Benefits Manager - Suffolk, United States - City of Suffolk, VA

Description

Salary: $79, $98,575.00 Annually

Location : Suffolk, VA

Job Type: Full Time

Job Number: 03405

Department: Human Resources

Opening Date: 06/04/2024

Closing Date: 6/18/2024 11:59 PM Eastern

Description

Ready to join an exciting team and make a difference in a thriving organization? The City of Suffolk is seeking an enthusiastic individual with exceptional interpersonal skills to lead our Benefits Team This role entails overseeing the administration of all components of the City's exceptional employee benefit plans and driving innovative new projects. In addition to supervising a team of skilled benefit consultants, responsibilities include devising strategies to maintain top-notch and cost effective benefit programs.

Work involves conducting surveys and performing research to evaluate programs and providers to determine employee needs, monitoring performance of providers; analyzing programs of surrounding localities to ensure Suffolk's programs are competitive; analyzing associated Human Resource's programs to determine if the current plan design meets the needs of the City and employees, and recommending changes relative to current developments and practices. Incumbent must possesses exceptional customer service skills when engaged in frequent contact with applicants, employees, and executive management staff and employs initiative and independent judgment in managing the City's Human Resources employee benefit programs. This position reports to the Assistant Director of Human Resources.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description.

Essential Job Functions

• Manages the administration of existing, and the development of new benefit programs, processes, and procedures.
• Administers current and new benefit programs to active employees, evaluates and recommends bids for employee benefits, lead on implementation of new benefit plans coordinating processes to ensure requirements and deadlines are met.
• Manages the administration of employee benefits programs to include areas such as health, prescription, dental, vision, life, short and long-term disability (voluntary and group), legal protection, identity theft protection, voluntary benefits (group accident & critical illness), flexible spending plans, Tax sheltered savings plans, HSA wellness incentive program, employee sick leave bank, leave plans, FML, COBRA and the Virginia Retirement System retirement plans.
• Manages the Benefits Division and staff by coaching, counseling, and mentoring employees
• Troubleshoots insurance problems; serve as liaison between employee and vendors when required to facilitate resolution of issues; responds to routine questions or complaints in person, by telephone, by mail or by email; surveys and responds to surveys related to employee benefits. Facilitates implementation of changes and improvements to benefits programs and administration system.
• Manages all aspects of retired employee's health insurance benefits.
• Manages all aspects of the City's employee retirement process for active employees in accordance with city policies and procedures and the city code, as well as in accordance with the Virginia Retirement System policies and regulations.
• Counsels with employees seeking information and clarification of retirement benefits as well as employees preparing for current or future retirement from the city.
• Manages all aspects of the State Line of Duty Program for Public Safety Employees across city departments, ensuring employee/department awareness of, and the eligibility for, employee benefits under the program.
• Creates, updates, and maintains a variety of reports and records for employee benefits using the human resources information system related to employee benefits and enrollment.
• Generates queries and a variety of spreadsheets and reports from computer database files. Retrieves reports of employee benefit enrollment data from the HRIS and uploads enrollment files to each carrier's portals. Ensures data is accurate and timely submitted.
• Serves as liaison with all benefit providers both insurance and administration, and third party administrators to maintain effective working relationships with the city and employees regarding benefits.
• Analyzes and develops benefit strategies to ensure high quality and cost-effective programs.
• Manages the administration and implementation of the annual open enrollment process/procedures. Coordinates timely communication of information to employees, the production of benefits materials, HRIS programming and updates of new information.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources or business practices or related field, and a minimum of 5 years of experience in the Human Resources field; or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities. Requires a valid driver's license. A Master's degree in Human Resources Management is preferred with certifications which may include; SPHR, PHR, SHRM-CP/SCP, IPMA-CP/SCP, CCP, CEB, CBP.

Supplemental Information

• Knowledge of the policies, procedures, and activities of the City and of Human Resources best practices as they pertain to the performance of duties relating to the unit assigned.
• Knowledge of the practices, procedures, and legal requirements associated with employment and training, administration of employee benefit programs, including employee health/life insurance plans, employee retirement benefit plans, worker's compensation insurance, COBRA procedures, Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA) procedures, Absence Management, or other areas as assigned.
• Demonstrated experience administering medical plans in a self-insured setting, including understanding of premium rates, stop loss programs, etc.
• Experience developing, managing and administering Health and Benefits programs for a large or governmental organization.
• Experience with self-insured benefit plans.
• Ability to provide oversight of performance standards in vendor contract to ensure accountability, accurate reporting of data, and strong client services
• Ability to comprehend, interpret, apply, and explain laws, regulations, policies, procedures, and related information.
• Knowledge of the practices and procedures associated with administration of contracted employee health insurance services, including enrollment/termination of covered employees, insurance billing, and interaction with employees, medical providers, and insurance representatives or third party administrators.
• Knowledge of the terminology, principles, and methods utilized within the department.
• Ability to keep abreast of any changes in policy, methods, computer operations, equipment needs, policies, etc., as they pertain to departmental operations and activities.
• Ability to effectively communicate and interact with City employees, retirees, supervisors, department directors, City officials, members of the general public, and all other groups involved in the activities of the department.
• Ability to assemble information and make written reports and documents in a concise, clear and effective manner.
• Ability to use independent judgment and work with little direct supervision as situations warrant. Has the mathematical ability to handle required calculations using percentages and decimals.
• Skill in the use of computers and related software programs.
• Ability to read, understand, and interpret technical and computer reports and related materials.

Seasonal Employees- No Benefits
Part-time Employees - Sick Leave (See below)
Full Time Employees are eligible for the following benefits;

Retirement (Virginia Retirement System employer) for employees hired on or after 1/1/14 - Hybrid Members
Hybrid plan members contribute 4 percent of creditable compensation to the defined benefit plan and 1 percent to the defined contribution plan each month. Members may voluntarily contribute up to an additional 4 percent in 0.5 percent increments to the defined contribution plan each month. Members can increase or decrease their voluntary contributions on a quarterly basis. With the mandatory and voluntary contributions to the defined contribution component of the plan, members can contribute a maximum of 5 percent with a 3.5 percent match from the employer. Members invest in various investment options that best fit their needs.
Vested after 5 years in the defined benefit part of the plan. Vested in phases based on years in the Defined Contribution part of the Plan. The retirement eligibility for a full or reduced retirement pension in the Hybrid Plan is very detailed. Please contact the Virginia Retirement System or the Human Resources Department for details.

Paid Time Off (PTO)Yearly earnings
120 Hours (1-59 months), 144 Hours months), 168 Hours months), 192 Hours (180 and over)
Sick Leave
Part Time employees earn 4 hours per month Sick leave accrues at the end of the month and may be accrued with no ceiling.

Personal Leave
All regular full time employees are granted 24 hours of personal leave each calendar year. Personal leave must be preapproved and is not cumulative.
Health Insurance
Coverage available for you and your eligible dependents using pre-tax payroll deductions if elected.
Supplemental Insurances
Employees may purchase the following supplemental insurance policies: short term and long term disability, cancer, accident, supplemental hospitalization, and group universal life insurance.
Employer Sponsored Short Term and Long Term Disability
Provides disability coverage for employees work and non-work related disabilities. Work related disabilities are covered starting on day one (1). Non work related disabilities are covered starting on day eight (8), after you have been employed for one year.
Flexible Spending Accounts
Employees may participate in the Health Reimbursement, Dependent Care Reimbursement and Premium Reimbursement Accounts. All deductions are made on a pre-tax basis and will reduce your taxable income.
Life Insurance
The city pays the entire premium for life insurance coverage in the amount of 2 times annual salary for natural death and 4 times annual salary for accidental death.
Optional Life Insurance
Employees have the option of electing additional life insurance coverage in the amount of 1, 2, 3 or 4 times their annual salary. Employees may only purchase optional life insurance on spouses and children if they are enrolled in optional life insurance for themselves.

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
12 weeks of job protected leave for leaves approved in accordance with the Family Medical Leave Act. Employees receive continuation of health insurance, job protection and consideration for a comparable job when available, or an equivalent job, upon return to work.
Funeral Leave
24 hours of paid leave of absence in case of death in immediate family.
Holidays
Suffolk follows the Virginia State holiday calendar as set by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Jury Duty
Time off with pay with difference between jury pay and regular pay or use annual leave and keep check.
457 Deferred Compensation, ROTH IRA, Traditional IRA
Offered through ICMA Retirement Corporation as a way to shelter a portion of your salary from income taxes and save for retirement.
Employee Assistance Program
Offers employees and immediate family members (3) free, confidential counseling sessions related to a broad range of issues such as marital or family conflict, job or personal stress, alcohol or drug abuse, financial or legal worries, etc.

Worker's Compensation
Should an employee have an on the job injury, he/she could be eligible for Workmen's Compensation Benefits, except in cases of willful neglect.

Pay Days
Employees will be paid on the 15th and last working day of each month.
Credit Union
A Suffolk Credit Union is available to employees.
Legal Services
Employees may prepay for access to legal assistance.
Notary Public Services
Services available in the Human Resources Department.

Alternative Work ScheduleFor some positions -Offers 4 Alternative Work Schedule options to provide employees with greater control over their personal and professional time, as well as reducing absences.

01

Do you have a valid driver's license?

• Yes
• No

02

Do you have a Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources or business practices and at least 5 years' experience in the Human Resources field?

• Yes
• No

03

Which of the following reflects your highest level of education?

• High School Diploma or GED
• Some College
• Associate's Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree
• Doctorate Degree
• None of the above

04

Which of the following best represents your previous work experience in the Human Resources field?

• Less than 1 year
• 1 - 2 years
• 3 - 4 years
• 5 - 6 years
• 7 - 8 years
• 9 - 10 years
• More than 11 years
• None

05

Which of the following best represents your years' experience in planning and implementing employee benefit programs for multiple benefits, such as medical, dental, vision, retirement savings, and disability?

• Less than 1 year
• 1 - 3 years
• 4 - 6 years
• 7 - 9 years
• More than 10 years
• No experience

06

Do you have any current Human Resources Certifications?

• Yes
• No

07

Do you have a current Certified Benefit Specialist certification?

• Yes
• No

08

Which of the following represents the majority of your experience as it pertains to Human Resources, or closely related field:

• Benefits
• Compensation
• Recruitment
• Wellness
• None of the above

09

Have you developed benefit policies, benefit plan documents, vendor agreements or Standard Operating Procedures for benefit programs?

• Yes
• No

10

Do you have experience with Self Insured Benefit Plans?

• Yes
• No

11

Which of the following best describes your supervisory experience?

• Less than 2 years
• 2 - 5 years
• 6 - 9 years
• More than 10 years
• No supervisory experience

12

Please indicate the number of employees you have previously supervised:

• Less than 2 employees
• 2 - 4 employees
• 5 - 10 employees
• employees
• More than 26 employees
• None

13

Please select the systems you are experienced using (check all that apply):

• AS400
• EPICOR
• HRIS
• Kronos
• Munis
• Neogov
• Payroll Software
• None of the above

14

Do you have any municipal government experience?

• Yes
• No

Required Question