What are the responsibilities and job description for the Benefits Specialist position at Douglas County School District?
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REMINDER: Current DCSD employees must apply through their district log-on, this application is for external candidates only!
Job Posting Title
Benefits Specialist
Job Description
Responsible for managing employee benefits, including answering benefits-related inquiries, processing changes, and coordinating with vendors. Inputs data into Workday, conducts benefits orientations, manages documentation, and assists with open enrollment. Requires maintaining confidentiality in compliance with HIPAA and delivering excellent customer service. Additionally, involves conducting audits, paying invoices, maintaining benefits content on DCSD website, and fostering positive community relations. Develops and promotes good community relations among various district and community clientele.
Minimum Education Or Formal Training
Position Specific Information (if Applicable):
Assist with the open enrollment process by ensuring accuracy of employee communication materials, facilitating open enrollment benefit presentations, preparing informational packets for employees, verifying open enrollment elections in Workday.
Conduct new hire orientations.
Record benefit payments, prepare spreadsheets and financial journal for Online Electronic Benefit Payments (My School Bucks).
Annually prepare for and process Open Enrollment for DCSD staff in April and May. This includes meeting with insurance vendors and HRIS, updating or replacing benefit documents posted on the Benefits website and linked throughout Workday for online enrollment, updating Workday language and business processes, visiting district sites to assist with enrollment, calculating and updating approved rates, and coordinating updated COBRA forms and information. Submit enrollment electronic files to vendors in June and manually record any qualifying events, new hires, or terminations that occur in June. From June through September, after Open Enrollment in May, run Open Enrollment Status Reports weekly to research employee elections that should be finalized. Run the 'Employees with No Open Enrollment' report to identify and launch Open Enrollment for employees who should have received it but did not.
Research and preparation of letters for employee/ex-employee/dependent(s) verifying their current/past insurance coverage through DCSD.
Advise and counsel employees on benefits to foster a positive relationship and promote the desired utilization of existing and new benefits, including, but not limited to, medical, dental, vision, HSA, retirement, flexible spending, and voluntary benefit plans. Manage employee benefit records. Train newly hired employees through orientation, educating them on district benefit programs and options. Be able to discuss the pros and cons of various employee benefit choices.
Receive, research and reply to insurance vendors weekly regarding employee information that has shown an error on electronic files (i.e. incorrect address, double coverage, no longer on plans, change of plans).
Communicate with vendors to ensure employees’ concerns/complaints are resolved in a timely and equitable manner within guidelines of the various benefit plans
Prepare/process monthly vendor reports which result in (i) reconciling PERA Life insurance roster/enrollment; and (ii) recording/validating COBRA collections deposited into DCSD account/preparing journal entries for Finance.
Respond to employee questions, which may involve research, checking payroll deductions, vendor eligibility websites, and email or phone correspondence. Log in to the Cisco system upon arriving at work and log out at the end of the workday.
Perform other related duties as assigned or requested.
Listen to Webinars and attend off-site meetings to increase Benefit knowledge to better serve our employees. Stay up-to-date with changing benefit laws and IRS regulations/limits.
Prepare and send letters to employees for unpaid premiums based on Monthly Premium Audit spreadsheet.
Write/update processes, enabling cross-training. Assist and support the Wellness Coordinator in District-wide activities for employees (set-up, register, provide food and tear down).
Receive, research and complete Social Security Medicare/Part B forms for employees/ex-employees/dependent(s) by email, walk-in, or by USPS.
Run Workday Benefits Administration process to update benefit enrollment/changes in Workday. Audit reports to ensure accuracy. Troubleshoot with HR and payroll staff as necessary. Input enrollment/change data in a timely manner to coincide with reporting to vendors and district payroll timelines.
Prepare weekly audits to update employee information that may affect their monthly payroll (includes generating reports through Workday, creating/processing excel spreadsheets which reduce /eliminate corrective measures to be taken later).
Assist employees seeking information and guidance concerning the various benefit plans and options available and advises employees concerning benefit policies and procedures. Varies by needs of employees.
Certifications
Education:
Bachelor's Degree (Required)
Skills
Ability to accurately perform detail-oriented tasks, Ability to embrace and operate within the DCSD Climate and Cultural Norms, Ability to problem solve and use sound professional judgment in difficult situations., Ability to use general office equipment, Ability to work with specialized software packages (Workday) for Human Resources, A strong command of tools like Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Google applications is critical for creating reports, managing benefit records, organizing information, and communicating with employees and vendors, Bi-lingual skills are preferred, Effective oral and written communication skills, Knowledge of benefits administration practices and policies, Observes all District policies and procedures, Proficiency with MS Office, AI applications, and other computer programs is essential for efficiently managing tasks such as data entry, document creation, and communication, Strong organizational and time management skills
Position Type
Regular
Primary Location:
Wilcox
One Year Only (Yes Or No)
No
Scheduled Hours Per Week
40
Fte
1.00
Approx Scheduled Days Per Year
260 Work Days
$26.36 USD Hourly
Maximum Hire Rate
$35.57 USD Hourly
Full Salary Range
$26.36 USD - $44.77 USD Hourly
This position is eligible for health, vision, dental, health savings account (HSA), flexible spending accounts (FSA), District paid and voluntary additional (supplemental) life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance, short and long-term disability, critical illness and accident voluntary insurance, employee assistance program (EAP), voluntary 401(k), 403(b) and 457 retirement plan options.
Time Off Plans
This position is eligible for paid vacation, sick and personal time.
This position will be open until filled, but will not be open past:
January 6, 2026
REMINDER: Current DCSD employees must apply through their district log-on, this application is for external candidates only!
Job Posting Title
Benefits Specialist
Job Description
Responsible for managing employee benefits, including answering benefits-related inquiries, processing changes, and coordinating with vendors. Inputs data into Workday, conducts benefits orientations, manages documentation, and assists with open enrollment. Requires maintaining confidentiality in compliance with HIPAA and delivering excellent customer service. Additionally, involves conducting audits, paying invoices, maintaining benefits content on DCSD website, and fostering positive community relations. Develops and promotes good community relations among various district and community clientele.
Minimum Education Or Formal Training
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in human resources, public administration, business administration, or relevant work experience
- Mostly clean and comfortable
- Occasional lifting five (5) to ten (10) pounds
- Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
- Occasional bending, squatting, or standing
Position Specific Information (if Applicable):
Assist with the open enrollment process by ensuring accuracy of employee communication materials, facilitating open enrollment benefit presentations, preparing informational packets for employees, verifying open enrollment elections in Workday.
Conduct new hire orientations.
Record benefit payments, prepare spreadsheets and financial journal for Online Electronic Benefit Payments (My School Bucks).
Annually prepare for and process Open Enrollment for DCSD staff in April and May. This includes meeting with insurance vendors and HRIS, updating or replacing benefit documents posted on the Benefits website and linked throughout Workday for online enrollment, updating Workday language and business processes, visiting district sites to assist with enrollment, calculating and updating approved rates, and coordinating updated COBRA forms and information. Submit enrollment electronic files to vendors in June and manually record any qualifying events, new hires, or terminations that occur in June. From June through September, after Open Enrollment in May, run Open Enrollment Status Reports weekly to research employee elections that should be finalized. Run the 'Employees with No Open Enrollment' report to identify and launch Open Enrollment for employees who should have received it but did not.
Research and preparation of letters for employee/ex-employee/dependent(s) verifying their current/past insurance coverage through DCSD.
Advise and counsel employees on benefits to foster a positive relationship and promote the desired utilization of existing and new benefits, including, but not limited to, medical, dental, vision, HSA, retirement, flexible spending, and voluntary benefit plans. Manage employee benefit records. Train newly hired employees through orientation, educating them on district benefit programs and options. Be able to discuss the pros and cons of various employee benefit choices.
Receive, research and reply to insurance vendors weekly regarding employee information that has shown an error on electronic files (i.e. incorrect address, double coverage, no longer on plans, change of plans).
Communicate with vendors to ensure employees’ concerns/complaints are resolved in a timely and equitable manner within guidelines of the various benefit plans
Prepare/process monthly vendor reports which result in (i) reconciling PERA Life insurance roster/enrollment; and (ii) recording/validating COBRA collections deposited into DCSD account/preparing journal entries for Finance.
Respond to employee questions, which may involve research, checking payroll deductions, vendor eligibility websites, and email or phone correspondence. Log in to the Cisco system upon arriving at work and log out at the end of the workday.
Perform other related duties as assigned or requested.
Listen to Webinars and attend off-site meetings to increase Benefit knowledge to better serve our employees. Stay up-to-date with changing benefit laws and IRS regulations/limits.
Prepare and send letters to employees for unpaid premiums based on Monthly Premium Audit spreadsheet.
Write/update processes, enabling cross-training. Assist and support the Wellness Coordinator in District-wide activities for employees (set-up, register, provide food and tear down).
Receive, research and complete Social Security Medicare/Part B forms for employees/ex-employees/dependent(s) by email, walk-in, or by USPS.
Run Workday Benefits Administration process to update benefit enrollment/changes in Workday. Audit reports to ensure accuracy. Troubleshoot with HR and payroll staff as necessary. Input enrollment/change data in a timely manner to coincide with reporting to vendors and district payroll timelines.
Prepare weekly audits to update employee information that may affect their monthly payroll (includes generating reports through Workday, creating/processing excel spreadsheets which reduce /eliminate corrective measures to be taken later).
Assist employees seeking information and guidance concerning the various benefit plans and options available and advises employees concerning benefit policies and procedures. Varies by needs of employees.
Certifications
Education:
Bachelor's Degree (Required)
Skills
Ability to accurately perform detail-oriented tasks, Ability to embrace and operate within the DCSD Climate and Cultural Norms, Ability to problem solve and use sound professional judgment in difficult situations., Ability to use general office equipment, Ability to work with specialized software packages (Workday) for Human Resources, A strong command of tools like Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Google applications is critical for creating reports, managing benefit records, organizing information, and communicating with employees and vendors, Bi-lingual skills are preferred, Effective oral and written communication skills, Knowledge of benefits administration practices and policies, Observes all District policies and procedures, Proficiency with MS Office, AI applications, and other computer programs is essential for efficiently managing tasks such as data entry, document creation, and communication, Strong organizational and time management skills
Position Type
Regular
Primary Location:
Wilcox
One Year Only (Yes Or No)
No
Scheduled Hours Per Week
40
Fte
1.00
Approx Scheduled Days Per Year
260 Work Days
- (260 days indicates a year-round position. Time off [or Off-Track Days] are then granted based on the position. Any exceptions to the normal off-track time will be noted in the Additional Position Details section above, as scheduled work days.)
$26.36 USD Hourly
Maximum Hire Rate
$35.57 USD Hourly
Full Salary Range
$26.36 USD - $44.77 USD Hourly
- All salary amounts listed above are based on a full-time (1.0) FTE. If applicable, part-time salaries will be prorated according to the assigned FTE.
This position is eligible for health, vision, dental, health savings account (HSA), flexible spending accounts (FSA), District paid and voluntary additional (supplemental) life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance, short and long-term disability, critical illness and accident voluntary insurance, employee assistance program (EAP), voluntary 401(k), 403(b) and 457 retirement plan options.
Time Off Plans
This position is eligible for paid vacation, sick and personal time.
This position will be open until filled, but will not be open past:
January 6, 2026
Salary : $26 - $45
