Job Posting
Employee Benefits Specialist
CEBS Requirement: None
Missoula MT
At the City of Missoula, our employees serve the community every day—and our Benefits Specialist plays a vital role in supporting them. This position serves as a trusted resource for employees navigating benefits and leave programs, providing expert guidance, thoughtful problem-solving, and compassionate support during important life events. If you enjoy helping people understand their benefits, ensuring programs are in compliance, run smoothly, and contribute to a workplace where employees feel supported and valued, we invite you to bring your expertise to our HR team.
Essential Functions
-Manage employee benefit programs, including self-insured health/dental/vision and all supplemental benefits through eligibility determination, benefit enrollment, qualifying life status changes, beneficiary updates, and processing of life insurance claims.
-Manage and ensure the accuracy of all entries of benefit enrollment and deductions in the Human Resource Information System (HRIS).
-Ensure compliance with several federal regulations related to health benefits and leave, including the issuance of mandatory compliance notices in a timely manner and monitoring enrollment for compliance with regulations, plan documents, and policies.
-Exercise independent judgment in interpreting benefit policies and regulations, identify compliance risks, and recommend corrective action when needed.
-Provide timely and empathetic guidance and support to employees and managers, answering questions related to benefits, leave processes, and benefit-related policies.
-Provide support with protected and personal leave through leave determination, recordkeeping, compliance, and communication with employees, supervisors, and care providers as needed.
-Manage Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and Paid Parental Leave (PPL) requests; ensure prompt and compliant service.
-Manage unemployment claim responses in a timely manner.
-Serve as the primary point of contact for program vendors and third-party administrators, resolving issues and ensuring effective service delivery.
-Oversee accuracy of employee benefit files and payroll records while ensuring compliance with retention requirements.
-Implement and manage HR systems to streamline operations and improve efficiency, accuracy, and service delivery for employees.
-Create and maintain all benefits-related communications on the website, intranet, email, mailings, and fliers.
-Develop and facilitate education sessions for employees related to benefits.
-Perform audits and required state and federal filings, including annual 1095 reports.
-Process the monthly reconciliation of benefit invoices to identify and resolve discrepancies to ensure accurate billing, enrollments, and retiree benefit payments.
-Research employee benefit and wellness practices and recommend changes and/or modifications to existing health plan design, policies, and programs.
-Serve as HR staff representative to the Employee Benefits Committee; prepare and present benefits updates and recommendations.
-Manage the Voluntary Employee’s Beneficiary Association (VEBA) program for multiple departments and groups, providing clear and timely employee communications regarding VEBA benefits; deliver employee training and information sessions; administer annual VEBA voting processes with attention to election integrity and confidentiality; route documents for approval and signature; and ensure ongoing compliance with State regulations and City policies.
-Perform other duties as assigned, based on training and qualifications
To Learn More and to Apply visit our Careers Page. Resumes are not accepted. Please apply using the City's online application.
Priority screening of applications will begin on Monday, April 20th. It is in your best interest to apply before this date.
Essential Functions
-Manage employee benefit programs, including self-insured health/dental/vision and all supplemental benefits through eligibility determination, benefit enrollment, qualifying life status changes, beneficiary updates, and processing of life insurance claims.
-Manage and ensure the accuracy of all entries of benefit enrollment and deductions in the Human Resource Information System (HRIS).
-Ensure compliance with several federal regulations related to health benefits and leave, including the issuance of mandatory compliance notices in a timely manner and monitoring enrollment for compliance with regulations, plan documents, and policies.
-Exercise independent judgment in interpreting benefit policies and regulations, identify compliance risks, and recommend corrective action when needed.
-Provide timely and empathetic guidance and support to employees and managers, answering questions related to benefits, leave processes, and benefit-related policies.
-Provide support with protected and personal leave through leave determination, recordkeeping, compliance, and communication with employees, supervisors, and care providers as needed.
-Manage Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and Paid Parental Leave (PPL) requests; ensure prompt and compliant service.
-Manage unemployment claim responses in a timely manner.
-Serve as the primary point of contact for program vendors and third-party administrators, resolving issues and ensuring effective service delivery.
-Oversee accuracy of employee benefit files and payroll records while ensuring compliance with retention requirements.
-Implement and manage HR systems to streamline operations and improve efficiency, accuracy, and service delivery for employees.
-Create and maintain all benefits-related communications on the website, intranet, email, mailings, and fliers.
-Develop and facilitate education sessions for employees related to benefits.
-Perform audits and required state and federal filings, including annual 1095 reports.
-Process the monthly reconciliation of benefit invoices to identify and resolve discrepancies to ensure accurate billing, enrollments, and retiree benefit payments.
-Research employee benefit and wellness practices and recommend changes and/or modifications to existing health plan design, policies, and programs.
-Serve as HR staff representative to the Employee Benefits Committee; prepare and present benefits updates and recommendations.
-Manage the Voluntary Employee’s Beneficiary Association (VEBA) program for multiple departments and groups, providing clear and timely employee communications regarding VEBA benefits; deliver employee training and information sessions; administer annual VEBA voting processes with attention to election integrity and confidentiality; route documents for approval and signature; and ensure ongoing compliance with State regulations and City policies.
-Perform other duties as assigned, based on training and qualifications
To Learn More and to Apply visit our Careers Page. Resumes are not accepted. Please apply using the City's online application.
Priority screening of applications will begin on Monday, April 20th. It is in your best interest to apply before this date.
