Personnel Assistant I/II - Benefits

Anne Arundel County•Anne Arundel County, MD

3d•Onsite

About The Position

This position announcement will be used to fill full-time, permanent Personnel Assistant I/II - Benefits vacancies within the Health Benefits Unit of the Office of Personnel with Anne Arundel County Government. This is full-time paraprofessional work in the Health Benefits Unit of the Office of Personnel. Employees in this class are responsible for initiating, processing, reviewing, and resolving personnel matters directly affecting employee and retiree benefits. An employee in this class applies and interprets county law, rules, regulations, and bargaining unit agreements, and maintains strict confidentiality. A Personnel Assistant II is differentiated from Personnel Assistant I in the complexity of work and the considerable responsibility associated with the application and interpretation of various types of documents/references, policies and procedures, bargaining unit agreements, and federal, state, and county laws and regulations. The work of the Personnel Assistant II has significant responsibility for benefits eligibility interpretation and has a higher level of personal contact with various County department staff, individuals from other private and public organizations, as well as employees and retirees to resolve or provide more complex information or present solutions to administrative concerns.

Requirements

Graduation from high school
Two (2) or more years of experience in administrative support work, including data entry, data verification, and customer service (for Personnel Assistant I)
Graduation from high school supplemented by educational or training courses in office practice (for Personnel Assistant II)
Four (4) or more years of experience in administrative support work including data entry, data verification, and customer service (for Personnel Assistant II)
Knowledge of County Human Resource Information System (HRIS) Personnel/Payroll System.
Knowledge of business English, spelling, and punctuation.
Knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local laws governing the area of assigned work.
Knowledge of wage and non-wage benefits and related provisions of the County bargaining unit agreements.
Knowledge of modern office practices, and equipment.
Knowledge of personnel departmental rules, regulations, procedures, and functions.
Skill in the application of computer software programs to include special applications for benefits and health premiums, tracking spreadsheets, databases, Excel, Word, and e-mail.
Skill in operating a personal computer, typewriter, and calculator.
Skill in making arithmetic computations and tabulations with speed and accuracy.
Ability to understand and follow moderately complex oral and written instructions.
Ability to make decisions in accordance with departmental regulations, Anne Arundel County Charter and County Code, County personnel policies, procedures and precedents, federal and state laws, and to apply these to work problems.
Ability to establish and maintain effective work relationships with a variety of employees, departmental representatives, and the public.
Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing.

Nice To Haves

Experience in human resources, preferably benefits or a highly related field.
Knowledge of the County Human Resource Information System (HRIS) and Personnel/Payroll System.
Skill in the application of Microsoft Office Suite, including intermediate level and above in Microsoft Word and Excel.
Experience maintaining confidentiality of employee and retiree information and records.
Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws governing the area of benefits.
Experience working in a government environment.

Responsibilities

Initiating, processing, reviewing, and resolving personnel matters directly affecting employee and retiree benefits.
Applying and interpreting county law, rules, regulations, and bargaining unit agreements.
Maintaining strict confidentiality.
Receiving, reviewing, and entering personnel actions and information updates into an automated Human Resource Information System (HRIS).
Explaining and calculating benefit information.
Communicating information to employees, retirees, beneficiaries, and departmental representatives.
Answering questions from employees and retirees relating to employee/retiree benefits, options, and policies.
Enrolling new employees in various benefit plans and processing benefit forms to effect changes within the required timeframe.
Data entering enrollment information and benefit deductions on the vendor database and HRIS system.
Tracking payment information for privatized agencies on a monthly basis.
Researching benefit enrollment issues and resolving problems directly with the vendor.
Reviewing and tracking insurance enrollment for new retirees, retiree changes, and new Medicare participants and entering data into the HRIS system to reflect retiree benefit elections.
Providing Benefits presentation at New Hire Orientation and for Pre-Retirement benefit planning seminars on a rotating basis.
Preparing life insurance claim forms and correspondence to beneficiaries.
Maintaining confidentiality of employee/retiree records and files all benefits-related documentation.
Processing payroll adjustments and Child Support Orders (QMSCO) and tracking employees on Active Military leave.
Assisting with the coordination of annual open enrollment period and other special projects and audits as assigned.
Explaining employee benefits related to health, dental, and optical insurance; enrolling new employees and processing forms to effect changes; and independently and accurately resolving problems directly with the vendor.
Processing payroll data, resolving errors and ensuring accuracy of payroll within the required timeframe.
Answering questions from employees and retirees relating to pension programs; keeping records regarding the pension system; monitoring employee and retiree status and eligibility for pension benefits; meeting with employees and retirees to accurately explain benefits.
Providing accurate information regarding departmental rules, regulations, and activities, enrolling new employees/retirees, and assisting with HRIS problems.
Composing/drafting letters, tables, spreadsheets, reports, and other materials from copy or rough draft.
Maintaining confidentiality of employee records and ensuring that files are in an orderly and complete form.