Benefits Administrator II

The Benefits Administrator II is responsible for coordinating, administering, processing, and maintaining Chester County’s insurance, workers’ compensation, long term disability and Benefits programs.  This position serves as the liaison between third party administrator (TPA) and employees and provides professional and administrative assistance in the daily operation of the County’s, workers’ compensation and benefits plans to ensure information is current, accurate, and readily available. 

Essential duties, tasks, and accountabilities will vary by person and may include the following:

• Administer Workers’ Compensation (WC) and Long-Term Disability (LTD) claims.
• Compile and monitor an electronic data base for all Workers’ Compensation (WC) claims in “General HR Benefits Worker’s Compensation” drive.
• Review WC submissions from Managers and Supervisors for prompt reporting to insurance carrier. 
• Conduct internal investigations at locations throughout the County for slip, trip and fall claims only when necessary to help determine compensability.
• Consult with medical providers, third-party administrators (TPA), and attorneys to determine causality regarding occupational versus non-occupational workers’ compensation incidents.
• Follow up and provide update to Managers and Supervisor’s on employee return to work and determine if light duty is available in the department.
• Participate in semi-annual claim reviews with TPA. 
• Calculate wage statements on all workers’ compensation lost time claims.
• Complete LTD applications on behalf of the County and serve as an advocate for employees. 
• Request medical case management, independent medical examination, or surveillance on injured workers who are suspected of filing a fraudulent claim as instructed.
• Review quarterly billing for TPA WC fees and place in line for payment. 
• Prepare and process monthly AMPS Funding report and distribute to Controller’s office.
• Review Time-off report for each biweekly pay period on behalf of payroll dept for accurate coding for employees who are collecting workers’ comp benefits. 
• Compile data and information to complete the annual DOL application for self-insured workers’ compensation renewal. 
• Accommodate and facilitate modified duty positions within the employee’s department when a workers’ compensation claimant returns to modified duty.
• Prepare job offer letter to employees offering light duty work. 
• Review loss runs monthly to determine frequency and severity of claims broken out by location, claims count by policy year, repeat offenders, timely reporting broken out by location and claims closing ratio. 
• Meet with various department heads to discuss workers’ compensation processes and the importance of prompt reporting. 
• Keep apprised of new legislation affecting workers’ compensation, attend workshops and seminars and review recent court decisions.
• Update workers’ compensation policies and procedures.
• Provide WC information for subpoena purposes. 
• Maintain and update the workers’ compensation panel of physicians.
• Track workers’ compensation lost time for benefits purposes.
• Attend workers’ compensation hearings as needed.
• Assist with special human resource projects, as required.
• Perform other duties, tasks, and special projects, as required.
• Learn other functions in HR to cover vacations or leaves when needed.

• Associate degree from an accredited college or university,or equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• Three years or more of job-related experience.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Ability to interface effectively with all levels of County management.
• Ability to plan, organize and implement duties with minimal supervision.
• Excellent customer service experience and/or skills.
• Ability to work independently and proceed with objectives. 
• Excellent math knowledge and skills.
• Ability to maintain confidential information and handle confidential matters.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Accurate and detail oriented.
• Ability to work as part of a team.  This would include keeping HR team notified in weekly huddles of any new WC and LTD claims.
• General knowledge and understanding of Human Resource guidelines and laws (e.g., medical, life insurance, workers’ compensation, pension, COBRA, etc.). 
• Strong work ethic (inspires the trust of others; upholds organizational values).
• Strong professional ethics.
• Ability to make firm, unbiased decisions.
• Exhibits sound and accurate judgment.
• Accurate and detail oriented.
• Able to carry tasks to completion.
• Exhibits a willingness to learn new tasks.
• Ability to keep all internal and external partners notified of changes to claims through phone calls and teams meetings along with written communications.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Easily adapts to changes in the work environment.
• A valid driver’s license is required.

 
Preferred Skills, Knowledge & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or universityin Human Resources, Business, or related field.   
• Minimum of three years of experience and knowledge in Employee Benefits.
• General knowledge and understanding of County of Chester policies and procedures.
• Working knowledge of Workers Compensation and Long-term disability.

Relevant background checks, clearances, physicals, drug tests, and any other assessments or evaluations will be conducted after an offer of employment is given per County policy.

Computer Skills:
To perform this job successfully, an individual should have:

• Intermediate Microsoft Office Suite Skills
• Basic Internet Explorer skills 
• PeopleSoft skills or the ability to learn PeopleSoft.

Physical Demands
While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. Occasionally, the employee will be required to stand and walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; climb stairs; lift or move up to 10 pounds and drive a vehicle to and from different locations. On rare occasions, the employee will need to reach above shoulder height, bend at the waist or work bent at the waist; and lift or carry items.
This position will be required to be in the office for the first 90 days.  After the 90-day evaluation the position may be transferred to two days a week in the office and three days working remotely.
The special vision requirements listed for this position are: 

• Close vision. 
• Ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment:

• The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate.

Other:

• Confidentiality is crucial to this position.
• This position requires professionalism. 
• There will be a need to work extended hours during peak periods throughout the year.