What are the responsibilities and job description for the Benefits Specialist position at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk?
Job Summary
Supports the Benefits Manager with the administration of SCSC benefit, leave and accommodations programs. Benefit plans include Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, AD&D, LTD, Health Savings Accounts, Flexible Spending and Dependent Care Accounts, and Employee Assistance Program. Works with employees, accounting, vendors, third party administrator, and payroll. Supports Leaves of Absence administration and Interactive Process/Reasonable accommodations. Maintain ERISA and HIPAA compliance. Coordinates Wellness programming events, activities, and educational materials in collaboration with HR Team members and internal event planners. Supports seasonal hiring and HR office operations as needed.
Unique Job Requirements
This position requires the ability to work as part of a team, build rapport and trust with collaborators, to provide consistently friendly service to applicants and employees. This person must maintain confidential records and information with excellent judgement. Must have excellent analytical and organizational skills. Must be agile and able to work on multiple tasks. Must have the ability to focus on detailed work and be able to be interrupted by employees and the public.
Job Tasks
- Works with Benefits Manager to support communications with broker, to address SCSC employee health and wellness benefit programs including Medical plans, Dental plan, Vision plan, Life/AD&D, and other benefit plans, in compliance with ACA, ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA and other legal requirements.
- Supports monthly reconciliation and approval process for premium statements and reports with Accounting and Payroll.
- Prepare benefit orientation materials.
- Follows up on requests for documentation related to leaves of absence including but not limited to Personal, Medical, Family Care, Pregnancy and Military Leaves of Absence, in compliance with company policy, FMLA, and CFRA. Updates LOA tracker, Payroll coordination and documentation is complete.
- Supports Interactive Process and Reasonable accommodations for ADA compliance with employee and managers, involving/escalating to Benefit Manager and HR Director.
- Prepare educational materials regarding benefit programs for distribution to employees.
- Helps coordinate wellness programming, such as wellness fairs/workshops/webinars, in collaboration with other HR and operational staff.
- Respond to employee benefit questions and partner with Broker to resolve claims issues.
- Support responding to EDD Disability and PFL claims.
- Will assist with the seasonal recruitment process and other HR-related functions.
- Will complete special projects and other work as assigned.
Relationships (Internal)
All levels of Santa Cruz Seaside Company employees.
Relationships (External)
Insurance Claims Administrators, Profit Sharing and 401(k) Record-keeper and TPA, Insurance Brokers and other employers.
Qualifications: Training and Experience
Training and experience: At least 1 year of Benefits Administration-related, Payroll, Accounting, or Human Resources experience required. Bilingual in English and Spanish is also a plus. High school graduate or equivalent required. BS/BA in related field preferred, in lieu of BS/BA, some college education in applicable fields of study.
- Knowledge of Medical, Dental, Vision, Life and Disability Plans.
- Ability to gain knowledge of the laws and regulations governing employer-sponsored health and welfare benefits; such as ACA, ERISA, COBRA, and all applicable state and federal laws regarding leaves of absence.
- Knowledge of business English, vocabulary, spelling, grammar and punctuation.
- Knowledge of office procedures, computerized and manual filing systems, and standard formats for business correspondence and reports.
- Knowledge of Microsoft Office and using Mac and PC systems.
- Knowledge of Human Resources functions and systems.
- Ability to maintain confidential files and information.
- Ability to perform a variety of difficult clerical tasks using independent judgment, accuracy and speed.
- Ability to organize filing and record keeping systems.
- Ability to compose correspondence and prepare reports.
- Ability to establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with employees and the public.
- Ability to provide consistently friendly service and answer questions for job applicants and staff.
- Ability to work collaboratively as a part of a team.
- Ability to supervise, train and evaluate the work of staff.
- Ability to be flexible to meet and greet the public while completing complex detailed reports.
- Ability to set priorities, perform multiple tasks and adjust to changing priorities.
- Bilingual English-Spanish is a plus.
- Able to work in an office environment.
- Able to hear normal conversations, read documents and verbally communicate to employees and others.
- Able to climb up and down stairs and walk up and down the Boardwalk.
- Able to use a computer.
Testing Upon Offer or Hire
criminal background check
drug screen
signed privacy and confidentiality policy
