EMPLOYEE BENEFITS SPECIALIST, SENIOR

Full Job Description

Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor's Degree in business, accounting, insurance or related field required; supplemented by two years of experience in human resources, payroll, benefits, or pension administration; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.

Specific License or Certification Required: None.

Specific Knowledge, Skills, or Abilities: Must be able to demonstrate proficiency in performance of the essential functions and learn, comprehend, and apply all county or departmental policies, practices, and procedures necessary to function effectively in the position.

Examination:
The examination will consist of an evaluation of education and experience, accomplished by analysis of the application. Application must document that the applicant possesses the minimum knowledge, skills, education and experience as listed to be rated as qualified. If selected, an official, accredited college transcript is required, at time of employment, for all degrees/course work used to qualify for this position.

All applications must be completed in full before they are submitted. Please review all applications for accuracy and make all corrections before submittal because errors can result in not meeting the minimum qualifications. Additional information will not be accepted after applications are received by the Department of Human Resources Management.

Requirements

Purpose of Classification:

The purpose of this classification is to process and resolve complex employee/retiree insurance and pension benefits issues. Responsibilities include communicating the County's health package to employees, and processing benefits enrollment, termination, status change, and update actions. This classification is distinguished from Employee Benefits Supervisor in that this classification does not supervise assigned staff but provides lead direction as required, whereas the latter has full supervisory authority and trains assigned staff.

Essential Functions:

The following duties are normal for this position. The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Other duties may be required and assigned.

Coordinates activities in the administration of pension and medical, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits for employees and retirees, and COBRA enrollees: creates new employee files; reviews and processes benefits enrollment, termination, status changes, and updates; prepares documentation and transmits to outside agencies; interprets, communicates, and enforces benefits rules, regulations, policies and procedures; performs mathematical computations; processes and tracks personnel transactions; enters data into payroll system; reviews and verifies final output of payroll deductions; prepares and distributes personnel-related correspondence; and ensures appropriate filing and storage of documents.

Assists employees/retirees in resolving complex issues regarding insurance and pension benefits, policies, and procedures: responds to inquiries from County personnel and officials and external vendors; conducts research; interprets court documents and makes appropriate adjustments and entries; modifies and deletes data entry transactions as necessary; analyzes benefit issues and provides advice and recommendations; and makes limited-judgment decisions to facilitate resolution.

Ensures vendor resolution of employee and general insurance plan administration issues; researches and resolves vendor report discrepancies; performs research for data and records; enter data into external vendor database; and communicates with vendor representatives and vendor program managers;

Facilitates new employee orientation and open enrollment sessions for employee benefits packages: compiles, organizes, and delivers materials to employee locations and external vendors; provides general information on programs and services; communicates general information, benefit rules, regulations, policies and procedures; conducts training activities for new hire orientation and other specialized classes; evaluates and updates benefit training program; ensures that federal mandates are complied with in new hire orientation; and serves as liaison to other trainers and departments.

Reviews, completes, and/or processes, or various forms, reports, correspondence, and other documentation, including payroll reports, enrollment documentation and spreadsheets, premium detail reports, open enrollment information, and other items as needed; compiles data for further processing or for use in preparation of department reports; and maintains computerized and/or hardcopy records.

Assists with issuance, evaluation, and preparation of contract awards for RFPs as required/needed for Finance contracts.

May lead and coordinate daily work activities of department co-workers: confers with supervisor to obtain direction regarding work assignments and priorities; organizes tasks in order to complete assigned work; confers with co-workers, assists with complex/problem situations, and provides technical expertise; and assists with training and instructing coworkers regarding operational procedures and proper use of equipment.

Communicates with supervisor, current and former employees, insurance company representatives, medical providers, attorneys, and other individuals as needed to coordinate work activities, review status of work, exchange information, or resolve problems.

Maintains a current, comprehensive knowledge and awareness of applicable laws, regulations, principles and practices relating to employee benefits program administration; reads professional literature; maintains professional affiliations; and attends meetings, workshops, hearings, and training sessions as required.

Additional Functions:

Performs other related duties as required.

Qualifications

Performance Aptitudes:

Data Utilization: Requires the ability to evaluate, audit, deduce, and/or assess data using established criteria. Includes exercising discretion in determining actual or probable consequences and in referencing such evaluation to identify and select alternatives.

Human Interaction: Requires the ability to work with and apply principles of persuasion and/or influence over others to coordinate programs or activities of a project, and resolve typical problems associated with the responsibilities of the job.

Equipment, Machinery, Tools, and Materials Utilization: Requires the ability to operate, maneuver and/or control the actions of equipment, machinery, tools, and/or materials used in performing essential functions.

Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of reference, descriptive, and/or advisory data and information.

Mathematical Aptitude: Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; the ability to calculate decimals and percentages; the ability to utilize principles of fractions; and the ability to interpret graphs.

Functional Reasoning: Requires the ability to apply principles of influence systems, such as motivation, incentive, and leadership, and to exercise independent judgment to apply facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to resolve problems.

Situational Reasoning: Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving the evaluation of information against sensory, judgmental, or subjective criteria, as opposed to that which is clearly measurable

Additional Information

it is the policy of Fulton County that there will be equal opportunity for every citizen, employee and applicant, based upon merit without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, genetics, disability or sexual orientation.