Benefits Specialist

Muscogee County School District; Columbus (GA); On-site; USD 23,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

The Muscogee County School District is seeking a Benefits Specialist to support employees, retirees and benefit plans, interpreting provisions of retirement and other benefits while helping with enrollments and compliance.

Responsibilities include answering benefits questions, processing enrollments, reconciling billings, maintaining records, and supporting open enrollments and orientations. Strong communication and HRIS skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Educational Level: High School Diploma/GED.
• Experience: 1 year minimum or equivalent technical/business certificate; 2-3 years HR with Benefits including Accounting.
• Proficient in MS Office and HRIS; strong written and verbal communication.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and maintain accuracy.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrates prompt and regular attendance.
• Answers and resolves general and/or complex benefits questions via phone, email or in person.
• Assists in preparation (open enrollments and orientations) for required materials.
• Assists employees, beneficiaries and/or insurance providers for verifying eligibility and processing payroll deductions.
• Distributes information (open enrollment, forms, booklets, etc.) to employees.
• Elevate recurring problems to resolve systemic issues.
• Gathers employee information daily for data entry into ADP and Payroll System.
• Maintains benefit information for compliance and audit trails.
• Participates in meetings, seminars and retirement banquets as assigned.
• Prepares written materials (reports, memos, letters) for documentation.
• Processes enrollments/changes and leaves of absence within guidelines.
• Reconciles enrollment forms and billings for eligibility and payments.
• Records employee payments and deposits for accurate records.
• Resolves conflicts with insurance providers for eligibility and changes.
• Responds to HR requests for document production.
• Updates New Employee Orientation information for enrollment decisions.
• Performs other related duties.

Skills

Typing

MS Office

HRIS systems

Written and oral communication

Adaptability

Problem solving

Education

High School Diploma/GED

Tools

ADP

Payroll System

Job description

The Muscogee County School District has up to 6,000 employees from all backgrounds. We offer opportunities for everyone including support personnel, teachers, leaders, tradespeople, and much more.

Join the Muscogee County School District in “Creating We” in an environment that values the unique experiences and perspectives each of us bring to our community.

WE recognize that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a job. If your experience is close to what you see listed here, please consider applying. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and excellence. Therefore, we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to our positions. Please let us know if you require accommodations during the interview process.

POSITION TITLE: Benefits Specialist

FLSA: Non-Exempt

SALARY: $17.76 hourly

WORK DAYS: 240

LOCATION: Division of Human Resources/MCPEC

REPORTS TO: Senior HR Director

Primary Function: The job of Specialist, Benefits/HR is done for the purpose/s of providing assistance to new and current employees, retirees interpreting provisions of the retirement defined pension/defined contributions plans and other benefit plans by providing assistance with procedural matters. Ensures compliance with federal and state laws and regulations. Conducts informational sessions or workshops on benefit plans. Performs administrative processes for all related benefit plans. Researches, provides guidance for and processes complex benefit questions and transactions.

Requirements

• 1. Educational Level: High School Diploma/GED
• 2. Experience: Minimum one year of experience or equivalent technical/business certificate; 2-3 years of experience in Human Resources with functional experience related to Benefits that includes Accounting is required.
• 3. Physical Activities: Routine physical activities that are required to fulfill job responsibilities
• 4. Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities: Written and oral communication; adapts to changing work priorities; ability to problem solve; typing; computer; MS Office, HRIS systems

Essential Duties

• 1. Demonstrates prompt and regular attendance.
• 2. Answers and resolves general and/or complex benefits questions (e.g. by phone, e-mail or in person, etc.) for the purpose of assisting employee and if unable to assist, directing the employee to the appropriate benefits specialist.
• 3. Assists in preparation (e.g. open enrollments and orientations, etc.) for the purpose of ensuring required materials are available.
• 4. Assists employees, beneficiaries and/or insurance providers for the purpose of verifying eligibility, conveying information and processing accurate payroll deductions.
• 5. Distributes information (e.g. open enrollment, new/change forms, fringe benefit booklets, flyers, identification cards, confirmation letters, payroll deduction sheets, etc.) for the purpose of providing essential information to employees.
• 6. Elevate recurring problems (e.g. system, plan provider, etc.) for the purpose of assisting in resolving systemic problems.
• 7. Gathers all employee information daily from various reports (e.g. New Hire Report, Transfer Report, Termination Letters, MyMuscogeeBenefits.com, etc.) for the purpose of completing required data entry into the specific systems (ADP and Payroll System) ensuring that benefit plans are activated or deactivated accurately and payroll deadlines are met.
• 8. Maintains a variety of benefit information (e.g. provider contracts, payroll files, employee benefit records, etc.) for the purpose of providing an up-to-date reference and audit trail for compliance.
• 9. Participates in meetings, workshops, seminars, and retirement banquets as assigned for the purpose of conveying and/or gathering information required to perform functions.
• 10. Prepares written materials (e.g. reports, memos, letters, death claims, etc.) for the purpose of documenting activities, providing written reference and/or conveying information.
• 11. Processes a variety of benefit information for the purpose of completing enrollment/changes and leaves of absence within program guidelines.
• 12. Reconciles enrollment forms and billings to employee records (e.g. health, dental, etc.) for the purpose of ensuring accurate eligibility and timely bill reconciliation and payments and complying with contract provisions.
• 13. Records employee payments and weekly deposits for employees for the purpose of ensuring accurate payment and/or deposit information.
• 14. Resolves conflicts with insurance providers for the purpose of verifying eligibility, conveying information and processing changes.
• 15. Responds to Human Resources for the purpose of production of documents as requested for the law firm and outside requests for employee information to be reproduced.
• 16. Updates information on New Employee Orientation (e.g. videos, insurance rates, etc.) for the purpose of allowing employees to make informed choices when enrolling in benefits.
• 17. Performs other related duties, as assigned, for the purpose of ensuring the efficient, effective functioning of the work unit.

The Muscogee County School District provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.