Benefits Specialist

Benefits Specialist

The Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), the largest airline pilot union in the world and the largest non-governmental aviation safety organization in the world seeks a Benefits Specialist for our office in Toronto, Ontario, located in Etobicoke.  ALPA represents more than 79,000 pilots at 42 airlines in Canada and the United States.  The Benefits Specialist helps to develop and implement individual Master Executive Council (MEC) goals by providing professional and technical support to pilots in the negotiation, implementation, and understanding of their welfare and retirement benefit programs, including programs such as Defined Contribution Pension Plans, Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs), and Tax-Free Savings Accounts (TFSAs).  The Benefits Specialist must possess a strong knowledge of health benefit and welfare plans including employer-sponsored Group Life; Health; Extended Health; Dental; Disability (short-term and long-term); Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D); Critical Illness; and, Health Spending Accounts and Personal Spending Accounts.  Knowledge of Retiree Benefits/Retirement Plans and Employer Stock Purchase Plans (ESPPs) is desired.

The Benefits Specialist provides continuity by establishing relationships with company representatives, ALPA staff, and outside service providers such as investment managers, trustees, third party administrators (TPAs), insurance brokers, CPAs, actuaries, and claims adjustors.  They work closely with and support the members of the pilot group’s MEC Retirement & Insurance (R&I) Committee, as well as function as an in-house consultant to other MEC committees in the area of employee benefits and as a daily contact in the office for individual pilots, providing information and assistance in the benefits area.  They will also provide information and support during benefits-related collective bargaining negotiations.

They will develop and conduct regularly scheduled benefits-related seminars for pilots; thus, the successful candidate must be comfortable with public speaking.  They will also work with the airlines’ benefit staff to resolve benefits issues for members.  Because they work with members of the MEC, MEC committees, and other ALPA staff to provide the required benefit consulting expertise for the member or project under consideration, the successful candidate will have a thorough understanding of benefits, current trends and legislation, and will be expected to maintain knowledge in these areas.

Local, national, and international travel:  20 – 25%.

ALPA is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in a safe workplace. We prohibit discrimination, harassment and harmful behaviour of any kind based on race, colour, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender identity, caste, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or other protected characteristics, including Aboriginal peoples and visible minorities, as outlined in federal or provincial laws.  We highly value everyone and all are encouraged to apply, including minorities, veterans, and people with disabilities.

This position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement.

ALPA is a member-driven, staff supported, union with two internal professional unions.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in relevant area from an accredited college or university is required; or, the equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Five (5) or more years of experience working in employee benefits required, ten (10) or more years strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of the design and operation of retirement and welfare benefits required.
• Working knowledge of legal requirements applicable to retirement and welfare benefits (e.g., Income Tax Act (ITA) and Canada Revenue Agency) required.
• Working knowledge of laws on benefits and compensation required.
• Airline and/or union experience a plus.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, oral and written, for effective interaction with MEC members, MEC committees, individual members, internal staff, and external contacts.
• Ability to confidently present on benefits issues to various types of audiences, including pilots, company representatives, and ALPA staff.
• Certification as an Employee Benefits Paralegal or Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) preferred but not required.
• Proficiency in French preferred but not required.
• Software: Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook required.

Physical Demands:

Note: The physical demands described herein are characteristic of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential physical activities of this position described below.

Constantly operates a computer/smartphone/tablet.  Regularly required to maintain a stationary position, move about the office and the local metropolitan area, determine what others have said or written, and converse with others and exchange accurate information.

Regularly required to sit, stand, bend, reach, and move about the office and travel (locally, nationally, and internationally).  Also includes occasional bending, stooping, squatting, and/or pushing and pulling or moving, e.g., to pack, unpack, and/or move cases.

Occasionally required to move, raise, reach, and/or retrieve binders, boxes, and files up to ten (10) pounds (lbs.).  While on travel, could be responsible to move, raise, reach, and/or retrieve luggage weighing as much as 50 lbs.  (Assistance may not always be available.)

ALPA offers competitive salaries with enhanced benefits, including:

• 27 days paid vacation and holidays per year plus 2 volunteer days per year;
• generous sick and bereavement leave;
• company-paid premiums for family supplemental health care (supplemental medical, dental, prescription, and vision for employee, spouse, and dependent children), life insurance, and long-term disability insurance;
• Education Assistance Program; and,
• Non-elective employer contributions of 13% made to individual RRSP account after 180 days of employment.

 PROJECTED ANNUAL SALARY RANGE:  CAD $104,220.00 – CAD $148,886.00

Relocation not provided.