Human Resources Specialist - Leaves and Benefits Coordinator

at  City of Seattle

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Invitation to Compete #38-24: HR Specialist - Benefits and Leaves
Central Library, Human Resources Division
Regular, FLSA non-exempt, full time (40 hours per week)
Salary range: $40.18 – $48.84 per hour
This recruitment is open to the public and to The Seattle Public Library’s employees. Please read the How to Apply section of this bulletin for more information. Please submit your application, cover letter and resume in NEOGOV by 5:00 p.m. on November 25, 2024, to be considered.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS EDUCATION & WELLNESS INITIATIVES

• Promote wellness initiatives and other employee benefits programs to improve employee health, productivity, and well-being.
• Work with internal communications to regularly promote benefits and wellness programs through emails, intranet posts, or employee events.
• Promote wellness challenges, health screenings, or other employee engagement initiatives that contribute to overall employee satisfaction and health.
  HR Support: Assist ADA coordinator with reasonable accommodation tasks. Assist with HR projects and initiatives as assigned. Provide HR support as needed and assigned by HR Manager and HR Director. Work independently and as part of a team. Ability to work with limited supervision. Core duties may be reassigned as operationally necessary.

QUALIFICATIONS

Application materials should demonstrate that a candidate possesses the following experience and qualifications:
Commitment to Advancing Racial Equity and Social Justice Principles: Basic understanding of the City’s Race and Social Justice Initiative. More information can be found through the City’s webpages for RSJI and the Office of Civil Rights – seattle.gov/rsji and seattle.gov/civil-rights
Education: A baccalaureate degree in business or public administration, education, human resources, liberal arts or social sciences is preferred.
Experience: Three years of professional level work experience in the human resources field, with an emphasis in benefits and leave administration functions. Experience with Workday is highly preferred. Experience in a public sector and unionized environment is desired. Experience

SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Strong understanding of HR policies, benefits, and leave laws.
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to handle multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
• Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to explain complex benefits information in an accessible manner to employees at all levels.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
• Proficiency with HRIS, payroll software, and Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, etc.).
• Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, and manage deadlines.
• Strong understanding of the workers’ compensation process and regulations.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple claims simultaneously.
  Communications: Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills, including ability to communicate sensitive and technical information to Library employees in a respectful and caring manner, to develop detailed and technical written materials, to provide presentations and participate in training. Ability to work cooperatively with a wide variety of groups and individuals.
  Tact, Diplomacy and Confidentiality: Ability to exercise discretion, tact and diplomacy in the handling of sensitive and confidential employee benefits and medical information. Ability to maintain strict confidence in performing job duties.
  Analytical and Organizational Skills: Ability to identify information needs and develop effective strategies. Ability to gather and analyze data from a wide variety of sources, use various analytical methods and interpret information for others. Emphasis is on analytical skills in areas of benefits, leave administration and payroll. Able to prioritize multiple job requirements and tasks and to ensure effective action and follow-through.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience working with Workday from a HR perspective.
• Experience with disability claims or workers’ compensation processes.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Essential Job Duties

Leaves and Benefits Coordination: Support the administration of the Library’s various leave provisions and policies, as well as the coordination of employee medical leaves, such as FMLA and other City leave programs. As needed, assist with employee ADA accommodations. Assume a lead role in communicating changes in the benefit plans, policies and procedures to the Library’s administration and staff by developing informational materials, presentations and providing consultation for individuals. Maintain current information on the Benefits and Health & Wellness pages on the Library’s intranet for employees.

• Process employee requests for various types of leave (e.g., FMLA, parental leave, short-term disability, paid/unpaid leave, jury duty, military leave, etc.).
• Review and verify eligibility for leave, ensuring compliance with relevant laws and policies.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of leave balances, usage, and documentation.
• Coordinate with employees, managers, and other departments to manage and track leave status and timelines.
• Main point of contact for benefit programs, including health insurance, dental, vision, life insurance, short- and long-term disability, and other voluntary benefits.
• Ensure the timely enrollment, modification, and termination of benefits coverage for employees.
• Coordinate the annual open enrollment process, including communicating deadlines, organizing benefits fairs or informational sessions, and ensuring employees have the necessary resources to make informed decisions.

The Human Resources Division is one of four divisions that reports to the Chief Librarian and is responsible for:

• Compensation and Payroll
• Employee and Labor Relations
• Employee Benefits and Leaves
• Human Resources Data Management and Analytics
• Learning and Development
• Occupational Safety and Health
• Performance Management
• Talent Acquisition and Employment
• Volunteer Services and Internships
• Workforce Developmen