What are the responsibilities and job description for the Benefits Specialist position at West Fargo Public Schools?
Job Description
Position Title: Human Resources Benefits Specialist
Location: District Support Center
Department: Human Resources
Reports To: Leave Manager
Term: Year-round position
Schedule: Mon-Fri Full-time
Salary: Position follows the Classified Salary Schedule 2026-2027 at B250.
Starting salary begins at $27.35-$31.35/hour, based on experience.
Date of last review: August 2026
SUMMARY: The Benefits Specialist operates within the Human Resources (HR) Department by managing district benefits programs, enrollments, and communications with employees and third-party benefit providers.
To Apply: Please complete the application and include up-to-date, relevant submissions of your resume, a letter of interest, and three professional references. Not including the required documents/references may result in loss of candidacy.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty and requirement satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required for the role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: (Other duties may be assigned)
Collaboration
Position Title: Human Resources Benefits Specialist
Location: District Support Center
Department: Human Resources
Reports To: Leave Manager
Term: Year-round position
Schedule: Mon-Fri Full-time
Salary: Position follows the Classified Salary Schedule 2026-2027 at B250.
Starting salary begins at $27.35-$31.35/hour, based on experience.
Date of last review: August 2026
SUMMARY: The Benefits Specialist operates within the Human Resources (HR) Department by managing district benefits programs, enrollments, and communications with employees and third-party benefit providers.
To Apply: Please complete the application and include up-to-date, relevant submissions of your resume, a letter of interest, and three professional references. Not including the required documents/references may result in loss of candidacy.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty and requirement satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required for the role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: (Other duties may be assigned)
Collaboration
- Owns creating benefit enrollment documentation for New Hire Onboarding (NHO). Enrollment documents showcase benefits enrollment information and contain applicable timelines for enrollment.
- Acts as a backup for NHO presentations.
- Owns reconciling and submitting monthly reports and payments for Life and Long-term Disability.
- Partners with Leave Manager on Affordable Care Act (ACA) tracking and annual reporting.
- Attends monthly Insurance Committee meetings. Records meeting minutes and attendance to share with applicable audiences.
- Supports the Leave Manager by serving as a back-up for reconciliation, maintenance, and submission of Teacher's Fund for Retirement (TFFR), and North Dakota Public Employee Retirement System (NDPERS) withdrawals, payments, and operation.
- Processes and reconciles name and address changes for HDV, GAP, HSA, and FSA in applicable HR system(s).
- Develops positive, effective working relationships with learners and staff.
- Owns the processing of staff application elections and/or changes for benefits open enrollment program.
- Owns communicating with COBRA third-party administrators on any adjustments, questions, status updates, and rate renewals on an ad hoc basis.
- Owns communicating with Long-Term Disability/Life Insurance providers on items such as questions, status updates, and/or completion of intake paperwork for claims.
- Partners with Leave Manager to complete yearly benefit summary communication to district employees.
- Connects and shares ideas through appropriate/applicable formats to express thoughts and ideas with integrity.
- Understands the complexities of cultural and global issues and how they relate to employee and learners' experiences.
- Partners with others to resolve potential controversy and conflict through respectful discussion.
- Proactively seeks to understand the ideas, opinions, and skills of others.
- Connects with team members and shares ideas in an effort to improve the overall learner and employee experience.
- Reasons, interprets, and analyzes information to generate new knowledge and understanding.
- Exercises good judgment, discretion, and adherence for respective confidentiality requirements.
- Maintains communication with supervisor and director regarding general feedback, career advancement opportunities, and areas of growth opportunities.
- Maintains composure while dealing with stressful situations.
- Proactively seeks out resolutions and takes initiatives to resolve knowledge gaps and grow in self-sufficiency.
- Remains current with laws and regulations surrounding employee benefit programs including areas such as Health, Dental, Vision, Life, Disability insurances, high-deductible health plans, health savings accounts, flexible spending accounts, etc.
- Owns managing the benefits enrollment/changes process for all employees.
- Owns processing benefits and deduction changes in the HR/Payroll system for new and existing employees in areas such as validation of qualifying events and/or terminations.
- Owns processing COBRA notifications and monitors COBRA participation through the third-party administrator portal.
- Owns processing staff resignations for benefit programs and routes data to relevant department personnel for applicable follow-up action.
- While performing the essential duties and responsibilities of this role, the employee is regularly required to reach with hands and arms.
- While performing the essential duties and responsibilities of this role, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, bend, talk, and hear.
- The specific vision abilities required for this role include close and peripheral vision.
- The employee may be required to lift up to ~30 pounds.
- The employee must work with the public and various WFPS staff while simultaneously managing several competing demands.
- The employee will work in an environment that has a quiet to loud noise level.
- Associate degree in business, HR, payroll, or closely related field or minimum of 2 years of relevant work experience (benefits management, accounting, human resources, etc.) is required.
- Bachelor's degree in business or closely related field is preferred.
- Demonstrated knowledge of regulations, procedures, and systems related to benefits management is preferred.
- Demonstrated knowledge of payroll rules and processing related to benefits management is preferred.
- Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Excel is required.
- PHR and/or SHRM-CP is preferred.
- Experience working in a school setting is preferred.
- Experience working in HR for a large employer (i.e., 1,000 employees) is preferred.
- Experience with TylerTech Infinite Visions/SchoolERP Pro is preferred.
- Ability to read, write, and comprehend simple instructions and short correspondences in the English language.
- Ability to communicate effectively verbally, expressively, and reactively.
- Exercise confidentiality, discretion, and good judgement.
- Adhere to the assigned work schedule by maintaining regular and punctual attendance.
- Assist with coverage of front desk in HR office as needed.
- None.
Salary : $27 - $31