Benefits Specialist

Overview

Memphis-Shelby County Schools is seeking dynamic educational champions ready to position our district as a national exemplar of education transformation. We need leaders with a fierce commitment to actualizing a bold vision that yields ambitious outcomes for more than 110,000 students and families across the Memphis-Shelby County area. The reality is that we can do better for kids, and we will with the right leaders in place. The most successful candidates believe that more is possible for Memphis and are

• Courageous Thinkers & Doers Prepared to navigate and thrive in a complex and ambiguous environment on day one, present innovative ideas to address systemwide issues, and execute sustainable plans toward transformation.
• Solutions-Oriented See the possibilities, demonstrate the capacity to synthesize information and adjust short and long-term goals, and consistently find a window when doors close to deliver measurable results for kids and families.
• High-Performing Gamechangers Leader of leaders with the capacity to mobilize and empower an outstanding team, make people-centered data-informed decisions, and operate with a relentless hyperfocus on removing stubborn barriers that destroy the hopes and dreams of too many of our students.
  
  
  

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION

The Benefits Specialist coordinates the districts insurance related issues including health, dental, vision, prescription drug, life, 403(b), Surviving Spouse and COBRA. Effectively coordinates all cases to include general administration, comprehensive case management and program compliance in agreement with related employment laws. The incumbent performs exemplary customer service and assistance to employees, leaders and HR business partners.

• Works with the active employees, retirees, spouses, domestic partners, dependents, and beneficiaries on all Memphis Shelby County School (MSCS) insurance plans and various kinds of leave of absence.
• Evaluates and determines the eligibility of employees, retires, spouses, domestic partners, dependents and beneficiaries for insurance elections, deductions, or payouts in compliance with multiple insurance summary plan description document rules and insurance vendor enrollment policies and procedures, as well as open enrollment and special enrollment period regulations.
• Tracks, processes, and provides guidance on all insurance related topics such as health, dental, vision, prescription drug and COBRA, basic and supplemental life, Short Term Disability (STD), Long Term Disability (LTD), Flex Spending Accounts (FSA), 403(b), Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRA), and Health Insurance Marketplace options to identify the employee’s options for concerns and/or issues and to assess trends.
• Processes and tracks death claims for the district and communicates with the life insurance vendors until the final process is complete. Communicate with families to discuss next steps. Informs internal departments of death and enters the information in the required systems.
• Prepares, reviews and revises insurance option elections, premium deductions and insurance payouts in HRIS and payroll and verifies the information is correct in the vendor databases for timeliness, accuracy, vendor payments and to assess trends.
• Advises on insurance related issues such as new enrollments, election changes, Qualifying Life Events (QLE) adjustments, terminations, COBRA and QMSCO/Court Order requirements affecting insurance.
• Keeps current with FMLA standards and practices and assists management and employees with interpretation of the law.
• Researches, compiles data and prepares various statistical, administrative and/or financial reports as required. Ensures efficient and accurate data entry and transaction processing, coordinating between different data systems as required.
• Communicate with vendors to resolve technical and system issues.
• Conducts new hire orientation and benefits sessions on a regular basis.
• Performs other related duties as assigned or directed.
  
  
  

Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Human Resources or related field. Two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in Human Resources, preferably in benefits administration. Six (6) years of progressively responsible experience in Human Resources, preferably in benefits administration may be substituted for a Bachelor’s degree. CBP or PHR/SPHR certification preferred. (PROOF OF EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND/OR EXPERIENCE IS REQUIRED).

Degree Equivalency Formula

Bachelor’s Degree= 4 years plus required years of experience.

Master’s Degree= 2 years plus required years of experience.