Benefit & Retirement Representative

BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

CLASS TITLE: Benefit & Retirement Representative

TITLE CODE: K2213

GRADE: 06/ESPBC $21.06 to $34.80 (Hourly Base Pay Scale for Non-Exempt Office Professionals, Clerical, and Classified Employees Represented by ESPBC, 2021-2022 Effective July 1, 2021)

REPORTS TO: Specialist

DEFINITION: Performs complex and specialized work related to the administration of all benefits and retirement programs, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, critical illness insurance, long term disability (LTD), flexible spending accounts (FSA), new hire enrollment, COBRA, leaves of absence, retirement, retiree health benefits, and (403b) and 457(b) retirement savings plans. Provides interpretation and guidance to employees to ensure compliance with established guidelines. Serves as a liaison with the respective retirement and benefit vendor systems to address enrollment or retirement issues. Performs other duties as assigned.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES:
Communicates information about the benefits provided by Baltimore County Public Schools to new, active, and retired personnel and their rights and responsibilities to receive those benefits.

Responds to benefits/retirement inquiries from active/retired employees and vendors on plan provisions, enrollment, status changes and other general inquiries.

Ensures the accuracy of all benefits/retirement enrollments in the human resources information system to provide vendors with accurate eligibility information.

Assists employees regarding claims issues and plan changes.

Enrolls employees with carriers and process life status changes.

Processes and administers benefits for employees on leaves of absences.

Interprets legal and regulatory implications (i.e., IRS, COBRA, ACA) as they relate to active and retired personnel.

Performs quality checks of benefits-related data.

Assists with compiling and/or audits reports for allocation/billing charges.

Performs other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education, Training and Experience:
Possession of an associate’s degree or the completion of 60 or more college credits.
Four years of experience in the administration of employee insurance benefits or related functions. Five years of experience in an administrative support.

Licenses and Certificates:
Possession of Retirement Coordinator certification issued by the State Retirement and Pension System of Maryland required (If not held at the time of hire, certification must be obtained within 90 days of employment in this position).

Must be commissioned as a Notary Public in the State of Maryland within six months from date of hire

Required licenses and certifications must be maintained throughout employment in this position.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Knowledge of employee benefits and applicable laws preferred.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills required.
Excellent organizational and time management skills.
Ability to learn and apply a vast knowledge of rules and regulations about the benefits provided to employees and ability to communicate this information to a diverse group of employees.

Knowledge of office practices and procedures. Knowledge of filing systems. Knowledge of spelling, grammar, and arithmetic. Knowledge of personal computers and office software packages. Knowledge of automated office systems.

Skill in maintaining databases, spreadsheets, and logs. Skill in maintaining filing systems. Skill in operating personal computers and related office equipment. Skill in providing routine information to telephone callers and office visitors.

Ability to communicate effectively. Ability to manage confidential information effectively. Ability to perform basic mathematical computations. Ability to follow rules and regulations. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:
The work of this class is generally sedentary and performed in an office environment. Work includes the operation of office equipment, including personal computers, and occasional limited physical activities.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS: Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) is committed to providing the highest quality education to BCPS students and staff while ensuring the health and safety of its students, employees, customers, clients, contractors, interns, and other visitors. BCPS strongly encourages all persons to be fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19. Information about accessing COVID-19 vaccines and boosters can be found at https://coronavirusvaccineoutreach-bc-gis.hub.arcgis.com/. Detailed information about BCPS' COVID-19 mitigation plan and requirements can be found at https://www.bcps.org/covid19

FLSA: Non-exempt


Eligible for the Maryland State Retirement System

This class specification defines the types of duties and level of difficulty of work required of positions in this title. It shall not be held to exclude duties not mentioned nor limit the right of management to assign work to employees.

Citizenship, residency, or work VISA in United States required.

Application Instructions
Please read and carefully follow the instructions provided below.

• Applicants are required to have a completed application on file for employment with Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS). Each time an applicant applies to a job with BCPS, the application must be resubmitted. If an applicant started an application with BCPS in the past and at a later date decides to apply for additional positions, it is the applicant's responsibility to review the entire application and ensure that all data is up to date (for example, the applicant may need to add additional schooling or certifications, an additional work experience, or provide updated references). The applicant must remember to review the entire application each time for accuracy and submit each time for a new or different vacancy.
• Professional references must be submitted to complete your application. Examples of professional references include current and former principals, supervisors, managers, mentor teachers and university/college supervisors. Personal references from colleagues, friends, community members, etc. will not be accepted. Applicants should notify their reference proactively to inform them they will receive a form via email through a MAILBOT email address from Baltimore County Public Schools. Applicants should also inform their reference(s) of the job they are applying to.
• Be sure to account for all periods of employment and unemployment, including student teaching and internship experience, and include names, addresses, and telephone numbers of employers.
• Be sure to answer all criminal background questions. If you answer "yes" to any of the criminal background questions you must provide a written explanation. A criminal offense does not necessarily exclude an applicant from employment with BCPS. Factors such as passage of time since the offense, the nature of the violation, and the extent of rehabilitation will be taken into consideration.

Pre-Employment Requirements:

• All persons employed by the Baltimore County Public Schools, regular and temporary, are required to be fingerprinted and have a criminal background investigation (per COMAR) completed. The fee charged for fingerprinting is $106. An identification card will be issued which must be shown prior to employment.
• Anyone offered employment is required to provide proper identification and documentation of eligibility for employment in the US.
• If you have military experience, you will be asked to provide a copy of DD214.
• Official transcripts for all higher education must be received prior to contract signing.

• Some positions will require employees to undergo a physical examination and/or drug testing.
• All newly hired personnel must attend a Badges and Benefits session.
• Additional job verification will be required for salary credit.

Non-Discrimination Statement

The Board of Education of Baltimore County does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, disability, or veteran status in matters affecting employment or in providing access to educational programs or activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Inquiries regarding the Board’s nondiscrimination policies should be directed to: EEO Officer, Office of Equal Employment Opportunity, Baltimore County Public Schools, 6901 Charles Street, Building B, Towson, Maryland 21204 (443-809-8937). There is a compliance officer responsible for identifying, preventing, and remedying prohibited harassment concerning students. Complaints of harassment should be directed to the executive director, Department of School Safety and Security, 9600 Pulaski Park Drive, Suite 118, Baltimore, MD 21220 (443-809-4360).


Contact Information
Chekesha Smith
Supervisor, Office of Staffing
6901 Charles Street, E Building
Towson, Maryland 21204
Phone: 443-809-7870
Fax: 410-296-0568
Email: csmith42@bcps.org