Hr Administrator - Benefits

Overview
This posting will close at 5:00PM on the close date.
An assessment will be administered during the interview process.
Provides senior professional-level human resources guidance in all facets of the County's employee benefit programs for employees and retirees to ensure compliance with federal regulations and to plan and conduct activities related to health and wellness. Serves as primary back up for payroll data entry for the Human Resources Department. Participates in the compensation & classification committee.
Responsibilities

1. Assists the Sr. Human Resources Administrator-Benefits with support for the County benefit program. Provides assistance to employees in benefit enrollments, cancellations, and changes. Tasks include, but are not limited to:
   • Review employee applications for benefits and determine eligibility and compliance with current Plan provisions. Process applications and changes to benefits in coordination with the Plan provisions.
   • Prepare and submit Requests for Payment to Finance for processing.
   • Reconcile and submit to PERA monthly retiree benefit deduction report and appropriately ensure that the proper accounts are credited with the PERA payment back to the County.
   • Conduct monthly reconciliations of all benefit programs to ensure accuracy of billings, participants and premium payments.
   • Conduct monthly reconciliations, corrects deficiencies, and takes actions needed for correction.
   • Responsible to ensure compliance with COBRA for eligible employee dependents and terminated employees adhering to strict deadlines and regulatory requirements through prompt notification of separation to the COBRA vendor.
   • Prepare, reconcile, and ensure accuracy for the Affordable Care Act (ACA), CMS, Gap Clause, and other compliance reporting.
   • Generate, send, and track FMLA, Military Leave, Modified Duty, Leave of Absence, and Military leave documents for all departments.
   • Coordinate employee service award program.
2. Provide customer service to participants of the County's benefit programs in a courteous and respectful manner, ensuring that strict confidentiality is maintained at all times. Tasks include, but are not limited to:
   • Coordinate and conduct open enrollment and in-processing of eligible employees into the County's benefit programs, assisting them with the application process and answering related questions.
   • Ensure retirees understand the right to health insurance continuation after retirement and process the first two months premiums via payroll deduction from the final check and notification of PERA for future month premiums.
   • Assist employees with obtaining short-term disability and transitioning to long-term disability, obtaining personal leaves of absence, and/or PERA disability as warranted by the situation.
3. Communicate and correspond with benefit service providers to ensure additions and terminations are processed in a timely manner and in resolving benefit problem claims.
4. Meet with exiting employees and process the separation checklist, the benefits exit checklist, and exit interview.
5. Coordinate activities related to the County's Benefit & Wellness program to include preparing communication, conducting new employee orientation, leading enrollment meetings and benefits fairs.
6. Demonstrate continuous effort to improve operations, decrease turnaround times, streamline work processes, and work cooperatively and jointly to provide quality seamless customer service.
7. Provide backup to the HRIS Specialist. Tasks include, but are not limited to:
   • Perform code set-up with applicable rules and tests the system when new codes or changes in codes are necessary.
   • Review the payroll work products of others to ensure accuracy and compliance with federal regulations (FMLA), or other standards (Personnel Rules, system procedures, management policies).
   • Responsible to maintain all attributes of position management, EEO data and report development and generation.
   • Assist departments and employees to resolve payroll issues related to the HR portion of payroll responsibilities and referring other issues to the Payroll Department.
   • Work with HR staff and IT to analyze the potential for automation and/or streamlining.
   • Communicate with the payroll office and IT employees in a liaison role.
   • Research ongoing issues, suggest remedial action, detect and correct administrative errors and review for compliance.
   • Troubleshoot HR system problems and resolves inquiries.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES.

1. Performs other related duties as assigned.
2. Assists Human Resources Director and Sr. HR Administrator - Benefits with special projects.
3. Assists HR Administrator - EEO, ADA & Benefits with ADA and EEO processes

Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Human Resources Management, Public Administration, Accounting, Business Administration or related field.
Experience: Five (5) years full-time experience as a human resources generalist. Previous benefits, payroll, and public-sector experience is preferred.
Education/Experience substitution: N/A
Licenses/Certifications. Valid driver's license required. Certification as a PHR/SPHR and/or SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP preferred. Government/public sector experience is preferred.
Other (e.g., post-offer medical exam, polygraph, background check, driver's license record, etc.): Must successfully pass a background check and maintain a satisfactory driving record in accordance with HR policy.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED BY THE POSITION:
Knowledge of:

• Working knowledge of the practices, procedures, and principals of public administration and/or human resources management;
• Technical knowledge of a variety of employee and retiree benefit programs, contract compliance, claims processing and resolution, and program development and presentation;
• Principles and practices of employee benefits administration;
• Claims processing and payment functions;
• Research techniques;
• Working knowledge of financial reporting and basic accounting functions including reconciliations;
• Advanced knowledge of Word and Excel software;
• Significant level of knowledge of utilizing HRIS software and its protocols and procedures; computerized payroll processing methods, techniques, and records management;
• Pertinent federal, state, employment, labor, wage, hour, and local laws, codes, and regulations specific to area of primary responsibility;
• Business English, spelling, grammar, punctuation and basic arithmetic;
• Computer operations and software such as payroll and/or accounting, spreadsheets and word processing.

Ability to:

• Track and maintain computer databases and statistics, using computer software related to word processing, spreadsheets, and databases;
• Use logical and creative thought processes to develop solutions according to written specifications and/or oral instructions;
• Present ideas clearly, concisely, and effectively orally and in writing and explain complex programs in simple, on-technical language;
• Analyze financial aspects of benefit plans and to recommend alternative and program improvements;
• Maintain a high degree of organization, coordination, and communication with attention to detail and accuracy;
• Understand, interpret, and communicate policy and procedures associated with employee benefits, i.e. COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, etc.;
• Treat confidential matters in a proper and professional manner;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees and the general public;
• Use independent judgment in various situations;
• Demonstrate analytical reasoning;
• Learn new technologies through study and training;
• Prioritize tasks and multi-task assignments;
• Compile data for special and periodic reports;
• Utilize critical thinking skills;
• Facilitate training;
• Maintain complex records and/or databases and prepare accurate reports from such records.

Skill in:

• Operation of standardized office equipment and equipment typically utilized in conducting training activities;
• Organization and prioritization of work flow;
• Handling complex and sensitive information with utmost discretion;
• Working independently with general supervision making determination of appropriate action to take.