Benefits Outreach Specialist

the South Dakota State Government•Pierre, SD

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

This is a Full-Time 40 Hours Weekly position with the Bureau of Human Resources and Administration - Total Rewards Department. As a Benefits Outreach Specialist, you'll serve as a trusted resource for State employees by providing guidance, education, and support on the State of South Dakota's comprehensive benefits programs. Your work will help employees make informed decisions while delivering a world-class customer experience. In this role, you'll assist employees with health, flexible, and account-based savings benefits through virtual, phone, electronic, and in-person interactions. Strong communication skills are essential as you explain complex benefits, answer questions, and build positive relationships with employees across the state. This position requires statewide travel approximately 1-2 times per month, with increased travel during the annual Open Enrollment period in May. Overall travel is expected to average approximately 25%.

Requirements

Knowledge of: health, life insurance, flexible benefits, and account-based plans.
Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
Maintain a customer-focused mindset.
Effectively work with computer programs including Outlook, Teams, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
Stay up to date on the benefit offerings provided by the state.
Interact with internal and external customers with tact, professionalism, empathy, and confidentiality.
Interpret, explain, and apply rules and procedures.
Learn and operate in HRIS systems.
Work in a high volume, fast-paced environment.
Resume attached.
Must apply online.

Nice To Haves

Possess a National Career Readiness Certificate.

Responsibilities

Educating employees on benefit programs and features.
Partnering agencies to provide outreach and value-added benefits education.
Supporting annual benefits fairs and Open Enrollment through virtual and onsite events.
Developing presentations and educational materials.
Reviewing and updating the BHRA Benefits website.
Recommending communication strategies that improve employee understanding of available benefits.
Assisting newly hired employees as they navigate their benefit options.
Processing new hire enrollments and qualifying life events in the HRIS system.
Calculating and processing benefit premium adjustments and refunds.
Collecting premiums for employees on leave without pay.
Providing backup support to the Benefits Analyst during payroll processing.