What are the responsibilities and job description for the Benefits Administrator position at Town of Queen Creek, AZ?
Description
This job classification description is intended to be generic in nature and not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The specific tasks/duties may vary based on position assignment and as determined by the Town of Queen Creek.
JOB CLASSIFICATION SUMMARY
Positions assigned to this class are responsible for administering the Town's employee benefits and leave programs. This role focuses on day-to-day benefits and leave operations, including open enrollment, employee inquiries, liaison for vendors/carriers, compliance monitoring, data management and reporting. This classification serves as a knowledgeable resources for employees, providing support to ensure they fully understand and utilize their benefits options effectively. This position is non-supervisory and requires an in-depth understanding of benefits and leaves administration and related HR functions.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
This is a fully qualified and experienced advanced level professional classification in the human resources job family. Incumbents perform the full range of duties that demonstrates knowledge of expected functional requirements or performance specifications within human resources. Work involves a variety of benefits and leave-related tasks independently, applying strong analytical, application of sound principles and best practices associated with planning and problem solving and customer service skills. This position demands both technical expertise in benefits and leave administration and the ability to address employee inquiries professionally. This role manages day-to-day benefits tasks, referring complex or strategic issue to HR management.
Examples of Duties
ESSENTIAL DUTIES
The following are intended to describe core work functions of this classification. While the level and broad nature of essential duties may not change, specific work tasks will vary over time depending on the Town’s needs.
- Manages the administration of employee benefit programs, including health, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, retirement plans, and wellness programs. Ensure all enrollments, changes, and terminations are processed accurately and timely.
- Plans, coordinates, and conducts open enrollment, providing guidance to employees on plan options, changes, and enrollment procedures. Prepares and distributes communication materials, manage enrollment data, and collaborate with HR and payroll for seamless implementation.
- Responds to employee inquiries regarding benefits and leave eligibility, coverage, claims, and provider issues. Educate employees on available benefits, helping them make informed decisions and ensuring a positive employee experience.
- Serves as a point of contact with insurance carriers, third-party administrators, and other benefits vendors. Works closely with providers to resolve employee issues, track service levels, and ensures accurate billing and plan administration.
- Administers Workers’ Compensation claims, ensuring timely reporting, accurate documentation, adherence to state and federal regulations, maintains compliance with applicable laws, conducting periodic audits, and implementing best practices to minimize risks and ensure organizational compliance.
- Oversees the Town’s wellness program; organize and coordinate wellness initiatives, such as health screenings, fitness challenges, financial planning and mental health workshops and promote employee participation.
- Assist with annual employee engagement program; coordinate and lead employee engagement activities, including focus groups, and surveys to foster a positive workplace culture and increase overall employee satisfaction and well-being.
- Ensures benefits, leave and wellness programs comply with applicable federal, state, and local regulations (e.g., ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA). Prepares and files required reports, such as ACA filings, and support audits or compliance reviews as necessary.
- Enters, updates, and maintains benefits and leave data in the HRIS system. Generates reports to track enrollment, participation, and other benefits metrics. Monitors benefits deductions, reconciliation, and adjustments in collaboration with payroll.
- Facilitates claims resolution and coordinates with insurance carriers to address any benefits-related issues that arise, ensuring prompt and effective resolution of employee claims and concerns.
- Analyzes benefits, leave and wellness utilization and employee feedback to identify trends and areas for improvement. Recommends enhancements to programs and processes to enhance employee satisfaction and program efficiency.
- Chairs and/or participates in Town committees as assigned.
- Collects and analyzes program feedback to assess program impact and identify areas for improvement.
- Interprets, applies and explains Town policies and procedures.
- Provides individual, departmental, or organizational-wide training.
- Performs related work as assigned.
Typical Qualifications
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (at job entry)
Education and Experience:
Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Public or Business Administration, Business, Human Resources, Psychology, or a related field and 6 years of progressively responsible experience in benefits and leave administration; 2 years of overseeing benefits programs or an equivalent combination of directly related education and experience. Master’s Degree preferred.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: To be eligible, incumbents cannot be on the Office of Inspector General (OIG) list of Excluded Individuals/Entities (LEIE).
LICENSING/CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Certification as a Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS), Certified Benefits Professional (CBP), Professional in Human Resources (PHR or SPHR), Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP), or Certified Professional in Public Sector Human Resources Association (PSHRA-CP or PSHRA-SCP) is preferred.
KNOWLEDGE
- Principles and practices of public personnel management, ethics and professional standards, benefits and leave administration;
- Health and wellness programs and insurance terminology;
- Organizational development theories and applications;
- Training methods, programs, and techniques;
- Employee engagement strategies;
- Applicable Federal, state and local laws, codes, ordinances, rules and regulations;
- Strategic planning and budgeting principles;
- Project management/concepts and application;
- Statistical concepts and methods;
- Customer service principles;
- English grammar, spelling and punctuation;
- Standard office equipment including the computer and programs relevant to the performance of applicable duties and responsibilities.
SKILLS
- Perform advanced-level benefit and leave administration, and various special personnel-related research studies/projects;
- Maintaining compliance with benefits regulations and filing requirements
- Identifying problems or needs, involving appropriate stakeholders, and developing viable plans of action to address issues;
- Developing, planning and implementing assigned human resource program(s);
- Maintaining confidentiality and exercising good judgment in handling sensitive information;
- Assessing, analyzing, identifying and implementing solutions to complex problems;
- Training methods, adult learning processes, and diversity concepts and applications;
- Conducting comparison and statistical analyses;
- Formulating reports;
- Composing correspondence;
- Performing research, making independent analysis, and reporting findings;
- Using computers and related software applications;
- Utilizing standard techniques to assess program effectiveness;
- Communication and interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, the general public, and other interested parties sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.
This Benefits Administrator role is office-based and requires frequent interaction with employees, vendors, and other HR team members to support the effective administration of the Town’s benefits and leave programs.
The following is a list of employment benefits offered by the Town of Queen Creek to full-time employees. The list is for informational purposes only. It does not create or connote any contractual rights or obligations. Additional details will be provided upon hire and are available in the Town of Queen Creek Employee Handbook.
Major Benefits for Full-Time Employees
(Employees choose the benefits that best meet their needs.)
- Health Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Pre-tax unreimbursed medical and dependent care flexible spending accounts
- Arizona State Retirement System membership
- Short-term and Long-term disability insurance for the employee
- Town-paid basic life insurance
- Optional employee-paid employee and dependent supplemental life insurance
- Commuter life insurance for business travel and travel to and from work
- Deferred compensation plan (457) with employer match
- Retirement Health Savings Account
- Optional enrollment in Identity Protection Program
- Paid holidays, plus one floating holiday annually
- Vacation leave hours annually
- Four weeks of Paid Parental Leave
- Optional income replacement insurance
- Worker's compensation insurance
- Employee assistance program; offers confidential individual/family, marriage, legal and financial counseling
- Training opportunities and continuing education opportunities, including tuition reimbursement for pre-approved programs
- Direct deposit of paychecks
- Wellness Programs with incentives
