Generalist Benefits

at  Anchorage School District

JOB SUMMARY

The Benefits Generalists collaborates with Human Resources Division staff in the management and maintenance of employee records and information systems, including confidential information relevant to benefits, employment actions, and collective bargaining. The generalist collaborates and cross-trains with other benefits staff to support critical business functions to include leave management, SOA retirement processing, reporting, and benefits platform oversight. Generalists are responsible for ensuring confidentiality and compliance with laws and procedures. The position has a retirement association with the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS).

JOB REQUIREMENTS

The following are required:

• A bachelor’s degree. Equivalent experience, education, and training may be considered in lieu of the degree requirement.
• Possession of one of the following certifications within 12 months of date of hire: Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) certification, SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP, PHR/SPHR
• Three years of experience in and knowledge of working with employee benefits.

The following are preferred:

• Knowledge of ASD’s benefit plans/provisions and prior experience with human resources information systems.
• Knowledge of Alaska statutes of the Teachers’ and Public Employees’ Retirement Systems (TRS and PERS) and 403(B)/457(B) defined contribution retirement plans.
• Intermediate to advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word including high proficiency with spreadsheets and HRIS management tools.
• Experience with the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and Alaska Family Leave Act (AFLA).
• Experience working within a large organization with a unionized workforce, particularly in a public school district or public higher education setting.

Essential Job Functions

• Collaborates with the leave generalist to process leave applications and requests, review/request documentation, make leave determinations. Supports leave functions as needed through cross training to ensure continuity of workflow.
• Collaborates with the retirement and compensation generalist to reconcile and report retirement contributions to the State of Alaska. Supports retirement functions as needed through cross training to ensure continuity of workflow.
• Responsible for all Benefit communications including internal and external website, flyers, newsletters, surveys, and announcements; collaborates with internal staff and vendors to ensure information accuracy.
• Review weekly demographic files; collaborates with internal departments to resolve errors, communicates employee status changes and effective dates.
• Provides oversight of the benefits payroll deduction files and BenDi application; works with IT partners and internal staff to troubleshoot and resolve errors and make payroll adjustment as needed.
• Processes and reports monthly and bi-weekly HSA/FSA contributions.
• Assists with development and maintenance of department business process manuals; collaborates with directors and benefit staff to review and modify written procedures.
• Develops, prepares, generates, and analyzes ongoing and ad-hoc reports pertaining to benefits information; responds to requests from other departments.
• Assists with coordination of department events including conferences, new employee orientations, open enrollment, and benefit changes.
• Communicates with employee group trust contacts, ASD health plan third party administrators, and vendors to ensure accuracy of benefits coverage, verify coverage eligibility, and facilitate enrollments as needed.
• Prepares and files benefit reports as required by federal/state law.
• Assists with Affordable Care ACT (ACA) compliance and reporting tools; collaborates with benefits staff and IT to produce annual 1095C and 1094C fillings.
• Responds to inquiries regarding benefits, leave, negotiated agreements, benefits business practices and process, school board policies.
• Communicates effectively in verbal and written communications.
• Assists in development of departmental goals, objectives, and systems.
• Adapts established procedures to practical situations, makes decisions, develops recommendations for system improvements, manages multiple tasks, organizes, plans, prioritizes, and implements/completes assignments.
• Maintains knowledge of trends, best practices and regulatory changes in employee benefits; maintains compliance with federal, state and local laws and regulations.

ADDITIONAL JOB INFORMATION

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job related duties as requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments.
Anchorage School District (ASD) employees must possess the ability to read and write in English. This also includes the ability to communicate in English with school staff, co-workers, and the public; as well as have the ability to comprehend and carry out oral and written directions and understand and follow English instructions and written documents.
Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a satisfactory criminal background check. For certificated positions, this is in addition to the background check conducted through the certification process with the Alaska State Department of Education and Early Development (DEED).
This position may be required to work in ASD facilities on the military installations (JBER). Please visit the government REAL ID website for additional information.

Please refer the Job description for details