HR Benefits Specialist II at Alamance County Government, NC

About the Department

Join the Human Resources Team as the HR Benefits Specialist II for Alamance County.

We are recruiting for a high energy, customer service-oriented HR Benefits Specialist II. This position will be responsible for the day-to-day administrative activities of Alamance County’s health and welfare benefit programs provided to employees, retirees and their dependents. The HR Benefits Specialist II will also administer family medical leave (FMLA) and other types of employee leaves. Qualified candidates will have experience administering health and welfare benefits (preferably in a public sector setting) and have knowledge and experience in managing Family Medical Leave and other types of employee leaves.

This position requires considerable knowledge of complex and changing laws and administrative regulations affecting Health and Wellness Programs and types of employee leaves. The HR Benefits Specialist II is expected to exercise significant discretion and independent judgment while performing their duties as it relates to laws, regulations, policies and procedures. The position requires discretion to work with confidential and sensitive issues on a regular basis. 

Position Duties

Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Provides a high level of customer service as this position will serve as the primary contact and resources for employees, retirees and dependents for benefit inquires on plan design, eligibility, enrollment, status changes, coverage and other general inquiries.  
• Conducts the benefits overview segment of new hire orientation, open enrollment sessions and oversees benefits enrollment process for all new hires and new election changes. 
• Serves as the County’s COBRA point of contact ensuring compliance within the coordination of COBRA administration. 
• Administers by phone, fax, email and in person the County’s Family Medical Leave program ensuring managers and employees understand the policy guidelines and procedures as it relates to leave under FMLA. Serves as the first point of contact for leaves of absence, family medical leave and medical accommodation inquires by phone, fax, e-mail and in person. 
• Maintains the benefit and medical employee/retiree files and records in electronic and paper format. 
• Assists employees within the retirement process ensuring employees’ retirement process meets all Local Governmental Employees’ Retirement System (LGERS) requirements, including the extra determinations required for Law Enforcement Officers (LEOs). 
• Ensures all employees and retirees are updated as to changes and notifications within benefit offerings. Updating by direct mail, e-mail, newsletter articles, SharePoint uploads, phone calls or any other communication strategy. 
• Assists payroll with employee related items regarding insurance deductions, payroll adjustments or leave of absence changes. Will be responsible for coordination with employees and retirees on collection of insurance payments while on LOA or when payments are not received timely. 
• Performs monthly reconciliation and audit of premium billing for voluntary insurance products and submits payments. 
• Assists in developing benefit offerings, planning and implementing open enrollment initiatives. 
• Provides HR reporting; maintains other records, reports and logs accurately. 
• Prepares and conducts presentations to internal departments concerning various human resources-related benefits to ensure awareness and understanding. 
• Stays informed and aware of changes in laws and compliance measures as they relate to benefits offered by the County. 
• Establishes strong working relationships with the HR team and our business partners to ensure HR support is aligned with the County’s priorities.  
• Performs related tasks as required as this listing is not intended as an exhaustive description of the position.
• May serve on various committees and special projects appointed by HR leadership.  

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Experience:  BS/BA in business administration, human resources, public administration, communications or relevant field from an accredited college or university and prior Human Resources office experience required. Five or more progressive years of direct experience in benefits and leave administration in a Human Resources office may be substituted for the education. Operational knowledge of FMLA and benefit administration is essential. Understanding of ACA, ADA, HIPAA and COBRA is preferred. 
 
Computer Skills:  Proficient in MS Office (Excel, Word and PowerPoint Experience) with prior experience with Munis HRIS, Benefit Enrollment and/or Timekeeping platforms (B-Swift, Kronos) a plus.

License/Credentials:
Possession of a NC valid driver’s license required. 
HRCI, SHRM, IPMA certifications are a plus. 

Other Qualifications

Skills & Abilities:

Ability to accept responsibility and account for his/her actions.  
Ability to perform work accurately and thoroughly.  
Ability to cooperate and partner in team environments for the benefit of all involved parties.
Ability to communicate effectively with others using the spoken word.   
Ability to communicate in writing clearly and concisely.  
Ability to show kindness, empathy and genuine care. 
Ability to distinguish confidential information and maintain the sensitive nature of the information.
Ability to take care of the customers’ needs while following company procedures.  
Ability to appreciate and be sensitive to the feelings of others. 
Ability to be truthful, maintain high level of confidentiality and be seen as credible in the workplace.
Ability to use good judgment and discretion as it relates to interpreting policies and procedures.
Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment. 
Ability to find a solution for or to deal proactively with work-related problems.  
Ability to effectively build relationships with customers and co-workers.
Able to create a safe work environment; manage risks; reduce exposure liabilities.   
Ability to work with others successfully and productively for the common cause and desired end goal.    
Ability to utilize the available time to organize and complete work within given deadlines.