Benefits Manager

City of Boynton Beach•Boynton Beach, FL

About The Position

The Benefits Manager performs skilled, analytical, and highly responsible work planning, organizing, and implementing the City’s Human Resources programs. The position is responsible for analyzing, budgeting, designing, structuring, communicating, and administering employee benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, defined contribution retirement savings, and voluntary plans, as well as managing a benefits enrollment system. The role also leads health and wellness strategy, recommends changes to benefit design and future offerings, administers contracts for multiple programs, and facilitates vendor relations. The Benefits Manager serves as acting Director or Assistant Director of Human Resources when required. The position manages benefits and wellness operations and the Benefits Fund budget, financial reporting, and plan administration; ensures compliance with applicable laws, ordinances, regulations, collective bargaining agreements, and City policies; and supervises assigned staff. It coordinates annual benefits and wellness fairs and open enrollment, analyzes plan costs and utilization, supports strategic planning and benefit changes, administers related HR information systems, prepares vendor solicitations and agreements, and advises employees, retirees, managers, and the public on benefits and HR resources. The role also supports broader Human Resources functions and projects as needed. Work is regularly performed in usual office conditions, with rare exposure to adverse environmental conditions. The position requires light physical effort, potentially including lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling objects weighing up to 15 pounds, and may involve extended periods at a keyboard or workstation. Some tasks require perceiving sounds and visual cues and communicating orally.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in human resources, personnel management, business administration, public administration, or a closely related field.
Four years of progressively responsible human resources experience in benefits administration or group insurance/benefits plan management.
Possess PSHRA-HR professional certification or obtain it within one year of hire.
Possess and maintain a valid Florida driver’s license, or obtain it within 14 days of hire.
Thorough knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local HR laws, ordinances, and regulations, including FMLA, ADA, COBRA, and the Affordable Care Act.
Knowledge of budgeting and financial forecasting related to benefits costs and of benefit programs such as health, dental, vision, retirement, leave, wellness, and employee assistance programs.
Ability to exercise sound judgment and maintain strict confidentiality when handling sensitive medical, disability, and personnel information.
Ability to manage multiple assignments in a fast-paced environment, analyze data to optimize benefits programs, and lead a benefits administration team and vendor relationships.
Ability to provide high-quality customer service and accurately interpret personnel policies, procedures, and regulations.
Effective digital, oral, and written communication skills; ability to prepare accurate and thorough records and reports.
Proficiency with HRIS, benefits administration, and case management software used for leave, accommodations, and benefits enrollment.
Ability to prepare for and facilitate programs and events, adapt to changing demands, resolve conflicts, and work effectively across all levels of an organization.
Ability to exercise independent judgment and discretion in interpreting policy, applying regulatory requirements, and completing complex assignments with minimal supervisory direction.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with supervisors, employees, customers, other departments, governmental and regulatory agencies, vendors, contractors, and the public.
Ability to exert light physical effort, including occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling of objects weighing up to 15 pounds, and to work for extended periods at a keyboard or workstation.
Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate sounds and visual cues or signals and to communicate orally.

Nice To Haves

Work experience in local, county, or state government.
Previous management or supervisory experience.
Experience managing self-funded health plans, budget forecasting, and financial management related to health benefits.
Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) certification.

Responsibilities

Manage benefits and wellness functions, including benefit program analysis, budgeting, design, communication, administration, and enrollment-system management.
Manage the Benefits Fund budget, financial reporting, and plan administration, and monitor compliance with applicable laws and local ordinances.
Supervise, direct, engage, and evaluate assigned staff; assign and prioritize work, monitor progress, provide technical expertise and feedback, and address employee concerns and performance issues.
Coordinate and implement annual Benefits and Wellness Fairs.
Coordinate annual Open Enrollment, including schedules and notifications, forms and documents, audits of enrollment selections and payroll deductions, payroll imports, and salary updates in the benefits system.
Analyze claims costs, expenditures, utilization, plan usage, services, and costs; recommend plan changes to management.
Participate in strategic planning for future benefit changes, develop options and solutions, manage implementation, and ensure regulatory compliance.
Assist in designing, developing, and administering the City’s Wellness Program; manage the relationship with the Employee Health and Wellness Center and contribute to selection and implementation of services.
Ensure compliance with state and federal regulations, the Affordable Care Act, collective bargaining agreements, and City policies and procedures.
Prepare RFPs, RFQs, and bids for group health coverage and broker or consultant services, and serve on vendor proposal review and selection committees.
Assist with annual Benefits Fund budget preparation and prepare or review vendor agreements related to City insurance programs.
Address employee and retiree enrollment or benefit-delivery problems and concerns about team staff performance.
Administer benefits-related HR information systems, enrollment and maintenance software, internet/intranet content, and reporting software; make system entries and create or run reports.
Guide employees, managers, and the public on HR policies, procedures, and resources; assist with document distribution and public records requests as needed.
Design, develop, and distribute communications that improve employee understanding of benefits packages.
Complete HR special projects, including benefits and compensation surveys or studies, cost analyses supporting collective bargaining, and requests for proposals.
Attend and present at public meetings, hearings, conferences, committee and board meetings, and interdepartmental meetings related to HR matters.
Compile and monitor HR administrative and statistical data, conduct research and calculations, analyze trends, prepare reports, and maintain records.
Cross-train with other personnel to provide primary or backup administration of other HR functions.
Assist in the absence of the Director and Assistant Director of Human Resources and perform other related duties as required.