Program Specialist - Benefits

Westchester County; City of White Plains (NY); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Deferred compensation

Paid leave

Retirement plan

Job summary

Westchester County Department of Finance is seeking a Program Specialist (Benefits) to assist in coordinating and administering employee benefit programs, including health, dental, and vision care.

The role supports unemployment and workers’ compensation insurance administration, enrollment, deductions, and payments, while maintaining contact with insurance carriers and benefit providers. It also involves implementing changes to laws and resolving employee inquiries.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required; substitution of 30 credits toward a bachelor’s degree may be used for up to four years of the stated experience.
• Seven years of experience in employee benefits, finance, or HR, including one year assisting health insurance administration.
• Seven years in government operations involving development/implementation of service delivery or operational systems for employee benefits, HR, or finance.

Responsibilities

• Assist in coordinating and administering the County’s Benefits plan, including workers’ compensation claims.
• Explain benefit packages to employees and departmental representatives to help them make informed choices.
• Use county systems and third-party DBMS to enroll employees, process payroll deductions, and post/receive retiree payments.
• Provide supervision to clerical staff and lead assignments as needed.

Skills

Employee benefits management

Health insurance administration

Customer service

DBMS/Database management systems

Supervisory experience

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

DBMS software

Job description

Westchester County Department of Finance is actively recruiting for a Program Specialist (Benefits).

Under general supervision, an incumbent of this class assists in the coordination and administration of a variety of employee benefit programs including health, dental, and vision care. This position is also responsible for assisting in the administration of unemployment and workers compensation insurance, using a variety of database management systems to enroll employees, enter payroll deductions, and post and receive payments to and from retirees, etc., and establishing and maintaining extensive and substantive contact with insurance carriers and worker’s compensation company representatives. Other duties involve assisting in the implementation and administration of changing laws and regulations relating to health care and benefits and serving as a point of contact for individual employees and/or departmental administrators to resolve customer issues relating to their benefits. Technical advice and assistance are provided as needed. Supervision may be exercised over clerical and staff support personnel. Does related work as required.

Examples of Work Include but not Limited To:

• Assists in the coordination and administration of the County’s Benefits plan, including the administration of worker’s compensation claims;
• Explains the various benefit packages offered by the County to employees as well as departmental representatives to assist employees in making important choices relating to their benefits and health care;
• Uses a variety of database management systems, including both County systems and the proprietary systems of third-party providers;
• Serves in a lead capacity over subordinate support personnel, ensures tasks are completed and provides instruction in program procedures; may provide supervision on various assignments, as needed;
• Verifies proper enrollment of employees, based upon eligibility guidelines, terminations and changes as required;
• Assists in the implementation of changes to federal and state laws, rules and regulations regarding benefits and health care, and the administration of same;
• Responds to employee complaints or problems; handles more complex inquiries as referred by subordinate staff;
• Contacts insurance carriers, employees and eligible former employees, both in writing and by telephone, to ensure implementation of and compliance with program requirements, and to handle unusual problems;
• Analyzes and interprets new or revised requirements or programs to determine their impact upon existing administrative and procedural activities

MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

A high school or equivalency diploma and either: (a) seven years of experience in employee benefits, Finance or Human Resources, which included or was supplemented by one year of experience assisting in the administration of health insurance plans; or (b) seven years of experience in government operations, which included or was supplemented by one year of experience which must have involved assisting in the development and implementation of service delivery or operational systems for employee benefits, Human Resources and/or Finance.

SUBSTITUTION: Satisfactory completion of 30 credits towards a Bachelor’s Degree* may be substituted on a year for year basis for up to four years of the above stated experience.

COME JOIN OUR TEAM!

• Besides a competitive salary, our compensation package includes comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, deferred compensation, paid leave and retirement plan.

Westchester County is an Equal Opportunity Employer

About Westchester County

Westchester County, located in the heart of the historic Hudson Valley, covers 500 square miles and has a population of just over 1 million. Originally home to Native Americans of the Lenape tribe, it is now a rich mix of diverse cultures and landscapes. The County is a blend of bustling cities, quaint villages, and picturesque towns, as well as open spaces and a network of beautiful parks. Westchester is made up of six cities, 19 towns, and 20 villages. The County is known for its top-notch public schools and high quality of life. It is also an intellectual capital, boasting a highly educated workforce, competitive colleges and universities, Fortune 500 companies, world-changing nonprofits, and cutting-edge research centers. Westchester is led by County Executive Kenneth W. Jenkins, who took office in January 2025 as the tenth County Executive. Focusing on innovation, Jenkins is leveraging technology and fostering business growth to position Westchester as a dynamic and inclusive destination where everyone can thrive. Learn more about Westchester County by visiting Westchester County