Human Resources Benefits Specialist

FPS Classified

Human Resources Specialist- Benefits

Job Description

Exempt: Yes

Department: Human Resources

Reports To Executive Director of Fiscal and Human Resources

Location: Administration Building

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF POSITION

This position is primarily responsible for managing employee benefits and retirement programs and assisting in the management of ADA claims. The role includes supporting applicants and employees with benefit- and retirement-related needs, coordinating leave programs, and ensuring ADA accommodation processes are followed. While the position may assist with compensation research and benchmarking, compensation experience is preferred but not required.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Coordinate all employee benefits, including health insurance and supplemental plans; support employee benefit communications; assist with requests for proposals; complete various benefit surveys and analyses; maintain benefit files.
2. Enter individual benefit deduction information into the payroll system; complete monthly payroll audits and reconcile core and voluntary benefits; maintain benefit tables in the payroll system.
3. Coordinate and provide education on Arkansas Teacher Retirement System benefits and 403(b)/457 options.
4. Manage documentation for Family Medical Leave and the Sick Leave Bank.
5. Assist with the district's ADA Coordination, including:
   1. Receiving and responding to employee requests for workplace accommodations.
   2. Coordinating the interactive process with employees, supervisors, and healthcare providers.
   3. Ensuring documentation and ADA compliance requirements are met.
6. Assist with annual compensation market research and benchmarking as needed; collaborate with district leadership on compensation communication. (Compensation experience is helpful but not required.)
7. Provide guidance to employees and applicants on general HR-related questions.
8. Present benefit information and updates to small and large employee groups, including orientations and informational meetings.
9. Engage in ongoing professional development through self-assessment, training, and goal setting.
10. Perform other related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty mentioned satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Broad knowledge in fields such as accounting, insurance, business administration, finance, or a related area. Equivalent to a four-year college degree plus four years of related experience and/or training, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Experience with compensation analysis is a plus but not required. Experience with ADA processes is helpful but can be learned on the job.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and policy/procedure manuals;  Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of known variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram formats.

REQUIRED CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

Not indicated.

PREFERRED CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

Associates Degree or higher preferred.

SOFTWARE SKILLS REQUIRED

Intermediate: Spreadsheet development and Analysis

Basic: 10-Key, Accounting, Alphanumeric Data Entry, Contact Management, Database, Human Resources Systems, Payroll Systems, Presentation/PowerPoint, Word Processing/Typing

INITIATIVE AND INGENUITY

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Under general supervision where standard practice enables the employee to proceed alone on routine work, referring all questionable cases to supervisor.

PLANNING

Considerable responsibility with regard to general assignments in planning time, method, manner, and/or sequence of performance of own work; may also occasionally assist in the planning of work assignments performed by others within a limited area of operation.

DECISION MAKING

Performs work operations which permit frequent opportunity for decision-making of minor importance and also frequent opportunity for decision-making of major importance; the latter of which would affect the work operations of other employees and/or clientele to a moderate degree.

MENTAL DEMAND

Close mental demand. Operations requiring close and continuous attention for control of operations. Operations requiring intermittent direct thinking to determine or select the most applicable way of handling situations regarding the organization's administration and operations; also to determine or select material and equipment where highly variable sequences are involved.

ANALYTICAL ABILITY / PROBLEM SOLVING

Directed. Supervisory and/or professional skills using structured practices or policies and directed as to execution and review. Interpolation of learned things in moderately varied situations where reasoning and decision-making are essential.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR WORK OF OTHERS

Responsibility for work of others: Not indicated.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR FUNDS, PROPERTY and EQUIPMENT

Regularly responsible for property where carelessness or error would result in only minor damage or minor monetary loss. Almost continuous care and attention is required when handling this property in order to prevent loss.

ACCURACY

Probable errors would not likely be detected until they reached another department, office or patron, and would then require considerable time and effort to correct the situation. Frequently, possibility of error that would affect the organization's prestige and relationship with the public to a limited extent, but where succeeding operations or supervision would normally preclude the possibility of a serious situation arising as a result of the error or decision.

ACCOUNTABILITY

FREEDOM TO ACT

Directed. Freedom to complete duties as defined by wide-ranging policies and precedents with mid to upper-level managerial oversight.

ANNUAL MONETARY IMPACT

The amount of annual dollars generated based on the job's essential duties / responsibilities. Examples would include direct dollar generation, departmental budget, proper handling of organization funds, expense control, and savings from new techniques or reduction in manpower.

None. Job does not create any dollar monetary impact for the organization.

IMPACT ON END RESULTS

Modest impact. Job has some impact on the organizations end results, but still from an indirect level. Provides assistance and support services that facilitates decision making by others.

PUBLIC CONTACT

Regular contacts with patrons where the contacts are initiated by the employee. Involves both furnishing and obtaining information and, also, attempting to influence the decisions of those persons contacted. Contacts of considerable importance and of such nature, that failure to exercise proper judgment may result in important tangible or intangible losses to the organization.

EMPLOYEE CONTACT

Contacts with other departments or offices and also frequently with individuals in middle level positions; consulting on problems which necessitate judgment and tact in presentation to obtain cooperation or approval of action to be taken. Also, important contacts with associates as required in advanced supervisory jobs.

USE OF MACHINES, EQUIPMENT AND/OR COMPUTERS

Regular use of complex machines and equipment (desktop/laptop computer and software, road and production machines and equipment, driver's license/cdl, etc.)

WORKING CONDITIONS

Normal working conditions as found within an office setting, wherein there is controlled temperature and a low noise level, plus a minimum of distractions.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

The following work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES

The following physical activities described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions and expectations.

Moderate diversity, low physical. Work activities which allow for a moderate amount of diversity in the performance of tasks which are not as varied as those positions with high-level diversity and decision-making.

While performing the functions of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; frequently required to talk or hear; and occasionally required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

PAY LANE:  37

CONTRACT DAYS:  235 days 

HOURS PER DAY:  8 hours

Special Knowledge/Skills:

Knowledge of school district organization and operations preferred

Proficient skills in typing, word processing, file maintenance and computers (including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Access)

Excellent organizational, communication and interpersonal skills

Knowledge of APSCN preferred