Assistant Employee Benefits Administrator

Description/Duties An Assistant Employee Benefits Administrator is responsible for professional assignments and tasks in the administration and compliance of the City's Employee Benefits Programs for employees, retirees, and their eligible family members.
This function also has a specific emphasis on managing business user functions for the technology programs that support the City’s eligibility and enrollment functions, vendor data interfaces, and benefits communications activities.
Employee Benefit programs include multiple self-insured and fully insured health, welfare, and voluntary benefit programs.
Health Care programs may include but are not limited to Medical, Behavioral Health, Prescription Drug, Dental, Vision Care, Employee Assistance, Flexible Spending Accounts, Stop-Loss Insurance programs, and Wellness programs.
Welfare benefit programs may include but are not limited to Life Insurance, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Business Travel Accident/Commuter Insurance, Short Term Disability Insurance, and Long-Term Disability Insurance.
Voluntary benefit programs may include but are not limited to Legal/ID Protection Services and Pet Care Discount programs.
Duties include: designing and coordinating multi-media, technology based, benefits marketing and communications strategies and processes to educate employees, retirees, and dependents regarding City provided benefit programs; drafting or coordinating compliant benefit forms, reports, and correspondence to employees, dependents, retirees, vendors/contractors, and carriers; assisting in RFP development and renewal processes for selection and recommendation of competitive benefits contract awards; assisting with vendor and insurance contract administration and interpretation; leading or participating in vendor implementation projects; reviewing and authorizing all levels of benefits contract funding and payment in the absence of the Employee Benefits Administrator; managing third party administrators/carriers responsible for adjudicating self-insured healthcare plan claims and services; assisting with updating, revising, and interpreting the Employee Benefit Plan Document; managing and coordinating Medical/Prescription Drug Stop-Loss Insurance contract, operations, and vendor management, including facilitating any necessary data file transfers; resolving escalated issues regarding the requirements and provisions of benefit programs; resolving self-insurance claim discrepancies; oversight of third party appeals administration activities; participating or leading benefits related committee meetings and task forces (including but not limited to Employee Benefits Advisory Committee, Employee Benefits Task Force, and Self Insurance Trust Fund Board); providing lead supervision to one or more staff positions as may be assigned, including coordinating/conducting or supervising the activities of staff members assigned to provide various benefit program information and enrollment technology systems and databases; collaborating and/or leading staff, vendors, and other departments for open enrollment, vendor events, and wellness initiatives; maintaining benefit plan compliance reporting administration (federal, state, and local), including but not limited to HIPAA and PPACA/ACA 1095 reporting; and researching and analyzing national and local benefit trends and utilizing a data analytics platform from the City’s contracted benefits consulting firm for City specific data and trends.
Additional duties include: attending and facilitating presentations to employee groups and providing staff assistance to the Employee Benefits Advisory Committee and Employee Benefits Task Force.
This classification performs related duties as required.
An employee in this classification exercises considerable initiative with latitude for independent judgment.
Technical decision-making is required in the areas of Plan Document interpretation, payment of benefits, coverage and authorization of health care program services, certification of services, Employee Benefit Trust Fund management, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance, PPACA compliance and marketing, and communication of employee benefit programs.
This class receives supervision from the Employee Benefits Administrator who reviews work through conferences, reports, and overall results obtained.
This classification acts as the Employee Benefits Administrator in the absence of the Administrator.
This class is FLSA exempt-administrative.
Please refer to the link below for the full job description and additional information regarding assignments, preferred qualifications, and essential functions.
Qualifications & Requirements Employee Values: All employees of the City of Mesa are expected to uphold and exhibit the City's shared employee values of Knowledge, Respect, and Integrity.
Minimum Qualifications Required.
Any combination of training, education, and experience equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources, Public or Business Administration, Finance, or related field.
Considerable (3 - 5 years) professional experience involving a supervisory or management role in Employee Benefits Administration, Health/Wellness Administration, Public Health Administration, or related field.
Good (1 - 3 years) of third-party vendor contract administration and implementation experience.
Preferred/Desirable Qualifications.
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master’s Degree in Human Resources, Public or Business Administration, Finance, or related field.
Good (1 – 3 years) experience in budget and/or finance administration.
Experience in benefit claims administration and human resources administration.
World at Work certification as a Certified Benefits Professional (CBP) or equivalent certification as an Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS).
Application of advanced skills in business and office software programs, web design programs, and HR/Benefit/Payroll systems (HRM Advantage or equivalent).