Benefits Specialist

PositionTitle: Benefits Specialist

Department: Human Resources

ReportsTo: Human Resources Manager

FLSA Status: FLSA non-exempt, part-time, non-benefit eligible

Position Grade: Personnel Policies, Grade 5

Rate: Pay range $27.20 - $35.35 ($27.54 - $37.18 eff. 7/1/25) actual pay based on qualifications

Work Schedule: 19.5 hours per week

Statement ofDuties : The Benefits Specialist is responsible for the provision ofadministrative and clerical functions related to insurance and employee andretiree benefits. Employee is required to perform all similar or relatedduties.

Supervision Required: Employee under the generaldirection of the Human Resources Manager, the employee plans and carries outthe regular work in accordance with standard practices and previous training,with responsibility for determining the sequence and timing of action with independencein planning and organizing the work activities, including determining andfollowing established protocol. The employee is expected to solve throughexperienced judgment most problems of detail or unusual situations by adaptingmethods or interpreting instructions to resolve the particular problem.Instructions for new assignments or special projects usually consist ofstatements of desired objectives, deadlines and priorities. Technical andpolicy problems or changes in procedures are discussed with supervisor, butordinarily the employee plans the work, lays it out and carries it through tocompletion independently. Work is generally reviewed only for technicaladequacy, appropriateness of actions or decisions, and conformance with policyor other requirements; the methods used in arriving at the end result are notusually reviewed in detail.

Supervisory Responsibility: Employeeis not required to supervise any town employees.

Confidentiality: Employee has access to department-wide confidential information includingemployee records.

Judgment: Numerous standardizedpractices, procedures, or general instructions govern the work and, in somecases, may require additional interpretation. Judgment is needed to locate, select, and apply the most pertinentpractice, procedure, regulation, or guideline.

Complexity: Work consists of employingmany different concepts, theories, principles, techniques and practicesrelating to an administrative field. Assignments typically concern such matters as studying regulatorychanges trends in the field for application to the work; assessing services andrecommending improvements; planning long range projects; devising newtechniques for application to the work, recommending procedures, standards orcriteria.

Work Environment: The work environment involves everydaydiscomforts typical of office settings with frequent interruptions. Noise or physical surroundings may bedistracting, but conditions are generally not unpleasant.

Nature and Purposeof Relationship: Employeeinteracts with co-workers, the public and external contacts such as vendorsdoing business with the Town such, representatives of insurance companies, orother professionals to explain or interpret procedures or guidelines, plan orcoordinate work, or resolve problems. More than ordinary courtesy, tact, and diplomacy may be required to resolvecomplaints.

Accountability: Consequencesof errors, missed deadlines or poor judgment could result in missed deadlinesor delay of service, monetary loss, severely jeopardize department programs orhave extensive financial and/or legal repercussions and adverse public relationsto the Town of Duxbury.

Occupational Risk: Occupational risk exposure to the employee incarrying out essential functions is similar to that found in typical indoor oroffice settings.

Essential Functions: The essentialfunctions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of thevarious type of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statementsof duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar,related, or a logical assignment to the position.

1. Coordinates and performs administrative and clerical work related to insurance and benefits for employees, retirees and their beneficiaries.
2. Provides information and answers routine questions and concerns from town employees regarding coverages and claims.
3. Provides one-on-one counseling for employees and retirees and their beneficiaries regarding benefit matters.
4. Responsible for the payment of premiums and administrative fees to all benefit vendors including health, dental, disability, town reinsurance carrier and workers compensation and property casualty providers.
5. Provides analytical support to benchmarking, researching etc. with other municipalities and private industry relative to benefits.
6. Researches and resolves eligibility issues relating to plan participants and data received from benefit offices.
7. Complies with HIPPA regulations and keeps informed of changing rules, laws and regulations affecting HIPPA procedures.
8. Prepares new hire and benefit packets for town employees.
9. Provides backup support to other office staff as required.
10. Participates in planning, development, coordination and presentation of annual benefits enrollment.
11. Assists employees and retirees with enrollment changes and termination of benefits, ensuring the correct payroll deductions are made.
12. Conducts monthly reconciliation of all employee benefit payroll deductions and invoices from carriers: also conducts reconciliation of retiree benefit deductions and invoices.
13. Coordinates with Town & School to set up/cancel/resolve with deduction issues with Retirement Boards.
14. Audit enrollment of plans for accuracy.
15. Acts as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Compliance Coordinator ensuring 1095C compliance with IRS regulations. Resolves discrepancies and reissues certificates as necessary
16. Oversees benefit eligibility for employees on an approved leave of absence including receiving/monitoring premium payments, communication with employees, terminating and reinstating coverage as necessary.
17. Assists employees and family members with processing death claims for life insurance benefits serving as a liaison with the provider.
18. Performs special projects and related responsibilities as initiated and requested.
19. Performs other related duties as required, directed or as the situation dictates.

Recommended MinimumQualifications:

Education and Experience : College Degree and three to five (3-5) yearsof work experience in the human resources field ; or any equivalent combination of education, training andexperience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities toperform the essential functions of the job.

Special Requirements: None

Knowledge, Abilities and Skill:

Knowledge: Knowledgeof local, state and federal employee/retiree insurance and benefit laws andregulations pertaining to municipal employees; knowledge of departmentoperations and employee benefit services in accordance with collectivebargaining agreements, federal, state, and town polices. Knowledge of acceptedpersonnel practices and procedures. Knowledgeof insurance industry (commercial and private). Knowledge of federal HIPPA rules and regulations. Thorough knowledge of municipal healthinsurance programs and related regulations in Massachusetts.

Abilities: Abilityto develop, implement and monitor the effectiveness of a wide range of employeebenefit services. Ability to work effectively with confidential information. Ability to work tactfully with employees,retirees, dependents, officials of insurance companies doing business with theTown, and members of the public. Abilityto manage multiple tasks in an independent, organized, and timely manner. Ability to identify problems and take initiativeto respond to concerns in a timely, detailed, and accurate manner.

Skill: Excellent work ethic. Proficient written and oral communication skills. Proficientpersonal computer and software programs including word processing and spreadsheet applications.

Physical andMental Requirements : The physical demandsdescribed here are representative of those that must be met by an employee tosuccessfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonableaccommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to performthe positions essential functions

Physical Skills: Littleor no physical demands required to perform the work. Employee is required to lift, push or pulloffice equipment up to 30 lbs.

Motor Skills: Duties require minimal motor skills foractivities such as moving objects, operating a telephone, personal computerand/or most other office equipment.

Visual Skills: Employee is required to constantly readdocuments for general understanding and analytical purpose. Employee is not required to distinguishcolors.

(Thisjob description does not constitute an employment agreement between theemployer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs ofthe employer and requirements of the job change.)