Deputy Personnel Administrator

State of careers Rhode Island

2d•$133,541 - $152,065•Onsite

About The Position

In the Office of Personnel Administration (OPA), to be responsible for assisting the Personnel Administrator in executing an assigned range of functions, programs and statutory obligations of OPA; to be directly responsible for Classification/Compensation, Merit Selection. Employee certification and records maintenance, Equal Opportunity, Diversity, Employee Benefits, Workers’ Compensation, and/or Training and Development. As authorized, to have administrative and technical responsibility for the programs and services within OPA, and to ensure conformance with provisions of law, rules and regulations relating to the operation of the merit system of personnel administration for state service. As assigned, to execute the position classification and pay plans for the classified service and rules for their implementation; and to prepare a pay plan for the unclassified service. As assigned to execute an examination/selection program designed to determine fairly the qualifications of persons examined to perform duties of classes of positions in the classified service, and to prepare, promulgate and maintain employment and/or promotional lists for the appointment, or promotion, of persons to positions in the classified service; to coordinate the preparation, establishment and maintenance of reemployment lists of employees who have resigned, been dismissed, or laid off. As assigned, to execute a statewide program of in-service training and development, including needs assessment, development of training opportunities, and the evaluation of eligibility for incentive credit. As assigned, to execute a statewide program for the administration and maintenance of all employee benefits programs as provided for in state law. As assigned, to execute a statewide program of Equal Opportunity (EO)/Affirmative Action (AA), ensuring compliance of all state agencies. As assigned, to execute a statewide program of diversity and outreach, with the goal of fostering a competitive and diverse workforce of highly skilled and capable employees. As assigned, to execute a statewide program of workers’ compensation insurance for State Employees, including claims management, risk management and fraud prevention. As assigned, to execute a centralized and statewide program for the effective and timely processing of personnel transactions and employee certifications. To coordinate OPA interaction with Information Technology (IT) professionals and consultants in order to introduce evolving technology and information systems into the traditional personnel processes; to research and recommend acquisition of computer hardware and software to maximize the utilization of emerging electronic and web-based processing and recordkeeping capabilities. To integrate OPA programs and functions into a labor relations environment, ensuring that the contractual rights and obligations of labor and management are reflected in the delivery of services. To consult with various department directors and other administrative officers regarding merit system procedures, personnel selection and evaluation, organizational development and related areas; to develop and implement “partnered” decisions and strategies on those issues and topics. To direct appropriate research and review projects relating to the selection/classification processes. To research, recommend and develop legislative and policy initiatives to facilitate effective HR services. To conduct review and analysis of business practices to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of HR services. To assist the Personnel Administrator in human resource planning. To provide legislative testimony, and to draft internal legislative proposals and analyze externally proposed legislation affecting all aspects of Merit System Law and the effects thereon. To represent the Personnel Administrator in his/her absence. To coordinate and prioritize computer support services. As required, to provide guidance, consultation and staff assistance on personnel issues pertaining to the unclassified and non-classified branches of state service. To do related work as required. The Deputy Personnel Administrator for the Office of Employee Benefits serves as the strategic and operational leader for Rhode Island’s statewide employee benefits programs within the Department of Administration. This executive-level position is responsible for the administration, oversight, compliance, and continuous improvement of comprehensive employee benefits programs serving a large and diverse public-sector workforce in a complex, unionized environment. The Deputy Personnel Administrator oversees the full portfolio of employee benefit offerings, including administration of the State’s self-funded healthcare programs and insured benefit offerings, such as medical, dental, vision, life insurance, flexible spending accounts, wellness initiatives, leave-related benefits, and deferred compensation programs. The incumbent is responsible for benefits strategy, plan design, policy development, annual open enrollment, vendor and consultant management, employee communications, and regulatory compliance under applicable federal and state laws and regulations. This position serves as the State’s functional leader for benefits administration within the Workday Human Capital Management (HCM) platform, Workday, and is responsible for ensuring effective system configuration, process optimization, data integrity, reporting, operational continuity, and oversight of benefits-related business processes and integrations. The Deputy Personnel Administrator provides leadership and direction to professional Benefits Unit staff and works collaboratively with executive leadership, agency human resources teams, labor relations, union representatives, finance, procurement, legal counsel, actuaries, brokers/consultants, and external vendors to ensure compliant, equitable, fiscally responsible, and customer-focused delivery of benefits services statewide. The position carries significant fiscal and operational responsibility, including benefits budget oversight, healthcare cost forecasting, claims and utilization trend analysis, reserve and vendor performance review, and strategic evaluation of program effectiveness and long-term sustainability. The incumbent advises senior leadership regarding emerging healthcare trends, compliance risks, workforce wellbeing initiatives, legislative and regulatory developments, and benefits strategy recommendations impacting the State workforce. The successful candidate must possess substantial experience leading complex employee benefits programs and demonstrate the ability to navigate highly regulated environments, manage competing priorities, lead organizational change, and provide strategic guidance within a large public-sector organization.

Requirements

A thorough knowledge of the principles, practices and techniques of modern public personnel administration.
A thorough knowledge of state government, and of the organizational structure and functions of its departments and agencies.
A thorough knowledge of the principles, practices and techniques of personnel psychology, including position classification, employee selection and evaluation, organizational behavior, test development and construction.
A thorough knowledge of any directly assigned program area, e.g.: Equal Opportunity; Diversity/Outreach; Employee Benefits; Workers’ Compensation; Employee Certification/Records Maintenance; Training and Development; or other major Human Resource functions.
A thorough knowledge of the Merit System laws and principles.
A thorough knowledge of the Uniform Guidelines of Employee Selection.
A working knowledge of the principles, practices and techniques of research and experimental design.
The ability to analyze complex statistical reports.
The ability to communicate effectively.
The ability to deal effectively with administrative, professional and paraprofessional staff.
The ability to organize and direct the work of professional and technical staff.
Possession of a Bachelor’s Degree with specialization in Human Resources Management, Public Administration, Political Science, Business Administration, Psychology, or a closely related field.
Employment in a highly responsible administrative position in the field of public administration, including the responsibility for the development and implementation of a comprehensive and complex strategic plan encompassing the integration of centralized and departmental Human Resources Programs in a state government environment; or employment in a highly responsible capacity in directing a broad technical area of public personnel administration in a central merit system agency.
Any combination of education and experience that shall be substantially equivalent to the above education and experience.
Substantial experience leading complex employee benefits programs.
Ability to navigate highly regulated environments.
Ability to manage competing priorities.
Ability to lead organizational change.
Ability to provide strategic guidance within a large public-sector organization.

Responsibilities

Assisting the Personnel Administrator in executing an assigned range of functions, programs and statutory obligations of OPA.
Being directly responsible for Classification/Compensation, Merit Selection.
Employee certification and records maintenance.
Equal Opportunity, Diversity, Employee Benefits, Workers’ Compensation, and/or Training and Development.
Having administrative and technical responsibility for the programs and services within OPA.
Ensuring conformance with provisions of law, rules and regulations relating to the operation of the merit system of personnel administration for state service.
Executing the position classification and pay plans for the classified service and rules for their implementation.
Preparing a pay plan for the unclassified service.
Executing an examination/selection program designed to determine fairly the qualifications of persons examined to perform duties of classes of positions in the classified service.
Preparing, promulgating and maintaining employment and/or promotional lists for the appointment, or promotion, of persons to positions in the classified service.
Coordinating the preparation, establishment and maintenance of reemployment lists of employees who have resigned, been dismissed, or laid off.
Executing a statewide program of in-service training and development, including needs assessment, development of training opportunities, and the evaluation of eligibility for incentive credit.
Executing a statewide program for the administration and maintenance of all employee benefits programs as provided for in state law.
Executing a statewide program of Equal Opportunity (EO)/Affirmative Action (AA), ensuring compliance of all state agencies.
Executing a statewide program of diversity and outreach, with the goal of fostering a competitive and diverse workforce of highly skilled and capable employees.
Executing a statewide program of workers’ compensation insurance for State Employees, including claims management, risk management and fraud prevention.
Executing a centralized and statewide program for the effective and timely processing of personnel transactions and employee certifications.
Coordinating OPA interaction with Information Technology (IT) professionals and consultants in order to introduce evolving technology and information systems into the traditional personnel processes.
Researching and recommending acquisition of computer hardware and software to maximize the utilization of emerging electronic and web-based processing and recordkeeping capabilities.
Integrating OPA programs and functions into a labor relations environment, ensuring that the contractual rights and obligations of labor and management are reflected in the delivery of services.
Consulting with various department directors and other administrative officers regarding merit system procedures, personnel selection and evaluation, organizational development and related areas.
Developing and implementing “partnered” decisions and strategies on those issues and topics.
Directing appropriate research and review projects relating to the selection/classification processes.
Researching, recommending and developing legislative and policy initiatives to facilitate effective HR services.
Conducting review and analysis of business practices to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of HR services.
Assisting the Personnel Administrator in human resource planning.
Providing legislative testimony, and drafting internal legislative proposals and analyzing externally proposed legislation affecting all aspects of Merit System Law and the effects thereon.
Representing the Personnel Administrator in his/her absence.
Coordinating and prioritizing computer support services.
Providing guidance, consultation and staff assistance on personnel issues pertaining to the unclassified and non-classified branches of state service.
Serving as the strategic and operational leader for Rhode Island’s statewide employee benefits programs within the Department of Administration.
Administering, overseeing, complying with, and continuously improving comprehensive employee benefits programs serving a large and diverse public-sector workforce in a complex, unionized environment.
Overseeing the full portfolio of employee benefit offerings, including administration of the State’s self-funded healthcare programs and insured benefit offerings, such as medical, dental, vision, life insurance, flexible spending accounts, wellness initiatives, leave-related benefits, and deferred compensation programs.
Managing benefits strategy, plan design, policy development, annual open enrollment, vendor and consultant management, employee communications, and regulatory compliance under applicable federal and state laws and regulations.
Serving as the State’s functional leader for benefits administration within the Workday Human Capital Management (HCM) platform, Workday.
Ensuring effective system configuration, process optimization, data integrity, reporting, operational continuity, and oversight of benefits-related business processes and integrations.
Providing leadership and direction to professional Benefits Unit staff.
Working collaboratively with executive leadership, agency human resources teams, labor relations, union representatives, finance, procurement, legal counsel, actuaries, brokers/consultants, and external vendors to ensure compliant, equitable, fiscally responsible, and customer-focused delivery of benefits services statewide.
Managing benefits budget oversight, healthcare cost forecasting, claims and utilization trend analysis, reserve and vendor performance review, and strategic evaluation of program effectiveness and long-term sustainability.
Advising senior leadership regarding emerging healthcare trends, compliance risks, workforce wellbeing initiatives, legislative and regulatory developments, and benefits strategy recommendations impacting the State workforce.