Employee Benefits Specialist

Association of Washington Cities•Olympia, WA

12d•$61,901 - $92,852•Remote

About The Position

The Association of Washington Cities (AWC) is seeking a detail-oriented, customer-focused Employee Benefits Specialist to support the administration of the contracted Employee Benefit Trust. In this role, you’ll handle member and service provider inquires by phone and email, maintain and entering data, reconciling discrepancies, and coordinating closely with carrier representatives, employers, and the billing administrator. Consistently delivering excellent customer service is a key aspect of this role. Founded in 1933, AWC is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, which provides a wide array of services to Washington’s cities and towns. AWC builds connections between our state’s diverse cities and towns, while providing our members with the support needed to thrive through delivery of data-driven education, nationally recognized pooling programs, and nonpartisan advocacy. AWC is a vibrant, fast-paced organization supported by 70 employees who are passionate about serving our members. We have a diverse team with subject matter expertise in various areas. The AWC Employee Benefit Trust (AWC Trust) is a member service of the Association of Washington Cities and is Washington’s premier local government benefit pool for cities, towns, and other local governments. The AWC Trust provides a broad selection of benefit insurance options and health management programs for members. AWC welcomes applicants from all backgrounds. We value the unique views, backgrounds, experiences, expertise, and potential of all our employees. We are committed to following our core values of collaboration, equity, innovation, integrity, and respect.

Requirements

Minimum of 4 years' experience in the health care field, including customer service, benefits administration, and work with a multi-employer association or non-profit organization.
Associate degree in a related field. Experience may be substituted year-for-year for academic achievement.
HIPAA privacy training preferred

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of benefits structures, including deductibles, coinsurance, copays, and formularies.
Understanding of health-related federal and state regulations and HIPAA requirements.
Excellent communication skills—written and verbal—with strong proofreading and grammar abilities.
Strong listening skills and customer service orientation.
Accurate typing and data entry skills.
Ability to make decisions, act independently, and manage confidential and time sensitive information.
Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize multiple tasks.
Knowledge of human resources and labor relations.
Proficiency with Microsoft 365 and ability to learn new software systems.
Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

Responsibilities

Respond to member inquiries regarding eligibility, claims, appeals, and benefit-related issues.
Provide education and guidance to COBRA and retiree participants on benefits and options available.
Review and audit active and retiree enrollment forms for completeness and compliance with underwriting rules.
Perform data entry and maintenance of the online enrollment, reporting, and billing system.
Assist with vendor management of the online billing and eligibility system.
Build and maintain strong relationships with carrier partners and vendors to resolve eligibility discrepancies.
Assist in writing, reviewing, and proofreading program communications.
Staff various events of the organization as needed.

Benefits

Salary
The full salary range for this position is $61,901- $92,852 annually.
Health insurance
AWC pays 100% of the medical premium for employees and 90% of the medical premium for spouse/domestic partner and child(ren) up to age 26. Dental and vision insurance are fully paid by AWC for employees and eligible dependents.
Retirement benefits
For every $1 an employee contributes toward their 401(k), AWC matches the contribution with $1.20, up to 10% of the employee’s base salary (IRS limits apply). Employer match can also be applied towards eligible student loan payments.
Paid leave
Employees accrue four hours of paid vacation leave in the first year of employment for every semi-monthly pay period, with vacation accrual increasing over time; four hours of paid sick leave for every semi-monthly pay period; 11 paid holidays and two floating holidays each year.
Additional benefits
Basic life insurance and disability insurance; employer-funded Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) ranging from $770 to $1,980 based upon enrollment in the medical insurance plans; access to outstanding performance awards and tuition assistance; and staff appreciation events.