Benefits Coordinator/HR Assistant

This combined position oversees the Tribal Government employee benefits and the HR Assistant duties. The tasks involved are varied and complex. This position coordinates and manages all functions associated with administering the Tribe's employee benefits programs: health insurance, short-term and long-term disability insurance, workers' compensation claims, flexible spending account plans, etc. Ensuring compliance with all reporting requirements. 

Must have strong customer service skills and the ability to defuse tense situations while maintaining a professional demeanor. Must be culturally sensitive to a diverse customer population and able to interact tactfully and positively with Tribal members, all levels of tribal staff, and management.

Must perform all duties and assigned tasks promptly and independently and assume ownership of overall functions. Must show the highest professional standards and promote a positive image of the Tribe and its administration at all times. Perform other duties as assigned to promote the efficiency and effectiveness of the department.

Benefits Coordinator duties:

Provide timely assistance to Coeur d'Alene Tribal employees and internal departments while managing the Tribe's health, disability, retirement, and worker's compensation plans. Serves as a specialist with FMLA compliance. Arrange and conduct new employee orientation to ensure timely submission of enrollment/change forms. Verifies the calculation of the monthly premium statement for the Administration and maintains statistical data relative to premiums, claims, and costs—Resolves administrative problems with the carrier representatives.  

• Answers employee calls and walk-ins in a responsive and professional manner
• Processes benefit applications for new hires, life event changes, and transfers.
• Assess and determine the eligibility of employee and dependents; assigns effective dates for benefits; communicates the status of changes with employees.
• Process employee status changes affecting benefit eligibility or file maintenance, such as termination of employment, reduction in hours, name/address and dependent changes, and department transfers.
• Holds new hire orientation, as needed, and recommends suggestions and improvements to the HR director
• Reviews benefits with new employees through the orientation process; communicates benefits changes with existing staff as needed
• Manages third-party benefit billings, requiring monthly/reconciliation and frequent audits; processes journal vouchers as necessary.
• Serves as a liaison between third-party benefit providers and employees
• Collaborates with various departments along with the HR database system to ensure proper internal programs and voluntary payroll deductions are accurate
• Maintain and develop reports and reconcile monthly billings using the HR benefits software program; troubleshoot program issues and recommend a course of action or program enhancements.
• Create and process various reports on a frequent or as-needed basis; identify missing deductions or programs not charged and take appropriate action as needed.
• Manages employee benefits section (personnel file) and HR Management tab by ensuring files are in order, accurate, and adequately documented.
• Maintains and ensures all benefit booklets and information brochures are accurate and current for dissemination; orders benefit booklets as needed
• Understands and applies FMLA, COBRA, HIPAA, and other related benefit regulations/laws
• Assist employees with filing workers' compensation or short-term disability claims; track claims.

HR Assistant duties:

• Coordinates the staffing process with the Recruiter/Trainer, such as: (application intake, processing applications, writing letters and job announcement lists, copying applications/resumes and sending them to the respective departments, and answering questions from the public).
• Maintains confidential employee personnel files per federal and Tribal guidelines and all Tribal Administration job files and assists with data entry for payroll and other HR records.
• Scan documents and routine filing.
• Performs customer service functions, including answering questions and fulfilling requests from both the employees and the general public
• Identify and resolve problems promptly, gather and analyze the information involved with the situation, and effectively follow through.
• Maintains office bulletin boards in an up-to-date and legal compliance manner
• Attend appropriate meetings as requested or assigned and maintain records of materials or subjects addressed.
• Prepare purchase orders at the start of each new fiscal year.
• Responsible for ordering general office supplies for the department and keeping inventory of property in HR.

• Must support the Coeur d’Alene Tribe’s: vision, mission, and core values per CdA Resolution 015(2020).
• Comply with all other Health policies established by the Tribe or department, including the annual flu shot.
• Associate degree supplemented by college course work or vocational training in benefits administration, business administration, Human Resources Management, or related field; 3 - 5 years of documented work experience in the Human Resources or closely related field or certification in specialized HR function may be substituted for college course work.
• Must maintain absolute confidentiality of sensitive information at all times
• Intermediate skill level in Microsoft Office (Word and Excel) required.
• Primary back-up for the following positions: Mail Courier and HQ Reception – when the employee is out
• Must obtain the Employee Benefits Specialist Certification or similar certification within three years of employment. 
• Experience compiling data and preparing reports.
• Must have strong attention to detail, demonstrate accuracy, thoroughness, and ability to monitor own work to ensure quality.
• Familiar with laws about Native American tribes relating to benefits and employment.
• Ability to communicate verbally and in writing to all employees.
• Physically able to operate a variety of office machines and equipment.  
• Communicating or posting information or content on the Internet or using any social media platforms that adversely affects your job performance, the performance of co-workers, or otherwise adversely affects members, customers, or the Tribe and its administration negatively will not be tolerated and may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination.
• Physical demand requirements are at levels of those for sedentary work.
• Must pass an extensive Tribal, State, and FBI background check before starting; no criminal convictions within the past ten years and no felony convictions.

Compensation details: 33280-45760 Yearly Salary

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