Employee Benefits Specialist

Job Summary

The City of Santa Monica's Human Resources Department has an exciting opportunity to work with our Benefits team and work with other HR functions within the department. We are actively seeking talented Employee Benefits Specialist candidates to pursue an opportunity to join our team.

We offer a total compensation package that includes a generous salary, cashable leave days, medical, vision and dental insurance. Additionally, the City offers much more than just a salary; we offer career development opportunities along with the opportunity to join one California's most successful and progressive full-service cities.

This position performs a variety of complex technical duties in the support and administration of employee benefits programs.
To be considered for this opportunity, please complete an online City Application.

Representative Duties

Performs the most difficult and complex technical employee benefits work, including processing and calculating employee benefits transactions, interpreting plan documents, and resolving benefit coverage and related issues with significant independence and discretion.

Advises employees and beneficiaries on options pertinent to the full range of benefit plans and programs offered by the City.

Assists in administering a variety of complex plans. Answers questions from participants and resolves problems when necessary. Provides reports to payroll and monitors participants’ deductions.

Monitors and tracks employee use of medical or personal leave in accordance with laws such as the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the California Family Rights Act (CFRA). Coordinates leave with Long-Term Disability (LTD) and Short-Term Disability Insurance (SDI), when applicable.

Creates, inputs, tracks, and maintains a variety of benefits-related records, files, and data utilizing integrated record-keeping systems, computerized databases, and manual records; generates queries, documents, lists, and reports; collects and synthesizes benefits-related data for inclusion into reports, and prepares a variety of administrative reports that require the analysis and interpretation of data.

Works with vendors, insurance companies, and medical facilities to ensure accurate enrollment of employees, retirees, and dependents and to resolve claims and other benefits issues.

Assists in the coordination of annual open enrollment health fairs, wellness initiatives, and other benefit related events.

Coordinates and assists in administering the City’s various deferred compensation programs, including notifying employees of meetings with account representative(s) and preparing and processing enrollment and change forms.

Notifies employees regarding eligibility for benefits under the Consolidated Omnibus and Reconciliation Act (COBRA). Works closely with third-party vendor tracking enrollment and processing COBRA benefit premium payments.

Meets with employees who are retiring, providing information and guidance throughout the process and assisting in the preparation of documents.

Composes, proofreads, revises, and distributes forms, manuals, brochures, graphs, charts, routine correspondence, and other materials related to employee benefits; monitors and updates the City's website to ensure that benefits-related data and information is up to date.

Assists employees in completing forms for enrollment in various employee benefits programs, interpreting and explaining employee benefits provisions, resolving the most complex problems and referring employees to the appropriate resources.

Notifies affected employees and providers of any change in coverage and enrollment procedures and periods.

Assists in the administration of benefit plans consistent with the terms of various Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) and agreements with benefit plan providers.

Performs the more complex technical work in setting up and maintaining data used in payroll and human resource information systems.

Determines eligibility and enrolls employees, retirees, and dependents in benefit plans including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and disability insurance.

Terminates benefit coverage for employees who have separated from City service or who are on unpaid leaves of absence in accordance with applicable procedures.

Review, audit, and reconcile monthly insurance premium statements with District records and reports.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES


Knowledge of:

Principles, practices, methods, and terminology used in benefits administration

City's collective bargaining agreements, policies, and procedures that are applicable to benefits administration

Basic principles of business letter writing and report preparation

Fundamentals of English grammar, spelling, and composition

Web-based HRIS, benefits administration, and other online/cloud-based HR-related systems and application

Current laws and regulations related to the administration of employee benefit programs and leaves, including Family and Medical Leave ACT (FMLA), California Family Rights Act (CFRA), Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA), Affordable Care Act (ACA), Long-Term Disability (LTD) and State Disability Insurance (SDI)

Principles and procedures of records management, including those related to maintaining electronic filing systems

Modern office practices and procedures

Basic mathematics

Office productivity software, including word processing, spreadsheet, email, database, and presentation applications

Ability to:

Plan, organize, and coordinate activities pertinent to the employee benefits program

Locate, analyze, interpret, apply, and explain rules, regulations, policies, and procedures concerning benefits administration

Update and maintain a website

Learn and apply new information and skills

Type, keyboard, and/or enter data at a speed necessary for successful job performance

Establish and maintain a variety of files and records, including confidential benefits records

Make arithmetic calculations quickly and accurately

Plan and organize work to meet changing priorities and deadlines

Understand and carry out oral and written directions

Exercise good judgment and maintain confidentiality in maintaining critical and sensitive information, records, and reports

Read, interpret, and apply applicable laws, regulations, City codes and ordinances, and MOU provisions

Explain policy provisions for employee benefits programs to City employees and covered dependents

Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing

Prepare detailed reports and summaries

Perform mathematical calculations

Provide effective customer service

Work effectively with persons from diverse social, cultural, and economic backgrounds, as well as a variety of work styles, personalities, and approaches

Make effective oral presentations to groups

Promote, establish, and maintain effective working relationships with other City employees, outside agencies and the general public

REQUIREMENTS

Minimum Qualifications:

Education : Graduation from an accredited college or university with an associate's degree or 60 semester units or the equivalent of college level coursework, preferably in human resources, business, public administration, or a related field. A bachelor's degree may substitute for one year of the required experience.

Experience : Two years of recent, paid work experience performing technical duties associated with employee benefit administration.

Licenses and Certificates

Possession of or the ability to obtain and maintain a valid Class C driver license or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.

Supplemental Information

HOW TO APPLY : All applicants must submit an online City application and required supplemental questions to be considered for this position. Please note, applications may be rejected if incomplete. Résumés, CVs and cover letters are not reviewed as part of the application screening process and should not be submitted.

NOTE: If you are utilizing education to substitute for experience you must submit a copy of your college diploma/transcript. Applicants who indicated receipt of degree from a foreign institution must provide United States degree and credential equivalency verification along with a copy of your college diploma/transcript. All materials must be received in the Human Resources Department no later than close of business on the application closing date. You may attach a scanned copy of your college diplomas or transcript to your online application or e-mail a scanned copy of your college diploma or transcript to shellie.goings@santamonica.gov. Failure to do so will result in your application being disqualified.

SELECTION PROCESS : All applicants must submit clear, concise and complete information regarding their qualifications for the position. All applicants will be reviewed and only those candidates determined to be most qualified on the basis of experience and education, as submitted, will be invited to participate further in the selection process.
Testing may consist of any of the following: written test, evaluation of qualifications, oral interview, or any combination of these.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS : Candidates who have successfully completed all prior phases of the selection process will be subject to a thorough background investigation.

The City of Santa Monica is a progressive, inclusive and culturally-rich community. As leaders in public service, we strive to be an employer of choice by attracting and retaining a highly-talented workforce where people of diverse races, religions, cultures and lifestyles thrive. Our goal is to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where our staff are empowered to perform at their highest level and where their differences make a positive impact.

The City is an equal opportunity employer and strives to build balanced teams from all walks of life without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, ancestry, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state and/or local law. We aim to create a workplace that celebrates and embraces the diversity of our employees. Join us!

REQUESTS FOR ACCOMMODATIONS: Special assistance with the application and examination process is available, upon request, for persons with disabilities. Call (310) 458-8246 (Hearing Impaired Only).



Please note the request for reasonable accommodations must be made to Human Resources at least three work days prior to the examination


WORKING CONDITIONS:


Work is regularly performed within an office environment. Position requires sitting for long periods of time. Continuous reading and looking at a computer screen is typical. Lifting of boxes or materials is occasionally required. Occasional off-site visits to City locations are required.

The City's liberal fringe benefits for full-time employment include sick leave, holiday and vacation pay, the Public Employees Retirement System, medical, dental and vision insurance, credit union, deferred compensation, tuition reimbursement, Dependent Care Assistance Plan and priority enrollment consideration at Hill & Dale Family Learning Center, Marine Park Child Development Center, and Santa Monica Early Childhood Lab School.

Closing Date/Time: 2/13/2025 5:30 PM Pacific

Please mention you found this employment opportunity on the CareersInGovernment.com job board.

• 

• City of Santa Monica

Show more