Benefits Specialist

Town of Duxbury•Duxbury, MA

86d•Onsite

About The Position

The Benefits Specialist is responsible for the provision of administrative and clerical functions related to insurance and employee and retiree benefits. Employee is required to perform all similar or related duties. The employee is under the general direction of the Human Resources Manager and plans and carries out regular work in accordance with standard practices and previous training, with responsibility for determining the sequence and timing of action with independence in planning and organizing work activities, including determining and following established protocol. The employee is expected to solve most problems of detail or unusual situations through experienced judgment by adapting methods or interpreting instructions to resolve the particular problem. Instructions for new assignments or special projects usually consist of statements of desired objectives, deadlines, and priorities. Technical and policy problems or changes in procedures are discussed with the supervisor, but ordinarily, the employee plans the work, lays it out, and carries it through to completion independently. Work is generally reviewed only for technical adequacy, appropriateness of actions or decisions, and conformance with policy or other requirements; the methods used in arriving at the end result are not usually reviewed in detail. The employee is not required to supervise any town employees. The employee has access to department-wide confidential information including employee records. Numerous standardized practices, procedures, or general instructions govern the work and, in some cases, may require additional interpretation. Judgment is needed to locate, select, and apply the most pertinent practice, procedure, regulation, or guideline. Work consists of employing many different concepts, theories, principles, techniques, and practices relating to an administrative field. Assignments typically concern matters such as studying regulatory changes and trends in the field for application to the work; assessing services and recommending improvements; planning long-range projects; devising new techniques for application to the work; and recommending procedures, standards, or criteria. The work environment involves everyday discomforts typical of office settings with frequent interruptions. Noise or physical surroundings may be distracting, but conditions are generally not unpleasant. The employee interacts with co-workers, the public, and external contacts such as vendors doing business with the Town, representatives of insurance companies, or other professionals to explain or interpret procedures or guidelines, plan or coordinate work, or resolve problems. More than ordinary courtesy, tact, and diplomacy may be required to resolve complaints. Consequences of errors, missed deadlines, or poor judgment could result in missed deadlines or delay of service, monetary loss, severely jeopardizing department programs, or having extensive financial and/or legal repercussions and adverse public relations to the Town of Duxbury. Occupational risk exposure to the employee in carrying out essential functions is similar to that found in typical indoor or office settings.

Requirements

College Degree and three to five (3-5) years of work experience in the human resources field; or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
Valid Massachusetts driver’s license required.
Knowledge of local, state and federal employee/retiree insurance and benefit laws and regulations pertaining to municipal employees; knowledge of department operations and employee benefit services in accordance with collective bargaining agreements, federal, state, and town policies.
Knowledge of accepted personnel practices and procedures.
Knowledge of insurance industry (commercial and private).
Knowledge of federal HIPPA rules and regulations.
Thorough knowledge of municipal health insurance programs and related regulations in Massachusetts.
Ability to develop, implement and monitor the effectiveness of a wide range of employee benefit services.
Ability to work effectively with confidential information.
Ability to work tactfully with employees, retirees, dependents, officials of insurance companies doing business with the Town, and members of the public.
Ability to manage multiple tasks in an independent, organized, and timely manner.
Ability to identify problems and take initiative to respond to concerns in a timely, detailed, and accurate manner.
Excellent work ethic.
Proficient written and oral communication skills.
Proficient personal computer and software programs including word processing and spreadsheet applications.
Little or no physical demands required to perform the work.
Employee is required to lift, push or pull office equipment up to 30 lbs.
Duties require minimal motor skills for activities such as moving objects, operating a telephone, personal computer and/or most other office equipment.
Employee is required to constantly read documents for general understanding and analytical purpose.
Employee is not required to distinguish colors.

Responsibilities

Coordinates and performs administrative work related to insurance and benefits for employees, retirees, and their dependents.
Provides information and answers routine questions and concerns from employees regarding coverages and claims.
Provides one-on-one counseling for employees and retirees and their dependents regarding benefit matters.
Responsible for the payment of premiums and administrative fees to all benefit providers including health, dental, disability, town reinsurance carrier, and worker’s compensation.
Provides analytical support to benchmarking, researching, etc., with other municipalities and private industry relative to benefits.
Researches and resolves eligibility issues relating to plan participants and data received from benefit offices.
Complies with HIPPA regulations and keeps informed of changing rules, laws, and regulations affecting HIPPA procedures.
Prepares new hire and benefit packets.
Provides backup support to other office staff as required.
Participates in planning, development, coordination, and presentation of annual benefits enrollment.
Assists employees and retirees with enrollment changes and termination of benefits, ensuring the correct payroll deductions are made.
Conducts monthly reconciliation of all employee benefit payroll deductions and invoices from carriers; also conducts reconciliation of retiree benefit deductions and invoices.
Coordinates with Town & School to set up/cancel/resolve deduction issues with Retirement Boards.
Audits enrollment of plans for accuracy.
Acts as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Compliance Coordinator ensuring 1095C compliance with IRS regulations. Resolves discrepancies and reissues certificates as necessary.
Oversees benefit eligibility for employees on an approved leave of absence including receiving/monitoring premium payments, communication with employees, terminating and reinstating coverage as necessary.
Assists employees and family members with processing death claims for life insurance benefits, serving as a liaison with the provider.
Performs special projects and related responsibilities as initiated and requested.
Performs other related duties as required, directed, or as the situation dictates.