"Alerted.org

Benefits Administrator

Department: Human Resources

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Annual Salary: $44,904.73

Position Overview

The Benefits Administrator is responsible for the administration and implementation of the various employee benefit plans such as life, health, dental, and disability insurances, pension plans, vacation, sick leave, PERS retirement information, leave of absence and worker's compensation .

Essential Job Functions

Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, May include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.

• Administers the City's group health, dental, life, and ancillary benefits (vision, disability, supplemental life, etc.).

• Administers the City's workers compensation program through coordination with the third-party administrator; manages worker's compensation claims and maintain follow up with employees, supervisors and third party administrator.

• Ensures that all injury reports and worker's compensation forms are being processed in a timely manner.

• Develops implements and maintains the City's policies and procedures for protecting individually identifiable health information in compliance with federal, state and local laws.

• Ensures compliance with the City's privacy and security policies and procedures with regard to HIPAA.

• Conducts benefits orientation and assist employees with enrolling in benefit plan (s).

• Keeps on-line benefits portal up to date with personnel changes, completes benefit qualifying event changes, terminations, and inquiries. Ensuring prompt and courteous service to employees and other insured members.

• Processes open enrollment benefit plan transfers.

• Provides vendors appropriate documentation for life, pension, and disability benefits claims.

• Evaluates and compares existing employee benefits with those of other employers by analyzing other plans, surveys, and other sources of information.

• Maintain contact in person and by phone or email with insurance broker, companies, employees and beneficiaries to facilitate proper and complete utilization of benefits.

• Administers Family Medical Leave Program to ensure legal compliance.

• Monitors benefit eligibility for newly eligible employees.

• Promotes benefits, health and wellness in the workplace, develops/sources education and resource materials (via email); facilitates wellness committee meetings and provides educational opportunities to assist employees in maintaining good health (health fairs, educational classes, etc.)

• Respond to employee and dependents questions and complaints.

• Provide great customer service to employees, exhibiting a high level of problem solving skills.

• Interfaces with third-party administrators and brokers to resolve benefit issues, and provide guidance in policy interpretation and summary plan descriptions.

• Maintains record system, including filing. Processes daily paperwork, including reports.

• Meets with employees to provide them with pre-retirement estimates; completes retirement paperwork, communicates with staff from PERS regarding retirement questions/answers.

• Reconciles monthly benefits billing statements for health, dental and ancillary products; vision, supplemental life, short and long term disability, etc.

• Responsible for completing the US Census Bureau Health Insurance Cost Study, and various requested surveys, reporting data as requested to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

• Processes all 1095Cs and checks for accuracy. Provides the Internal Revenue Service the Affordable Care Act file 1095-C on all benefit eligible employees and dependents.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Must posses required knowledge, skills, abilities and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

• Solid knowledge of benefit principles, laws and regulations, including Affordable Care and Health Care reform.

• General knowledge of Mississippi State Worker's Compensation laws and claims administration.

• Ability to interpret and apply laws and regulations related to benefits and worker's compensation.

• Must be experienced and sensitive to working with diverse groups of people.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships at all levels in the City, with representatives from outside organizations and with citizens.

• Knowledge of Microsoft Word, Power Point and Excel.

• Ability to manage difficult or emotional customer situations.

• Must possess exceptional customer service skills.

• Possess exceptional organizational skills.

• Exceptional problem resolution skills.

• Demonstrates oral and written communication abilities, including

presentation skills.

• Is able to demonstrate consistent tact and courtesy in frequent public contact.

• Effective time manager; must be able to work with deadlines and under pressure.

Education and Experience

Associates or Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources, business or related field from an accredited college or university. Three (3) to four (4) years of Human Resources Benefits experience. Other combination of experience and education that meet the minimum required may be substituted.

Licenses or Certificates

Must possess a valid Mississippi driver's license.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical requirements include occasional lifting/carrying of 10+ pounds; visual acuity, speech and hearing; hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer keyboard and basic office equipment. Subject to sitting, standing, reaching, walking, twisting and kneeling to perform the essential functions. Working conditions are primarily inside an office environment.