Benefits Outreach Specialist

PLEASE ATTACH THE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS LISTED AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE

Job ID: 36879

Agency: Bureau of Human Resources and Administration

Location: Pierre; Sioux Falls; Rapid City, SD or surrounding areas

Salary: $21.41-$26.00 Hourly, depending on qualifications

Pay Grade: G

Closing Date: 8/14/26

This is a full-time, 40-hour-per-week position with the Bureau of Human Resources and Administration - Total Rewards Department. For more information on the Bureau of Human Resources and Administration, please visit https://www.sd.gov/bhra.

Do you have a passion for helping others? Do you enjoy solving problems, educating customers, and making a meaningful impact? Are you energized by contributing to a high-performing team? If so, consider joining us as a Benefits Outreach Specialist.

As a Benefits Outreach Specialist, you'll serve as a trusted resource for State employees by providing guidance, education, and support on the State of South Dakota's comprehensive benefits programs. Your work will help employees make informed decisions while delivering a world-class customer experience. In this role, you'll assist employees with health, flexible, and account-based savings benefits through virtual, phone, electronic, and in-person interactions. Strong communication skills are essential as you explain complex benefits, answer questions, and build positive relationships with employees across the state.

Key Responsibilities Include

• Educating employees on benefit programs and features.
• Partnering agencies to provide outreach and value-added benefits education.
• Supporting annual benefits fairs and Open Enrollment through virtual and onsite events.
• Developing presentations and educational materials.
• Reviewing and updating the BHRA Benefits website.
• Recommending communication strategies that improve employee understanding of available benefits.
• Assisting newly hired employees as they navigate their benefit options.

Additional Responsibilities Include

• Processing new hire enrollments and qualifying life events in the HRIS system.
• Calculating and processing benefit premium adjustments and refunds.
• Collecting premiums for employees on leave without pay.
• Providing backup support to the Benefits Analyst during payroll processing.

This position requires statewide travel approximately 1–2 times per month, with increased travel during the annual Open Enrollment period in May. Overall travel is expected to average approximately 25%.

Knowledge Of

The Ideal Candidate Will Have:

• health, life insurance, flexible benefits, and account-based plans.

Skill To

• communicate effectively both orally and in writing;
• maintain a customer-focused mindset;
• effectively work with computer programs including Outlook, Teams, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.

Ability To

• stay up to date on the benefit offerings provided by the state;
• interact with internal and external customers with tact, professionalism, empathy, and confidentiality;
• interpret, explain, and apply rules and procedures;
• learn and operate in HRIS systems; and
• work in a high volume, fast-paced environment.

Additional Requirements: To be considered, please attach your resume.

This position is eligible for Veterans’ Preference per ARSD 55:10:02:08.

NCRC: If you possess a National Career Readiness Certificate, please submit the certificate with your application. For more information on how to acquire a National Career Readiness Certificate contact a South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation Job Service Office. A certificate is not necessary to be considered.

The State of South Dakota does not sponsor work visas for new or existing employees. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete an Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9. The State of South Dakota as an employer will be using E-Verify to complete employment eligibility verification upon hire.

The State of South Dakota offers $0 premium employee health insurance option plus eleven paid holidays, generous vacation and sick leave accrual, dental, vision, and other insurance options, and retirement benefits. You can view our benefits information here . This position is a member of Class A retirement under SDRS.

Must apply online: https://gen-stateofsouthdako-trn.inforcloudsuite.com/hcm/xmlhttp/shorturl.do?key=4IY

You must apply online, emailed resumes or submissions will not be accepted.

South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources and Administration

Telephone: 605.773.3148 Email: careers@state.sd.us

http://bhr.sd.gov/workforus

"An Equal Opportunity Employer"