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THE POSITION
Washington County Human Resources is recruiting for a Benefits and Leave Specialist. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a positive and supportive team while expanding your knowledge in benefits and human resources! This position will support staff with general benefits questions and will use their data processing skills to update information within the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system and ensure accurate benefits enrollment for our employees.
The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, customer-focused, and has a service mindset. They have data entry experience with great attention to accuracy. They are skilled in researching and identifying potential issues to ensure data integrity within our systems, plus are able to recommend solutions. They are an independent worker with a growth mindset who is able to work well on a highly functioning team.
- This position will require in-person work to support staff needs.*
Why Washington County?
As one of Oregon’s Healthiest Counties, we care about our employees and are actively exploring ways to improve one’s work/life balance. Your total compensation package will be comprised of more than just your annual salary; it will also include a comprehensive benefits package with family and same-gender domestic partner health benefits such as medical, dental, and vision coverage at up to 95% employer paid. Also included are paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave; alternative care coverage; health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts; employee assistance program (EAP); life and disability insurance; retirement through Oregon Public Employee Retirement System (PERS); 457b deferred compensation plan. We also offer emergency travel assistance; a TriMet Hop card that can be used for both work and personal travel; biking lockers and repair stations; a charitable giving program; and an Oregon College Savings Plan.
Click here to learn more about Washington County’s Benefits and Wellness Programs!
Washington County values a culture of equity, diverse perspectives, and life experiences. Our organization embraces innovation, collaboration and work-life harmony. We offer job stability, a comprehensive benefits package, and an opportunity to serve and support our diverse community. We are an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to diversity and an inclusive workforce. Women, minorities, veterans, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES
Duties may include:
Provides insurance and benefit information to employees by phone, email, and in person; explains employee benefit programs and eligibility requirements; conducts employee orientation sessions; contacts benefit providers to clarify coverage issues; and reconciles premium billing to vendor invoices in timely manner.
Enters benefit information as new employees are onboarded and into Human Resource Information System (HRIS) or other benefit database and compiles reports.
Ensures accurate and timely payment of bills relating to benefits programs.
Administers continuation coverage or retiree benefit program with Third Party Administrator.
Assists in creating a positive and supportive work environment; enforces a safe workplace; establishes a culture of teamwork and communication; creates a workplace that promotes the organizational values of workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion; and actively promotes an environment respectful of living and working in a multicultural society.
Assists with annual open enrollment processes, provides input regarding updates to the benefit information on the County website.
Coordinates informational sessions related to the County’s deferred compensation program and PERS.
Responds to inquiries and provides information related to COBRA benefits.
Conducts benefit audits as needed or quarterly.
Coordinates and participates in activities in support of the County Wellness Program.
Communicates program activities through various media to include intranet, newsletters, and direct presentations and acts as a Wellness Champion for the County.
Participates in Wellness, Benefits and/or Deferred Compensation Committee meetings and provides direction to team members during scheduled events.
Coordinates and assists in the planning of health screenings, the annual Health & Wellness Fair, and wellness incentive program.
Completes annual wellness scorecard, wellness surveys, and administers the County’s digital wellness platform.
Works with wellness vendors to coordinate activities and resolve issues as they arise.
Tracks and produces statistical reports for all wellness activities and updates the wellness pages on the County website as needed.
Maintains records in assigned human resources functional area. Researches and responds to requests for information about County programs and processes. Produces and distributes packets of information to employees or the public.
Explains how to complete relevant forms, reviews forms for accuracy and completeness. Revises and distributes required notices according to mandated guidelines and County policy.
Researches, compiles, organizes, and reviews data to verify facts, resolve discrepancies, or provide statistical information. Compiles information for higher-level staff or management; creates and maintains spreadsheets in support of various human resources functions.
Responds to commonly asked questions from managers, supervisors, employees, and applicants regarding personnel rules or benefits, and refers questions requiring more in-depth contract or policy interpretation to senior HR staff.
Obtains and reviews necessary forms from new employees; monitors and follows up to obtain documentation to ensure timely processing or to meet legal/procedural requirements; reviews and audits employee files to ensure proper disposition and processing; and purges files according to County policy and applicable labor agreements.
Performs data processing, analysis, and reporting from several human resources information systems to include, but not limited to, NEOGOV (applicant processing system), WISARD (Oracle enterprise management system), Laserfiche, and Microsoft Excel. Responds to inquiries for information from one or more systems.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education and Experience:A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
Associate degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in public administration, human resources administration, business administration, or related field AND one (1) year of related work experience. OR
Three (3) years of increasingly responsible administrative support or experience in one of the referenced human resources specialty areas directly assisting human resources professionals in the administration of that program or specialty area.
Preferred Qualifications:
Data entry experience processing detailed information within computer systems.
Experience providing support and excellent customer service.
Multi-lingual skills are preferred.
To review this classification, please use this link: Benefits and Leave Specialist.
Please be clear and specific in the applicable sections of the employment application about how your background is relevant. This information must also be consistent with your supplemental question responses. Please note: Answers to the supplemental questions are typically evaluated separately from your application.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Washington County is committed to using a Merit-based System in which recruiting, selecting, and advancing employees is based on their relative knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Selection Process
1. An evaluation of training and experience of submitted application packets will be performed by Human Resources. The timeframe to review will be the week of February 7, 2022.
2. A Subject Matter Expert (SME) Panel will perform an evaluation of experience and training taken from your employment application materials to include responses to the supplemental questionnaire. This process will begin the week of February 14, 2022.
3. Our goal is to schedule oral panel interviews with candidates that successfully passed the SME evaluation step as soon as possible.
Please note: This recruitment may be used to fill future full-time and part-time vacancies in the same classification, or job family, that may become available within the next six-month period.
Veterans’ Preference: If you are a Veteran and would like to be considered for a Veterans’ preference for this recruitment, please review instructions using this link: Veterans’ Preference Points (Download PDF reader) (Download PDF reader).
Accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act: Reasonable accommodation is available to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing this application or participating in the selection process for this recruitment. To obtain confidential assistance please contact Human Resources 503-846-8606, or e-mail [email protected] at least 48 hours before any step in the recruitment and selection process for which you feel you need accommodation.
Status of Your Application: You will be advised by e-mail of your status at each step in the application process, from initial application to final employment disposition. Please note that Washington County communicates with all candidates via email. If you “opt out” or “unsubscribe” of email notification from notices in NEOGOV it will impact our ability to communicate with you about this or other job postings.
Additional Resources:
New to GovernmentJobs.com? Visit https://www.governmentjobs.com/home/applicationguide for a comprehensive, step-by-step guide on the application process.
For technical support, contact Government Job’s Live Application Support at 855-524-5627.
Questions (?) Regarding This Recruitment
Mia Richards, HR Analyst
[email protected]
- Washington County is a drug-free workplace *
This is a non-represented position and is not covered by a collective bargaining agreement.Regular and limited duration full-time employees working 30 hours or more per week and job share employees are eligible for benefits beginning on the first of the month following employment. Job share employees are responsible for 50% of the premium. Part-time regular, variable hour, and temporary positions are not eligible for medical, dental, and vision benefits. Check Out Our Award-Winning Benefits & Wellness Program! Washington County values your dedication to lead the future of our community through public service. Our total compensation package, which is comprised of more than just your annual salary, was built to show our commitment to the physical and financial health and wellbeing of you and your family. Your total compensation package includes a comprehensive benefits program with medical, dental, and vision coverage at up to 95% employer paid! Other benefits you’ll enjoy as part of your total compensation package include: Paid Time Off – 11 paid holidays including one floating holiday, 12 vacation days for new employees (accrual rates increase based on length of service), AND up to 96 hours of sick leave per year (unused sick leave accumulates from year to year without limit to provide pay and security if needed). Wellness Program – Washington County has been named one of Oregon’s Healthiest Employers by the Portland Business Journal for the past 7 years. We are proud to receive this award and will continue to make your health and wellbeing a priority by providing resources and support to help you and your family live and work well. Resources include smoking cessation, weight management, and stress management classes (online or telephonic with a personal health coach); discounts on gym memberships, fitness activities, and sports tickets; and Health & Wellness events and onsite flu shot clinics. Alternative Care Coverage Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Life and Disability Insurance (both County-provided and voluntary) Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) 457b Deferred Compensation Plan Emergency Travel Assistance TriMet Hop Card at no cost to the employee Bike lockers and repair stations A charitable giving program Oregon College Savings PlanTo learn more about our Benefits and Wellness program and view our current benefits guide, plan summaries, and premium rates, click here.Already have medical, dental, and vision coverage? No problem! Full-time employees who choose to waive medical, dental, and vision coverage will receive a $125 monthly contribution into a tax-free Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) VEBA account, which can be used to reimburse you for qualified out-of-pocket medical care costs, such as copays, deductibles, and prescription drugs. HRA accounts offer many benefits including significant tax savings, and no annual “use it or lose it” requirement. Proof of other creditable coverage is required.
