Benefits Specialist II/III - Human Resources

County of Tulare•Visalia, CA

10d

About The Position

The Tulare County Human Resources & Development Department (HRD) is seeking a knowledgeable and customer-focused Benefits Specialist to join our Benefits Unit. This role plays a key part in administering employee benefit programs, supporting employees through life-event changes, and ensuring accurate and timely benefit processing. This position requires someone who is collaborative, detail-oriented and passionate about working in an employee support position. The selected candidate should have an understanding of insurance processes and be able to navigate multiple systems with accuracy and professionalism. The key responsibilities of this position will be to administer employee benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and voluntary benefits. The selected candidate will provide guidance to employees regarding eligibility, enrollment, qualifying life events, and coverage options by delivering high-quality customer service to employees at all levels of the organization. This position may be filled at either Level II or Level III depending on meeting the requirements of the position. Salary information for each level is listed below: Level II: $4,284 - $5,221 Monthly & $51,403 - $62,646 Annually Level III $4, 798 -$5,847 Monthly & $57,570 - $70,163 Annually

Requirements

Equivalent to completion of two (2) years of college with major coursework in public or business administration or a closely related field.
Level II: Three (3) years of increasingly responsible experience with automated payroll, HRIS or benefits record keeping systems that involved system planning, implementation, maintenance and significant data extraction, manipulation and reporting.
Level III: Four (4) years of increasingly responsible experience with human resources, payroll or benefits information systems which involve planning, implementation, auditing, maintenance and significant data extraction, manipulation and reporting.
At least two (2) years of the experience must be as a Human Resources Specialist II (for Level III).
Demonstrated health insurance experience.
Experience in employee benefits administration, insurance processing, or related HR functions.
Working knowledge of benefits eligibility rules, enrollments, and life-event processing (consistent with County HCM benefits workflows).
Proficiency with HRIS/HCM systems and comfort working with employee demographic and employment data.
Strong attention to detail and accuracy in data entry and documentation.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a public-sector HR environment.
Familiarity with IRS Section 125, union contracts, and County benefit structures.
Experience collaborating with HR teams on recruitment forms, timelines, and supplemental documentation such as SAFs (as reflected in internal recruitment practices).
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

Administer employee benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and voluntary benefits.
Provide guidance to employees regarding eligibility, enrollment, qualifying life events, and coverage options.
Deliver high-quality customer service to employees at all levels of the organization.
Perform complex assignments requiring a comprehensive knowledge of an HRIS system and/or benefits field.
Take initiative, demonstrate resourcefulness, make independent decisions, and exercise good judgment.
Plan and provide formal training during open enrollment periods, new employee orientation, and systems training for decentralized operations.
Perform advanced human resource duties, working independently and exercising good judgment in complex tasks.
Demonstrate health insurance experience.
Administer employee benefits, process insurance, or perform related HR functions.
Work with benefits eligibility rules, enrollments, and life-event processing.
Work with employee demographic and employment data.
Maintain strong attention to detail and accuracy in data entry and documentation.