HR Benefits Manager

JOB SUMMARY

The Human Resources Benefit Manager oversees various programs related to Benefits in the administration of a comprehensive benefits program, including the coordination of health, pharmacy, vision, dental, life insurance, flexible spending, health savings, wellness incentive, retirement, voluntary benefits, and short- and long-term disability benefit programs. Provides various administrative support services related to benefits administration, including maintaining an accurate database with benefit designations for employees, compiling City census data, and other related tasks.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:      

• Oversee the full continuum of Benefits administration to include claims resolution, change reporting, enrollment, reconciliation, approving invoices for payment, and communicating benefit plans and information to employees
• Manages the enrollment and benefits services for the City’s 401 (k) and 457 Plans
• In partnership with the HR Generalist, conducts an annual open enrollment process, which includes collaborating with vendors on benefits, services, booklets, and employee and vendor meetings, as well as preparing presentations.
• Manages the City’s Health and Wellness initiatives, incentives, and monthly recognitions, reporting, and tracking of data
• Assists employees in completing insurance elections, and processes coverage for new hires as well as mid-year changes; maintains enrollment files and submits benefits deductions to payroll as needed
• Serves as day-to-day liaison for employees (answering incoming employee inquiries regarding benefits and payroll) with the broker, insurance carrier, and service providers; verifies coverage, explains benefits, etc., and provides information on coordination of benefits, dual coverage, and claim payment process. 
• Works with benefit carriers on electronic file processing, including collecting reports, reviewing data, and ensuring proper coverages are set up
• Works closely with benefit platform vendors on special issues or requests
• Assists with annual Open Enrollment activities, including updating employee benefits guide to reflect needed changes, employee communication, benefits platform updates, pulling reports to check election activity, and processing of elections to appropriate vendors as needed
• Assists with planning and implementation of special benefit events and programs
• Maintains employee benefits files in Laserfiche 
• Carefully analyzes deduction registers and vendor benefit billings and reconciles complete and accurate A/P requests.
• Conducts audit of current and terminated employee payroll records to ensure that proper deductions are taken for benefits; deletes terminated and transferred employees from benefit listings.
• Collects data, prepares reports, and files.
• Assists with the calculation, preparation, and filing of the ACA reporting annually
• Provides new benefit carriers with a vendor packet and ensures completed forms are submitted to Finance for account setup
• Assist in the presentation of the City’s General Orientation sessions and ensure a full onboarding process with respective departments
• Works in partnership with Department management on employee relations matters
• In partnership with HR team and managers, identifies benefit training needs and coordinates and/or delivers applicable training to the employee population
• Assists in the compensation program, monitors, and records annual performance evaluations, and revisions as necessary
• Recommends new approaches, policies, and procedures to effect continual improvements in the efficiency of the department and services performed
• Process and administer all leave of absence requests and disability paperwork: medical, personal, disability, workers’ compensation, and FMLA
• Administers the tuition reimbursement program and manages the approved budget
• Ensures compliance with all applicable codes, laws, rules, regulations, standards, and procedures; initiates any action necessary to correct deviations or violations.
• Communicate with the director, co-workers, other departments, and their personnel, vendors, the public, outside organizations, and other individuals as needed to coordinate work activities, review the status of work, exchange information, or resolve problems.
• Will assist the Director of Human Resources on HR matters
• Performs other related duties as required or assigned

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO PERFORM WORK:

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business, or a related field from an accredited college or university.
• Minimum of Six (6) years of professional experience in Human Resources; with at least (3) three in a supervisory or management role servicing a workforce of no less than 200 employees.
• Solid experience functioning as a Business Partner is a must; familiarity with organizational structure and design
• Experience developing organizational policies and procedures
• Solid knowledge and experience in general HR practices and principles, with a full continuum in Benefits Administration, including 3^rd party vendor management and various retirement plans
• Effective communication skills are a must, including facilitation, writing, and listening
• Experience in Training and Development as a Presenter or Facilitator, with proven skills in designing and developing PowerPoints and Training platforms
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in account reconciliation and billing
• Familiarity and experience in preparing standard Federal, State, and Local Reports
• Familiarity and experience working with Inclusion and Belonging Plans as well as EEO reporting requirements
• HR Certification, CEB, and Fluent in Spanish a plus. Prior local or county government experience is a plus

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to serve successfully as an HR Business Partner to all departments
• Knowledge of human resources management, practices, and administration
• Ability to communicate with people in potentially stressful situations, and to consistently meet daily, weekly, and monthly deadlines; ability to establish and maintain an effective working relationship with employees, other departments, and the public; ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing
• Skilled in written and oral communication
• Skill and proficiency in various computer applications, especially MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Email, and Internet to include search engines and research
• Solid proficiency in operating daily with HRIS and software
• Ability to manage multiple competing priorities, meet tight deadlines, and handle high telephone and email volumes
• Ability to represent the city and the department in internal and external meetings; including presentations to Mayor and City Council

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit; talk and hear; use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms.
• The employee is occasionally required to walk for short periods to various areas throughout the buildings.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.