What are the responsibilities and job description for the Benefits Specialist position at Iredell County?
IMPORTANT INFORMATION BEFORE STARTING YOUR APPLICATION:
YOU MUST COMPLETE THE APPLICATION IN ITS ENTIRETY AND SUBMIT THE APPLICATION BEFORE IT CAN BE SAVED IN THE SYSTEM.
YOU MUST ANSWER ALL REQUIRED QUESTIONS AND COMPLETE ALL REQUIRED SECTIONS OF THIS APPLICATION TO BE CONSIDERED FOR EMPLOYMENT WITH IREDELL COUNTY
OVERVIEW & PURPOSE:
This position administers a variety of Benefits Programs for County employees and serves as the primary contact for employees regarding benefit questions or issues. The employee must exercise initiative and independent judgment in completing assigned tasks and tact and courtesy in frequent contact with County employees, Department Directors, and the General public. Reports directly to the HR Benefits Division Manager and indirectly to the Human Resources Director and is evaluated by discussion, reports, observation, and feedback from the Human Resources Director, Managers, and employees.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:Serve as the employee’s primary contact regarding benefit questions or issues, answers questions regarding health insurance, and provides related information in person, by phone and through email.
Conducts Annual Open Enrollment including speaking at employee meetings, assisting employees with understanding and choosing benefit options while ensuring the appropriate verification documents are submitted. Enters benefits changes into the database, helps with scheduling and other logistics, and prepares presentations reflecting benefit changes, policy changes, etc.
Conducts the County’s New Employee Orientation twice per month. Enrolls employees in benefits while ensuring the appropriate verification documents are submitted, prepares orientation packets, collects completed enrollment forms, and ensures that benefits and policies are up to date in the Onboarding & New Employee Orientation Programs.
Handles and processes Qualifying Life Events for special benefits enrollment needs.
Reconciles and prepares monthly payments of County insurance premiums. Research discrepancies and notifies the appropriate Benefit Company of changes.
Handles the entry and maintenance of Flexible Spending Accounts.
Handles the termination process for retirements and transitions them from the Employee to the Retiree Health Insurance Plan.
Prepares and processes benefit deductions (to include non-wellness and/or lost discount deductions), changes in benefits, name changes, and addresses for New Hires, etc. through HRIS systems and the necessary benefit sites.
Serves as employee liaison with benefits vendors and researches and resolves claims and other benefit issues.
May assist with County wellness programming including quarterly wellness activities and employee compliance and clinic eligibility list maintenance
Participates in other Human Resources activities and programs as needed including research, problem-solving, arranging logistics, etc..
Establishes, prepares, and maintains a variety of records and reports.
Assists with the Annual Service Award Program and other recognition programs.
Assists with special projects as needed.
Serves as back-up to other positions in the Department as needed.
Performs other related work and additional duties as required and/or assigned.
ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS:
Serves as back-up to other positions in the Department as needed.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES:
Considerable knowledge of the theory, principles and practices of Human Resource Management with specialized knowledge of benefits administration.
Considerable knowledge of the laws, principles, court cases, and regulations that apply to benefits, personnel policies, programs and practices in the public sector.
Considerable knowledge of the trends and modern technology being implemented in the human resources fields.
Skill in public speaking, problem-solving, public contact, and conflict resolution.
Ability to maintain an effective Benefits Program, and to provide management with costs projections, statistical trends, program accomplishments and recommendations for implementing new programs.
Ability to analyze facts, programs, and benefits costs and make recommendations and reports in oral and written formats.
Ability to maintain the confidentiality of personnel records and discussions.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with officials, department directors, employees, and the general public.
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE “REQUIREMENTS”:
Graduation from an accredited College or University with a Degree in Human Resource Management or related field, and one (1) to three (3) years of experience in Benefits Administration, knowledge of Annual Open Enrollment, or an equivalent combination of education and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
ADDITIONAL “REQUIREMENTS”:
Notary Public required, or the ability to obtain within six (6) months of employment.
“PREFERRED” QUALIFICATIONS:
Salary : $51,988 - $66,545
