Senior Hr Administrator - Benefits

Overview
This posting will close at 5:00PM on the close date.
Performs advanced level professional human resource work in all facets of the County's employee benefit programs for employees and retirees to ensure accurate payments, contract compliance and compliance with federal regulations and to plan and conduct activities related to health and wellness. Benefit programs include health, dental, vision, legal, life, disability insurances, EAP Program, Leave Donation Program, FMLA, PERA, wellness, and others as may be offered. Provide ACA guidance and reporting compliance for the County.
Responsibilities
Administer the County's employee benefit programs in accordance with established procedures and regulatory requirements to include Affordable Health Care Act. Tasks include, but are not limited to:

• Develop fiscal and procedural guidelines and SOPs to operate benefits programs consistent with program requirements and regulations.
• Maintain health insurance benefits and serves as liaison between employees, insurance companies and physicians.
• Provide technical information and instruction regarding benefit coverage and applicable procedures and methods to employees, retirees, and dependents. Interprets and explains rules and regulations, answers questions, and resolves problems or complaints.
• Research specific benefits questions by reviewing benefit contracts or contacting insurance carriers.
• Prepare correspondence regarding benefit coverage and/or policy changes and responds to complaints/problem issues regarding an individual's claim.
• Coordinate and complete all aspects of open/switch enrollment, calculates contributions amounts for various insurance plans, prepares enrollment communication and materials, and schedules and conducts employee meetings.
• Conduct and/or oversee the benefit portion of new employee orientation.
• Review employee applications for benefits and determines eligibility and compliance with the Plan and processes applications and changes to benefits.
• Prepare and submits biweekly and monthly Requests for Payment to Finance for processing utilizing a personal computer and County's mainframe computer system and conducts monthly reconciliations of all benefit programs.
• Coordinate employees transferring to retiree status and all aspects of employee retirement plans with PERA.
• Reconcile and submits to PERA monthly retiree benefit deduction report and appropriately ensures that the proper accounts are credited with the PERA payment back to the County.
• Coordinate with other Human Resources staff to ensure accurate withholding of deductions from the employee's payroll.
• Prepare monthly reports for the Human Resources Manager on reconciliation's, deficiencies and actions taken or needed for correction.
• Responsible to promptly inform the Plan Administrator of loss of coverage to ensure compliance with COBRA.
• Maintain County's internal and external benefit websites and makes recommendations regarding changes to websites to the Human Resources Director.

Ensure compliance with and provides guidance and assistance to employees with Family Medical Leave, extended leave and donated leave requests and Short- and Long-Term Disability issues.

• Process all FMLA requests, tracks hours and creates and distributes necessary notifications.
• 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. Coordinates with other HR staff and supervisors regarding modified duty and/or ADA accommodations as necessary.
• Perform special research and/or reports or projects as assigned by the Human Resources Director to include running queries utilizing the County's employee database and preparing specialized reports.

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:

• 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.
• Coordinate with the benefit plan administrator(s) for all open enrollment and benefit updates meetings.
• Develop and oversee the distribution of benefit informational materials to participants.
• Ensure retirees understand their right to health insurance continuation after retirement and processes the first two months premiums via payroll deduction from the final check and notification of PERA for future month premiums.

Participate in employee benefit trending projections and proposals for benefit programs including participation in Request for Proposal processes, developing the scope of work, participating in the selection committee and making a recommendation for contract award.
Coordinate all activities related to the County's Benefit & Wellness program to include preparing communication, a benefits newsletter, conducting new employee orientation, leading enrollment meetings and benefits fairs.
Demonstrate continuous effort to improve operations, decrease turnaround times, streamline work processes, and work cooperatively and jointly to provide quality seamless customer service.
Participate in the development of the Department work plan; assign work activities, projects and programs; monitor workflow; review and evaluate work products, methods and procedures. Provide analysis of data and information to make recommendations to the HR Director regarding benefits related problems or projects; and assist the HR Director supervise and coordinate Department activities.
In addition to completing the regular departmental duties, perform daily supervision of staff as assigned including train, motivate and evaluate personnel; provide or coordinate staff training; work with employees to correct deficiencies; implement discipline and termination procedures.
ADDITIONAL DUTIES

• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications
Education. Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Accounting, Business or Public Administration or related field.
Experience: Five (5) years of human resources/benefits experience with at least two (2) years' experience in employee benefits/insurance programs, contract interpretation and claims resolution. Supervisory experience preferred
Education/Experience substitution. None.
Licenses/Certifications. Certification as a Senior Professional in HR (SPHR), Professional in HR (PHR) SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP is preferred.
Other (e.g., post-offer medical exam, polygraph, background check, driver's license record, etc.). Background check. Must maintain a satisfactory driving record in accordance with 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, Affordable Health Care, 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; and
• Working knowledge of Word and Excel software.

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; and
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees and the general public.

Skill in:

• Operation of standardized office equipment and equipment typically utilized in conducting training activities; and
• Organization and prioritization of work flow.