Benefits Specialist 2 at Montebello Unified School District Tweet    Print    Application Deadline

3/31/2025 4:00 PM Pacific

Date Posted 3/18/2025 Contact Rocio Suarez
(323) 887-7900 Number of Openings 1 Salary Single Rate
$28.21-$37.09 Per Hour Add'l Salary Info $4,889.43-$6,427.46 Monthly Length of Work Year 12 months Employment Type Full Time Job Description / Essential Elements:    Print   

GENERAL PURPOSE

Under general supervision, plans, coordinates, implements and administers the District’s health and benefits programs (including medical, dental, life, vision, long-term care and employee assistance programs), for employees and retirees; performs a variety of technical duties related to the District’s health and benefits programs of gradually increasing scope and complexity with increasing requirements of initiative and independence of action; and performs related duties as assigned.

DISTINGUSHING CHARACTERISTICS

A Benefits Specialist II performs advanced journey-level, technical work in the administration of employee benefits programs and may assist higher-level personnel in performing more complex assignments, which requires higher degree of problem solving and independent discretion in carrying out assignments. Incumbents in this classification are required to have subject matter expertise in the administration of employee benefits programs, and to abide by all applicable laws, regulations, codes and District policies and procedures. Incumbents may act in a lead capacity as needed.

A Benefits Specialist I performs professional-level, technical work in the administration of employee benefits programs that is more limited in scope and complexity, and subject to closer supervision and review, than work performed by a Benefits Specialist II. An incumbent in this class is responsible for performing a wide array of routine to complex specialized tasks in support of the District’s health and benefits programs and is expected to provide customer-responsive service to employees, retirees, insurance vendors, District administrators and others. A Benefits Assistant applies basic knowledge and skills of benefits administration in the progression of duties and responsibilities leading to qualification as a Benefits Specialist I or higher. A Benefits Assistant receives on-the-job training and performs duties directly related to the duties of the higher-level classes of Benefits Specialist I and II.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to this class. Learns and applies policies, regulations, procedures, and techniques of health and benefits administration in performing some of the tasks listed below:

Analyzes laws, rules, reports, publications, and court cases for information relating to health and benefits administration. Provides excellent service, assistance, information and guidance to MUSD employees and retirees regarding employee benefits programs and services. Maintains records of confidential benefits information of MUSD personnel as related to employee benefits programs. Provides input to upper-level management for decisions regarding policies, regulations, collective bargaining agreements, and operational procedures as related to employee benefits programs. Serves as a liaison between benefits providers and MUSD management to provide information related to employee benefits programs and services. Ensures the District is accurately invoiced by benefits program insurance vendors; notifies vendors of employee additions and deletions to programs; audits and reconciles complex invoices from multiple insurance vendors; identifies discrepancies in District and vendor reports; communicates with vendors regarding discrepancies and ensures discrepancies are appropriately rectified; submits invoices to Accounting to ensure that premium payments are remitted in a timely manner. Within required time frames, composes, revises, edits or generates a wide variety of written correspondence for employees and retirees, including notifications to recently retired employees of available benefits, COBRA notifications for terminated employees, and notification to employees who are reaching the maximum age for District-paid health benefits. Compiles, calculates and enters benefits-related data and information into applicable databases or spreadsheets, including employee contribution levels, dependent data and retiree listings; as necessary, performs arithmetic calculations and compares information with other pertinent sources to ensure accuracy and completeness prior to data entry. Creates, updates, maintains and distributes specialized charts, reports, lists, records and other documentation related to health and benefits and coverage; updates benefit tables to reflect premium changes; maintains current and updated files and file catalogs; coordinates file storage for easy access.

10.  Collects and processes benefits-related accounts receivables; collects monies from retirees and employees on COBRA or leaves of absence; posts, reconciles and submits payments; generates invoices of payments due; audits accounts to send overdue notices or adjustment notices for underpayment or overpayment of account.

11.  Coordinates and processes employee and retiree benefit program enrollments and terminations; reviews and completes all related paperwork, identifies errors or omissions and ensures prompt resolution; audits Board action reports to identify newly hired or terminated employees who have not completed and submitted necessary health and benefits forms; reconciles vendor enrollment data with District data to ensure that it is accurate, complete and current; identifies and rectifies discrepancies.

12.  As requested, assembles and provides technical and specialized information to supervisor and others; serves as an advisor to the insurance committee; provides census data of the cost of funding retirees’ benefits to Finance.

13.  Provides lead direction and monitors day-to-day work performance of lower level staff in the Benefits Department as needed.

14.  May substitute for higher-level personnel during short-term absences.

15.  Performs related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:

Applicable laws, codes, rules, regulations and District policies and procedures related to area of responsibility. Modern office practices, procedures and equipment. Methods, practices, terminology and procedures used in benefits administration. Principles and practices of sound business communication. Technical aspects of health and benefits field. Basic accounting principles and practices. Telephone techniques and etiquette.

Ability to:

Operate a computer and other standard office equipment. Understand, interpret, apply and explain laws, rules, regulations, codes, policies and procedures related to areas of responsibility. Communicate clearly and concisely orally and in writing. Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those encountered in the course of work. Organize, set priorities and exercise sound independent judgment within areas of responsibility. Use tact, discretion and diplomacy in dealing with sensitive situations and concerned people and customers and listen, with empathy, to concerns of employees, managers and others. Define issues, analyze problems, evaluate alternatives and develop sound, independent conclusions and recommendations in accordance with laws, regulations, rules and policies.

Education, Training, and Experience:

Graduation from high school or G.E.D. equivalent is required, supplemented by college course work (equivalent to 36 semester or 54 quarter units) in public administration, economics, business, accounting, taxation or a closely related field. A bachelor’s degree in a related field is highly desirable. And, three (3) years of progressively responsible paid experience in human resources or payroll, with emphasis on benefits administration. Experience in a public agency is preferred. Additional related education or certification may substitute for only one year of experience.

Licenses; Certificates; Special Requirements:

A valid California Driver License. A valid proof of insurability.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS

 

The physical requirements indicated below are examples of the physical aspects that this position classification must perform in carrying out essential job functions.

 

Lift, carry, push, pull, bend, twist, stoop, kneel, walk, run, and crawl. Perform light physical exertion. Lift 25 pounds. Carry 15 pounds. Reach in all directions. Stand, sit and walk for extended periods of time. Work at a desk, conference table or in meetings of various configurations. Read, interpret, and apply rules, regulations, policies and procedures.

Persons with disabilities may be able to perform the essential duties of this class with reasonable accommodation. Reasonable accommodation will be evaluated on an individual basis and depend, in part, on the specific requirements for the job, the limitations related to disability and the ability of the selection authority to accommodate the limitation.

Requirements / Qualifications

Education, Training, and Experience: Graduation from high school or G.E.D. equivalent is required, supplemented by college course work (equivalent to 36 semester or 54 quarter units) in public administration, economics, business, accounting, taxation or a closely related field. A bachelor's degree in a related field is highly desirable. And, three (3) years of progressively responsible paid experience in human resources or payroll, with emphasis on benefits administration. Experience in a public agency is preferred. Additional related education or certification may substitute for only one year of experience. Licenses; Certificates; Special Requirements: A valid California Driver License. A valid proof of insurability.

Requirements / Qualifications

Education, Training, and Experience: Graduation from high school or G.E.D. equivalent is required, supplemented by college course work (equivalent to 36 semester or 54 quarter units) in public administration, economics, business, accounting, taxation or a closely related field. A bachelor's degree in a related field is highly desirable. And, three (3) years of progressively responsible paid experience in human resources or payroll, with emphasis on benefits administration. Experience in a public agency is preferred. Additional related education or certification may substitute for only one year of experience. Licenses; Certificates; Special Requirements: A valid California Driver License. A valid proof of insurability.

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