Fire Department Benefits Specialist

THIS IS A NEW ASSEMBLED EXAMINATION. The eligible list resulting from this examination will cancel any existing list and may last approximately one year, but can be extended.

Applications must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the last day for filing. Failure to submit the application will result in disqualification.

Applications will only be accepted on-line.

THE AGENCY

THE ALAMEDA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT (ACFD) provides all-risk emergency services to the unincorporated areas of Alameda County (excluding Fairview), the cities of San Leandro, Dublin, Newark, Union City, Emeryville, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. With 28 fire stations and 34 companies serving a population of 394,000, the ACFD serves densely populated urban areas, waterways, industrialized centers, extensive urban interface, agricultural and wildland regions. Over 400 personnel and 100 Reserve Firefighters provide a wide variety of services to an ever expanding, dynamic and diverse community of roughly 508 square miles. These services include:

• Advanced Life Support
• Fire Suppression
• Hazardous Materials Response
• Urban Search & Rescue
• Water Rescue
• Community Outreach & Education
• Disaster Preparedness
• Fire Prevention and Code Compliance
• Regional Dispatch

The Alameda County Fire Department (ACFD) was formed on July 1, 1993 as a dependent special district with the Alameda County Board of Supervisors as its governing body. This consolidation brought together into a single jurisdiction the Castro Valley Fire Department, Eden Consolidated Fire Protection District and County Fire Patrol.

Subsequently, the following communities have contracted with the ACFD:

• July 1, 1995 City of San Leandro
• July 1, 1997 City of Dublin
• August 1, 2002 Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
• October 1, 2007 Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
• May 1, 2010 City of Newark
• July 1, 2010 City of Union City
• July 1, 2012 City of Emeryville

On January 20, 2008, the ACFD became responsible for the administration and operation of the Alameda County Regional Emergency Communications Center (ACRECC). The dispatch center provides dispatch and regional communication center services for the ACFD, the Alameda County Emergency Medical Services Agency, Camp Parks Combat Support Training Center, and the cities of Alameda, Fremont, Livermore and Pleasanton. ACRECC is also the Dispatch/System Status Management Center for Alameda County ambulance service.

THE POSITION

Under general direction, performs paraprofessional employee benefits’ duties for the Department’s Human Resources division.  Duties will include: conducting employee orientations, enrolling, and providing on-going assistance to Alameda County Fire Department (ACFD) employees and retirees with insurance plans and benefits that include health, dental and vision plans, life insurance, flexible spending accounts, and deferred compensation; monitors benefit payments for employees; and performs other related duties as required.  

Please CLICK HERE for the full job description.

IDEAL CANDIDATE 

In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications stated below, the ideal candidate will have demonstrated a track record of success in the following areas:    

· Technical/Professional Knowledge and Skills - have achieved satisfactory level of technical and professional skill or knowledge in position related areas.

· Communication - clearly conveys information and ideas through to individual or groups.

· Employee Benefits - understands and demonstrates knowledge of HR concepts, principles, and practices related to retirement, insurance, and other employee benefits programs.

· Attention to Detail - accomplishes tasks by considering all areas involved; accurately checks processes and tasks.

· Data Gathering and Analysis - ability to document, analyze and identify trends from data collected in various sources and in various format.

· Decision Making - able to identify, understand issues and problems to make reasonable decisions in a dynamic work environment.

· Follow-Up - demonstrate the ability to prioritize and follow through on assignments.

Experience:  

The equivalent of three (3) years of full-time experience providing administrative support in a human resources, finance, or benefit administration environment which must have included working with a computerized human resource system, databases, and spreadsheets.  

Experience within CalPERS retirement and benefit administration is highly desirable.  

Substitution:

Possession of an Associate’s degree from an accredited college or university in human resources administration, business or public administration, finance, accounting or a closely related field can be substituted for one (1) year of the required experience.    

Possession of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in human resources administration, business or public administration, finance, accounting, or a closely related field can be substituted for two (2) years of the required experience.  

License:

Possession of a valid State of California Motor Vehicle Operator’s License.  

NOTE:    The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

The most suitably qualified candidates will possess the following competencies:

Knowledge of:

• Laws, regulations, and procedures related to employee benefit programs.
• Principles and practices of employee benefits enrollment processing and administration.
• General principles and practices of employee payroll processing.
• Current trends in employee benefit rules, regulations, and practices.
• Principles and practices of effective and efficient customer service.
• Extensive knowledge of modern office practices and procedures including filing and the operations of standard office equipment and computer hardware and software.
• Administration of the benefits programs from California Public Employees' Retirement System.    

Ability to:

• Interpret, explain, and apply administrative guidelines, regulations, and policies and procedures related to employee benefit programs.
• Gather and evaluate relevant information in researching and resolving benefit-related issues. 
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external customers and vendors.
• Prioritize tasks and perform detailed work accurately within established timeframe.
• Review documents for completeness, accuracy, appropriate authorization, and compliance.
• Maintain accurate records including spreadsheets, information system databases and files.
• Maintain confidentiality of employee benefit records and reports.
• Perform various mathematical computations related to rates, premiums, refunds, deductions, and contributions.
• Use and design spreadsheet applications to automate work processes.

*WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED RECRUITMENT & SELECTION PLAN*

Alameda County and the Human Resource Services Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination and/or selection process to accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities and/or medical conditions in accordance/compliance with the State Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Alameda County’s Reasonable Accommodation Policy and applicable statues. To request an accommodation due to a disability/medical condition during this or other phases of the examination/selection process, please contact the assigned Human Resources Representative listed on the job announcement before the last date for filing. Alameda County requires applicants to provide supporting documentation to substantiate a request for reasonable accommodation. In order to qualify for a reasonable accommodation, applicants must have a disability/medical condition pursuant to the ADA, FEHA and applicable statutes.

For more information regarding our Reasonable Accommodation procedures, please visit our website, www.acgov.org/hrs

All notices related to County recruitments for which you have applied will be sent/delivered via email. Please add @acgov.org and Noreply@jobaps.com as accepted addresses to any email blocking or spam filtering program you may use. If you do not do this, your email blocking or spam filtering program may block receipt of the notices regarding your application for recruitments. You are also strongly advised to regularly log into your County of Alameda online application account to check for notices that may have been sent to you. All email notices that will be sent to you will also be kept in your personal online application account. You will be able to view all of your notices in your online application account by clicking on the 'My applications' button on the Current Job Openings page.

Please take the steps recommended above to ensure you do not miss any notices about a recruitment for which you have applied. The County of Alameda is not responsible for notices that are not read, received, or accessed by any applicant for a County recruitment.

NOTE: All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. Replies to the email box alamedacountyHR@acgov.org are routed to an unmonitored mailbox. If you have questions please go to our website at www.acgov.org/hrs. You may also contact the Human Resources Analyst listed on the bulletin for the recruitment for which you have applied.

Debra Robinson-Harris, Human Resources Analyst
Human Resource Services, County of Alameda
Debra.Robinson@acgov.org
(510) 272-6437

Alameda County has a diverse workforce, that is representative of the communities we serve, and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance and business need. Alameda County does not discriminate in employment on the basis of, race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors protected under federal, state and local law. Alameda County celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive, and welcoming workplace environment.