BENEFITS SERVICES SPECIALIST

The Benefit Services Specialist performs administrative and membership coordination for health/pharmacy and dental benefits and numerous other benefit programs for active employees and their families. The incumbent in this position educates employees on various benefit programs and provides support and assistance to ensure employees understand and enroll in benefits.

MEMBERSHIP AND ENROLLMENT SERVICES

• Provide customer service information regarding health, dental, vision, voluntary and other benefits; assist employees with issues pertaining to benefit claims through the Department of Employee Relations (DER) benefits phone line and email account.
• Process enrollment forms for benefit programs and amend as needed; provide an employee benefits overview and ensure that employees are enrolled in a timely fashion.
• Monitor and execute periodic adjustments to payroll to accurately reflect enrollment changes in benefits for employees.
• Oversee the Alternative Transportation Commuter Value Pass (CVP) Program, the Long-Term Disability program (LTD) and other benefits; enroll employees in and provide information about the programs.
• Process and enter all child support orders, enrollment and changes into Human Resources Management System (HRMS).
• Provide backup for Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) enrollment.

ADMINISTRATION AND COORDINATION

• Assist with the City’s open enrollment period, including fairs, webinars, associated mailings, confirmation letters and other administrative work.
• Collaborate with the benefits team on policies and practices regarding employee hiring data to ensure adequate controls are in place for enrollment and Affordable Care Act (ACA) reporting purposes.
• Work in conjunction with the City’s Health Benefits Administrator to ensure required information is gathered for all enrolled members.
• Communicate and educate employees on the various components of the City’s comprehensive health and wellness program.
• Run benefit enrollment reports for audit and verification purposes.
• Monitor benefit file feeds to ensure accurate and timely delivery.
• Assist with PeopleSoft/HRMS testing and the production environment when upgrades or changes to the system are made.
• Monitor pension enrollments in HRMS to identify system glitches and manually enter corrections to ensure members maintain the correct enrollment status.
• Provide backup business operations support functions, including administration and payment processing related to Healthcare, Wellness, Dental, Worker’s Compensation, Unemployment Compensation, Flexible Spending, Employee Training, Alternative Transportation, Voluntary Benefits and Long-Term Disability.
• Process billing and payments for other departmental purchases and expenditures.

We welcome qualified individuals with disabilities who are interested in employment and will make reasonable accommodations during the hiring process in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, as amended by the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008.

1. Regular status as a City of Milwaukee employee, having successfully completed a probationary period for a civil service position, or status as a City of Milwaukee employee in a fixed term position.
2. Four years of progressively responsible experience related to health, dental and/or other benefits, including experience working with the PeopleSoft HRMS system.

 Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered.  

NOTICE: Please do not attach your academic transcripts to your employment application. The hiring department will verify candidates’ education as part of the background screening process prior to extending any job offers.

TECHNICAL

• Ability to accurately administer benefits programs, including reporting, enrollment and tracking of data.
• Ability to utilize related computer software programs including Word, Excel, PeopleSoft and vendor reporting systems.
• Skill in proofreading documents for accuracy and for grammar, punctuation and spelling.
• Skill in continuous improvement relative to benefits processes and procedures.  

COMMUNICATION, INTERPERSONAL AND CUSTOMER SERVICE

• Ability to prepare accurate and effective written communications, including drafting letters.
• Excellent customer service skills, including the ability to be responsive and sensitive to the needs of employees and of the public.
• Ability to listen well and to communicate effectively both in person and over the telephone.
• Ability to verbally communicate complex issues to a wide audience.
• Ability to deal with individuals who are under stress and/or experiencing challenging situations.
• Ability to understand and appropriately provide services in a culturally sensitive manner.
• Ability to work cooperatively with team members and serve as back-up on critical job functions shared among a small work team.
• Ability to work effectively and positively with co-workers and City employees from all cultural, educational and socioeconomic backgrounds to accomplish departmental goals.

JUDGMENT, ACCURACY, AND PROBLEM SOLVING

• Ability to problem solve, apply critical thinking and troubleshoot. 
• Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks and follow through on assignments to completion.
• Ability to handle confidential employee information with discretion and good judgment while remaining in compliance with HIPAA standards.
• Ability to perform work with a high degree of accuracy and detail.
• Ability to work in a time-sensitive environment, managing multiple tasks that are deadline-driven.
• Flexibility to take on and complete new or special projects.
• Ability to remain professional.

The current salary range (Pay Range 5JN) is $62,229-$75,045 annually, and the resident incentive salary for City of Milwaukee residents is $64,096-$77,296 annually. Appointment will be made in accordance with the provisions of the salary ordinance.

THE SELECTION PROCESS will be job related and will consist of one or more of the following: an evaluation of related education, experience and accomplishments, an evaluation of written communication, interviews, and/or other assessment methods. The Department of Employee Relations reserves the right to call only the most qualified candidates to proceed in the selection process. Information from the selection process will be used to make a hiring decision. Selected candidates will be transferred and/or promoted to the position.

INITIAL FILING DATE – The selection process will be held as soon as practical after the deadline listed above. Receipt of applications may be discontinued at any time after this date without prior notice. However, recruitment may continue until the needs of the City have been met. The applicant is responsible for attending all phases of the selection process at the time and place designated by the hiring authority.

NOTE: Transfer/Promotional Opportunities and Promotional Examinations are not open to Milwaukee Public Schools employees or to the public. Only current City of Milwaukee employees and civilian personnel in MFD and MPD hired through a City Service Commission process who have successfully passed a probationary period for a Civil Service position or who have status as a City of Milwaukee employee in a fixed term position will be considered. Individuals with exempt, provisional, temporary, or emergency appointments are not eligible for transfer.

• APPLICATIONS and further information may be accessed by visiting https://www.jobapscloud.com/MIL.
• Applications should be submitted no later than the deadline listed above.
• If you would like assistance completing an application, please contact the Department of Employee Relations at (414) 286-3751 or staffinginfo@milwaukee.gov.
• The Department of Employee Relations is located in City Hall, 200 E Wells St, Room 706, Milwaukee, WI 53202.

EEO 602

The City of Milwaukee values and encourages diversity and is an equal opportunity employer.