HR Benefits Specialist

Ramsey County•(Ramsey County Government Center) Saint Paul, MN

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

We're hiring a Benefits Specialist to help support the employees who serve our community every day. In this role, you'll guide employees through benefit and leave-related decisions, help navigate complex insurance and coverage issues, and ensure access to important programs during key life events. This is an opportunity to combine customer service, problem-solving, and public service while making a meaningful impact on the employee experience. If you're passionate about helping others, enjoy working through complex situations, and want to support a mission-driven workforce, we'd love to hear from you! The current vacancy is in the Human Resources Department. The eligibility list created by this vacancy may be used to hire other vacancies in the department or county.

Requirements

High school graduation or equivalent.
Five years of experience performing administrative, employee benefits, records management, accounting or payroll, human resources or related fields, including one year of experience performing duties as described in the job description for the area assigned.
Equivalent combination of education and related experience.
None.

Responsibilities

To evaluate and maintain records, manuals, events or reports, and audit personnel and insurance-related transactions and documents in order to ensure accurate benefits, personnel, and/or payroll records for Ramsey County employees and retirees; respond to internal and external requests for benefit, or personnel information; to advise and instruct departmental staff of the proper methods for completing and processing transactions and other related documents; to perform other functions and related duties as assigned.
Advise and inform Personnel Transactions Benefits Assistants (PBTAs) about insurance coverage options, pretax benefit plans, requirements for enrollment, changes to existing coverage, and changes to union bargaining agreements and county work rules affecting insurance program status.
Interpret and explain provisions of the county’s insurance benefit programs for employees and retirees, including assisting employees in completing necessary forms to enroll or make changes in benefit programs, answering questions about changes in contracts and coverage, and determining if requests meet legal requirements.
Ensure enrollment of all eligible employees/retirees in group insurance benefits by reviewing applications, entering in computer system, and enrolling employees with insurance carriers.
Act as liaison between employees, retirees, or department PBTA’s and insurance carriers to insure proper claim service and correct payment; resolve complex discrepancies; and provide information about filing appeals if necessary.
Audit various billings for accuracy, research and reconcile errors, and collect premiums where no payroll deduction has occurred.
Administer death and disability claims by gathering all required documentation, and processing waiver of premiums for disabled employees for life insurance coverage.
Notify employees going on paid or unpaid leave and returning from unpaid leave of their benefits options, invoicing when no premiums are being deducted, and collecting premiums owed.
Inform employees and dependents becoming ineligible for coverage of their rights to continue under state and federal law (COBRA) and may assist them in this process.
Ensure that work status changes affecting employee insurance coverage are correctly entered in the HR system.
Terminate coverage for employees, retirees, and/or dependents as requested or required, notify carriers, and maintain documentation of changes.