CITY OF NEWPORT NEWS
HUMAN RESOURCES BENEFITS SPECIALIST
CITY OF NEWPORT NEWS, Newport News, Virginia, United States, 23600
Overview
Target Hiring Range:
$60,005.85-$70,441.65 Based on Experience GENERAL STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES
Under general supervision, this position is responsible for coordinating various functions in support of the City’s retirement and benefit programs to include medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, as well as long- and short-term disability, deferred compensation, flexible spending accounts, COBRA and the wellness program. Reports to the Human Resources Benefits Manager. Essential duties and responsibilities
Assists employees and retirees with complex benefit related matters, including explanations of benefit policies and assisting employees with benefit payments to continue benefits through COBRA; coordinates benefits claims and assists with completing various benefits forms. Coordinates employee claims for short- and long-term disability with the disability carrier and the employee to process disability checks. Computes City retirement benefits and completes line of duty claim forms; verifies and updates employee records through City systems and third-party databases; maintains benefits information in employee and retiree files. Serves as a liaison between the employee and the vendor; coordinates transfer of data to providers for services, premiums and plan administration; investigates, analyzes and resolves a wide range of benefits issues; serves as lead worker to the Benefits Coordinator on complex issues. Reconciles insurance and benefit invoices; monitors account transactions for accuracy and validity; maintains COBRA program by sending initial notification letters, processing enrollment information, and accepting payments; maintains record keeping system to track billing, including additions, deletions, and direct pay of COBRA participants. Assists with developing new systems as needed; prepares and reviews benefit statements; and assists with benefits newsletter. Coordinates the citywide benefit open enrollment, including design and preparation of materials and literature; organizes, maintains and updates benefit records; conducts or participates in employee and retiree workshops; presents benefits information and explains policies to new employees during orientation. Performs special research assignments regarding benefit utilization, services, coverage and cost to assess program effectiveness; analyzes data and assists with developing long-range objectives for benefit programs. Verifies, compiles and records statistical and narrative information for reports and records; prepares correspondence, records and reports based on data from multiple sources. Performs other duties as assigned. Performance Standard:
Employees at all levels are expected to work collaboratively to meet community and organizational needs, demonstrating the City’s values and ethics. Required Knowledge
Employee Benefits – Considerable knowledge of federal and state regulations, filing and compliance requirements (HIPAA, COBRA, Section 125, Medicare, Social Security, DOL requirements). Knowledge of benefit contract language and plan designs. Human Resources – Knowledge of HR principles, theories and best practices. Customer Service – Considerable knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer service, including setting and meeting quality standards and evaluating customer satisfaction. Required Skills
Computer Skills – Proficiency with word processing, spreadsheets and related software to complete administrative tasks accurately and efficiently. Interpersonal Relationships – Ability to develop cooperative and professional relationships with employees, retirees and outside organizations; respond to inquiries and resolve disputes. Time Management – Ability to plan, organize daily work, estimate completion times, set priorities and schedules. Critical Thinking – Strong analytical skills to understand, analyze and evaluate complex situations and data to identify strengths and weaknesses of solutions. Required Abilities
Communication – Ability to communicate ideas verbally and in writing, including preparation of detailed reports with numerical information; handle complex benefit and insurance issues with tact, diplomacy and confidentiality. Financial Management – Ability to perform complex arithmetic and statistical applications for benefit and pension transactions; monitor costs and propose cost containment strategies. Education and Experience
Requires a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Business Management or a related field and 2-3 years of responsible benefit administration experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Additional Requirements
An acceptable general background check to include local and state criminal history, and a valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving record. Physical, Sensory and Environmental
Requires ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work; some lifting (5-10 pounds); extended periods at keyboard; sensory requirements include ability to perceive sounds and visual cues and communicate orally; environmental exposures are minimal. How to Apply
If interested in learning more about current job openings and to apply, visit: https://www.nnva.gov/193/Apply-for-a-Job MUST APPLY ON OUR CITY JOB SITE! MUST COMPLETE THE CITY JOB APPLICATION WITH ALL YOUR WORK HISTORY and EDUCATION
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Target Hiring Range:
$60,005.85-$70,441.65 Based on Experience GENERAL STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES
Under general supervision, this position is responsible for coordinating various functions in support of the City’s retirement and benefit programs to include medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, as well as long- and short-term disability, deferred compensation, flexible spending accounts, COBRA and the wellness program. Reports to the Human Resources Benefits Manager. Essential duties and responsibilities
Assists employees and retirees with complex benefit related matters, including explanations of benefit policies and assisting employees with benefit payments to continue benefits through COBRA; coordinates benefits claims and assists with completing various benefits forms. Coordinates employee claims for short- and long-term disability with the disability carrier and the employee to process disability checks. Computes City retirement benefits and completes line of duty claim forms; verifies and updates employee records through City systems and third-party databases; maintains benefits information in employee and retiree files. Serves as a liaison between the employee and the vendor; coordinates transfer of data to providers for services, premiums and plan administration; investigates, analyzes and resolves a wide range of benefits issues; serves as lead worker to the Benefits Coordinator on complex issues. Reconciles insurance and benefit invoices; monitors account transactions for accuracy and validity; maintains COBRA program by sending initial notification letters, processing enrollment information, and accepting payments; maintains record keeping system to track billing, including additions, deletions, and direct pay of COBRA participants. Assists with developing new systems as needed; prepares and reviews benefit statements; and assists with benefits newsletter. Coordinates the citywide benefit open enrollment, including design and preparation of materials and literature; organizes, maintains and updates benefit records; conducts or participates in employee and retiree workshops; presents benefits information and explains policies to new employees during orientation. Performs special research assignments regarding benefit utilization, services, coverage and cost to assess program effectiveness; analyzes data and assists with developing long-range objectives for benefit programs. Verifies, compiles and records statistical and narrative information for reports and records; prepares correspondence, records and reports based on data from multiple sources. Performs other duties as assigned. Performance Standard:
Employees at all levels are expected to work collaboratively to meet community and organizational needs, demonstrating the City’s values and ethics. Required Knowledge
Employee Benefits – Considerable knowledge of federal and state regulations, filing and compliance requirements (HIPAA, COBRA, Section 125, Medicare, Social Security, DOL requirements). Knowledge of benefit contract language and plan designs. Human Resources – Knowledge of HR principles, theories and best practices. Customer Service – Considerable knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer service, including setting and meeting quality standards and evaluating customer satisfaction. Required Skills
Computer Skills – Proficiency with word processing, spreadsheets and related software to complete administrative tasks accurately and efficiently. Interpersonal Relationships – Ability to develop cooperative and professional relationships with employees, retirees and outside organizations; respond to inquiries and resolve disputes. Time Management – Ability to plan, organize daily work, estimate completion times, set priorities and schedules. Critical Thinking – Strong analytical skills to understand, analyze and evaluate complex situations and data to identify strengths and weaknesses of solutions. Required Abilities
Communication – Ability to communicate ideas verbally and in writing, including preparation of detailed reports with numerical information; handle complex benefit and insurance issues with tact, diplomacy and confidentiality. Financial Management – Ability to perform complex arithmetic and statistical applications for benefit and pension transactions; monitor costs and propose cost containment strategies. Education and Experience
Requires a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Business Management or a related field and 2-3 years of responsible benefit administration experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Additional Requirements
An acceptable general background check to include local and state criminal history, and a valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving record. Physical, Sensory and Environmental
Requires ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work; some lifting (5-10 pounds); extended periods at keyboard; sensory requirements include ability to perceive sounds and visual cues and communicate orally; environmental exposures are minimal. How to Apply
If interested in learning more about current job openings and to apply, visit: https://www.nnva.gov/193/Apply-for-a-Job MUST APPLY ON OUR CITY JOB SITE! MUST COMPLETE THE CITY JOB APPLICATION WITH ALL YOUR WORK HISTORY and EDUCATION
#J-18808-Ljbffr