Position Title: Benefits/HR Specialist  

Reports To: Director of Finance

Classification: Non-Exempt

Summary:   The Benefits/HR Specialist administers employee benefits plans for the District by coordinating, implementing, and maintaining programs that include, but are not limited to group health, other forms of group insurance, and voluntary insurance for active employees, their eligible dependents, and retirees.  The Benefits/HR Specialist also develops and implements the District’s employee wellness initiatives and oversees employee leave programs including providing administrative support for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disability Act and Board of Education policies.  In addition, the Benefits/HR Specialist assists the Director with various human resource operations and provides general administrative personnel support to all employees of the District.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The essential duties and responsibilities shall include, but are not limited to:

Benefits:

• Administers employee insurance programs (e.g. medical, dental, vision, life, and supplemental) for the purpose of ensuring open enrollment, billing and claims, and processing  COBRA conversions in a timely and accurate manner.
• Participates in the design, implementation and administration of comprehensive benefits programs for current and former employees.
• Oversees eligibility and enrollment for benefits including reviewing measurement periods.
• Reconciles and tracks all insurance payroll deductions and calculates arrears as needed.
• Tracks insurance payments from retirees and COBRA participants.
• Prepares and sends communications to employees with missed payroll deductions, new employee deductions, etc. to keep employees abreast of changes to upcoming payrolls.
• Conducts benefits meetings with all new employees.
• Prepares and maintains all employee benefits information and related materials, including benefits packets.
• Provides assistance to all staff and retirees with online enrollment.
• Provides communication in response to benefit inquiries.
• Responsible for annual ACA compliance reporting and mailing  forms by deadline.
• Acts as a point of contact for brokers and insurance vendors.
• Maintain the Worker’s Compensation program for the purpose of ensuring all work related injuries are properly reported, employees receive necessary safety information, medical treatment, and are returned to full work duties as quickly as possible.
• Plan and oversee employee wellness programs including planning and implementing wellness activities, reports and communications.

Leave and Work Day Administration:

• Administers all aspects of leave programs.  Provides extensive case management and coordinates administrative aspects of cases and claims.
• Interprets and administers leave programs and policies in accordance with the  applicable federal and state employment laws (FMLA, ADA, USERRA, Pregnancy Discrimination Act, etc.)
• Processes FMLA requests for employees including collections of all required documents, requesting medical certifications as needed, calculating and accounting for leave use in substitute management system and maintaining the FMLA tracking system.
• Works with Substitute Provider and Administrators to ensure substitute coverage for long term leaves and appropriate access for long term substitutes.
• Monitors and tracks employee absences and generates appropriate responsive reports and communications including informing employees of remaining/expiring leave.
• Conducts initial investigation of alleged fraudulent activity of all leave cases.
• Oversees the number of contract days worked per employee to ensure satisfaction of employment contracts.

Human Resources:

• Provide employee verification and unemployment compensation information as requested.
• Complete Employee Student Loan Forgiveness forms.
• Complete, track and maintain employment verification forms.
• Review and approve compensation change request forms.
• Maintain online job descriptions upon Board approval.
• Assist Director with recruitment of all certified, classified, and substitute job openings, including postings to social media, active vendor sites, etc.  
• Maintain the hiring, certification and record keeping for all staff. 
• Serve as a resource person for staff regarding inquires.
• Assist with staff orientations and provide employee trainings, as necessary.
• Maintain knowledge of state and federal regulations such as EEOC, FERPA, FMLA, FLSA, HIPPA, and other state and federal regulations associated with personnel.
• Keep up-to-date with the latest HR trends and best practices
• Gather, verify and enter information for the completion of surveys from outside sources. 

Accounting:

• Process all deposits except for state and county revenues.
• Pursue collection efforts on bad checks. Enter bad checks in the accounting system. 
• Prepare money and worksheet for cash box for athletic events. 
• Count money received from athletic gate admissions and make deposit at the bank.

General:

• Demonstrates initiative and independent judgement in establishing professional office routines.
• Assumes responsibility for a wide variety of clerical and management tasks associated with human resources and benefits along with generalized central office operations.
• Maintain confidential records and information related to employees.
• Assist with collection and maintenance of records.
• Assist in the annual audit.
• Attend/Complete District PD and training.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications Requirements:

Education and/or Experience:

• Associate’s Degree (A.A.) or equivalent from an accredited college/university 
• At least three (3) years of related professional experience
• Experience in benefit plan administration, preferred
• High level of competence in interpersonal communication, computer orientation, and clerical skills.

Skills, Abilities and Knowledge:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the following essential functions satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the skills, abilities and/or knowledge required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Knowledge:

• Specialized program knowledge of group employee benefits programs including all forms of insurance, and statutory requirements.  Working knowledge of laws and regulation affecting benefits administration.  
• Knowledge of generally accepted personnel management practices, fair employment practices and other laws governing human resources.  In-depth working knowledge of personnel records and data entry requirement for human resources information systems
• Knowledge of the Family Medical Leave Act; the Americans with Disability Act and other relevant leave and employment laws.
• Working knowledge of other human resources functions such as employment, payroll and employee communications.

Interpersonal Skills:

Must possess strong, positive interpersonal skills including professional communication, and ability to work with a wide demographic, including job candidates, district personnel, Board of Education members, and service partners.

Language Skills:

• Ability to read and interpret documents such as laws, policy and procedures. 
• Ability to write routine reports and professional correspondence. 
• Ability to effectively communicate and present information in one-on-one, small group and large group situations.

 Mathematical Skills:

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, decimals and percentages.

Abilities:

• Requires ability to carry out all aspects of the position.
• Coordinate, maintain and document group benefits, program elements, including the ability to set up employee enrollment services. 
• Interpret the policies, procedures and legal requirements governing human resources management.  
• Maintain confidentiality of employee information.  
• Coordinate and perform subject specific projects.  
• Problem-solve and apply understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written and/or oral or diagram form or legal mandates. 
• Apply logical understanding to carry out detailed written or oral instructions. 
• Manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and work independently under pressure.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties and responsibilities of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear, stand, walk, sit, use hands and arms to handle, feel and reach and significant finger dexterity.  Requires the ability to function indoors in an office environment engaged in work of primarily a sedentary nature; near visual acuity to read printed materials and computer screen.  Ability to perform repetitive motions. The employee is occasionally required to stoop or kneel and occasionally lift and move up to 25 pounds. Regular attendance is expected.

Work Environment:

The noise level in the work environment is quiet to moderate.  The employee continuously is interacting with the public and staff.

Terms of Employment:

Employment terms covering compensation, bene?ts, and working conditions are speci?ed by the Board of Education’s policies, agreements and approvals. 

The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. Additional duties may be assigned by the Supervisor, subject to all applicable state and federal laws.

Revised: October, 2025