Benefits Coordinator

City of Southfield Human Resources; Southfield (MI); On-site; USD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Retirement benefits

Life insurance

Job summary

City of Southfield is seeking a Benefits Administrator to coordinate key HR functions, including benefit program administration, enrollment, and compliance with City policies, union contracts, and state/federal laws.

You will support a culture of innovation to attract, retain and develop an engaged workforce serving residents and businesses, with responsibilities across enrollment, billing, reporting and vendor coordination.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 2–4 years of progressively responsible HR work experience in benefit administration.
• Proficiency with MS Office and HRIS; ability to interpret policies and regulations.
• Public sector or unionized workforce experience preferred, plus knowledge of contracts and compliance.

Responsibilities

• Administer employee/retiree benefits programs (medical, dental, vision, life, retirement) and COBRA notifications.
• Maintain benefits filing systems and ensure payroll deductions align with changes.
• Manage benefit enrollment processes for new hires/retirees and transmit data to carriers.

Skills

Benefit administration

Enrollment management

HRIS

MS Excel

Communication

Analytics

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources, Business, Management or related field

Tools

HRIS

MS Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Pension/Retirement systems

COBRA administration

Job description

Under the general direction of the Human Resource Director, coordinates and performs key human resource functions, including benefit program administration. Manages and coordinates benefit administration functions, including enrollment in compliance with City policies, union contracts and relevant state and federal laws and regulations. Supports a culture of innovation to facilitate the City’s ability to attract, retain and develop an engaged workforce in the delivery of superior services to City residents and businesses.

Representative Job Duties

• Administer various employee/retiree benefits programs, such as medical, dental vision, life insurance, retirement, process COBRA notifications.
• Maintain employee benefits filing systems and ensure changes are entered appropriately in HR system for payroll deductions; distributes required benefit related notices to employees/retirees.
• Manages benefit enrollment processes and online employee system for new hires, retirees, COBRA participants, annual elections and qualifying life event status changes; transmits benefit information to carriers. Facilitates employee benefits onboarding and provides consultation for incoming staff and retirees.
• Ensures proper billing of retirees for benefit coverage, communicates with pension system personnel regarding retiree benefits; notifies retirees of rate changes.
• Works with benefit carriers, insurance brokers and third-party administrators (TPA) to set-up and implement benefit plans and address employee coverage issues; audits monthly invoices for payment accuracy.
• Maintains benefit enrollment information on Human Resources Information System (HRIS) for payroll contribution and deduction processing; reviews monthly invoices.
• Administers monthly disbursements for the Retiree Health Care Supplemental benefit; manages the payment process for retiree health insurance premiums, reconciles accounts and coordinates with external insurance carriers; maintains detailed records of eligibility and payment history, works with the Pension Administrator during the financial audit.
• Prepares federal and state mandated records and reports as required, including employer responsibility reporting under the Affordable Care Act; create reports for department and/or auditors as needed.
• Assist HR Director in obtaining statistics and information in renewal process of health, life, and retirement plans.
• Maintains database of insurance rates for daily use, assists in addressing human resources matters; responds to questions regarding interpretation of City policies, labor contracts, and management concerns; refers more complex benefit matters to the Human Resources Director or designee.
• May work extended hours to accommodate needs of the department or organization, including attendance at or facilitation of evening or weekend meetings.
• Other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements - As Determined By the City Of Southfield

Minimum Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources, Business, Management or related field;
• 2-4 years of progressively responsible human resources work experience directly related to benefit administration.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to provide the applicant with the knowledge, skills and ability to successfully perform the essential functions of the job will be considered.
• Intermediate proficiency with general office computers and related business software, including Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint; Internet and email.

Preferred Qualifications

• Human Resources certification from a professional credentialing organization, such as Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) or Public Sector HR Association (PSHRA).
• Public sector human resources experience.
• Experience with a unionized workforce.
• Experience with BS&A, NEOGOV or other Human Resources data applications.

We offer a complete benefits package to career employees including health care, dental, vision, retirement, deferred compensation plans, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, long-term disability, holidays, vacation, and sick leave and more!

Overview

City of Southfield Employee Benefits Summary

Mandatory Benefits: Medical, Dental and Vision Elections, or Opt Out

Supplemental Benefits: Term Life, Aflac, Met Law, Retirement Savings Account, Tuition Reimbursement, EAP, FMLA, Flexible Spending Account, Residency Bonus

Blended Pension Plan Employees

Defined Benefit SERS

1.5% Multiplier for all years of service

3 Years Final Average Compensation Upon Retirement

10 Years Vesting

5% Employee Contribution

Defined Contribution 401a MissionSquare

3% 401 a City Contribution

3% 401 a Employee Contribution (minimum)

5 Year Vesting Schedule

https://www.missionsq.org/

Retirement Health Savings

Effective July 1, 2020 Tier III and IV employees shall contribute 2% of pensionable wages and the City will contribute $100 per month.

https://www.healthcare.gov/

5 years of years of service: 50% vested

6 years of service: 75% vested

7 years of service: 100% vested

Participation in the RHS begins on the first day of employment and end on the day of separation.

Life Insurance MetLife

AFSCME 329: 0-30 months employment $30,000 life and ADD, after 30 months of employment $50,000 term life, accidental death and dismemberment coverage.

ACS TPOAM PST AFSCME 3636: $50,000 Term life and $50,000 ADD Insurance

Medical Elections

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (2025)

Community Blue PPO 10

Community Blue PPO 12

Community Blue PPO 15

HAP HMO

Dental - Blue Cross Blue Shield

Vision - Blue Cross Blue Shield

Health insurance 1st day of the next month of hire date.

Employee has 30 Days to select benefits, otherwise will wait until open enrollment.

COBRA coverage through TASC – in the event of separation– you are entitled to continuation medical coverage up to 18 months.

Retirement Savings Account

Supplemental

MissionSquare 457b

T. Rowe Price 457b

Retirement savings account with no employer contribution. Funds, added to a 457 can be pre-tax or post-tax.

Pre Tax funds lower taxable income in bi-weekly paycheck; however, taxes may have to be paid upon the distribution of funds in retirement.

Post-tax deferrals are taken from already taxed funds in your paycheck, which means that little to no taxes will be taken upon distribution in retirement. Loans are available.

Supplemental

Tuition Reimbursement

75% reimbursement for tuition and fees (excluding late fees) for city-related classes or degree programs with a grade of "B" or better, up to $2,500 annually, plus 75% for required books.

Residency Bonus

Annual residency bonus of 1.5% of annual salary by Jan 1st with proof of residency. Elected officials and contractual employees ineligible.

Fire and Police Excluded

Supplemental

MetLife

Voluntary Term Life and ADD

Additional life Insurance can be purchased for employees and dependents at an additional cost for the employee.

AFLAC

Short term disability, cancer, accident and hospitalization insurance. Dennis Patton [e-mail].

Supplemental

EAP Ulliance

Employee Assistance Program through Ulliance- six free counseling sessions, legal, finance and life coaching programs. Supervisors are not notified if employee uses services.

FMLA

Family Medical Leave Act worked up to 1250 hours or one year. Can take off time to care for a medical emergency for themselves or immediate family members for up to 12 weeks unpaid. Absences approved by BASIC or FMLA vendor.

Supplemental

FSA & Dependent Care

Flexible Spending Accounts and Dependent care through TASC is pre-tax funds that are used to cover certain out-of-pocket medical expenses and childcare costs. A total dollar amount is elected, and a debit card is sent to you to pay for incurred expenses.

Pre-tax funds are deducted bi-weekly to cover the cost of the total amount you have elected. There is an annual election limit of $3,300 for 2025.

Renew Annually, it’s not automatic.

To Find Out More Click Link Below

Union Contracts | City of Southfield