.