Position Type:
Classified Administration/Generalist Benefits

Date Posted:
4/14/2021

Location:
BENEFITS

Date Available:
04/19/2021

Bargaining Unit: Exempt
Work Year: 240 days, 12 contract payments
Work day: 8 hours per day
FTE: Full time, 1.0 FTE
Salary: $68,000 - $77,000

Job Summary
The Benefits Generalist for enrollment and onboarding provides oversight of benefit enrollment processes for Anchorage School District employees and dependents, initiates employee COBRA administration, and verifies accurate processing of benefit deductions. The Generalist is responsible for responding to inquiries about the District's health, leave, and retirement plans. Generalists collaborate 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. 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:

1. 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, Certified Compensation Professional (CCP), Professional Human Resources (PHR), or Senior Professional Human Resources (SPHR) certification or equivalent, such as SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP.Three years of experience in and knowledge of working with employee benefits.

The following are preferred:

1. Thorough 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).Intermediate to advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word including high proficiency with spreadsheets and HRIS management tools.Experience working within a large organization with a unionized workforce, particularly in a public school district or public higher education setting.Prior project management and HRIS report writing experience.

Essential Job Functions

1. Coordinates benefits enrollment entry for new employees and dependents and changes to coverage for qualifying events, personnel changes, and name changes.Collects information and enters new enrollment data into various carriers' web portals and other applicable employee benefits management systems.Ensures all benefit deductions are correctly reflected for payroll processing with applicable benefit start date.Coordinates employee enrollment in Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs).Reviews notices of resignation, initiates employer COBRA administration for eligible employees, and coordinates benefit deductions with the Payroll Department on final check.Coordinates events surrounding the District's near-site care center; works to resolve all service issues with the care center vendor; collaborates with the vendor to create communications promoting incentives, services, and events.Responds to inquiries from employees, administrators, and the general public, interpreting state laws, Anchorage School Board policies, negotiated agreements, and benefits business practices.Provides support as needed for the leave, benefits, and retirement functions through cross training ensuring continuity of workflow and exceptional employee experience.Exemplifies and ensures a department service culture of excellence in customer service and collaboration with Benefits internal and external customers.Collaborates with the senior director in review and monitoring of benefit business practices, including, but not limited to, department operations, onboarding practices, contract/law compliance, and records management, supporting with collaborative counsel in these areas to Benefits staff and customers.Collaborates with the senior director in the management, maintenance, and auditing of benefits data and required reports.Collaborates with the Labor Relations Department as assigned.Develops, prepares, generates, and analyzes ongoing and ad-hoc reports pertaining to benefits information.Adapts established procedures to practical situations, makes decisions, develops recommendations for system improvements, manages multiple tasks, organizes, plans, prioritizes, and implements/completes assignments.Assists in development of departmental goals, objectives, and systems.Communicates effectively verbally and in writing with all levels of management, supervision, and other ASD personnel.May attend and present at benefits and retirement seminars as required.Updates job knowledge by participating in conferences and educational opportunities, reading professional publications, and participating in professional organizations.Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with others, especially from a consultative perspective.

Physical /Mental Demands
The physical demands of this job require frequent standing, walking, sitting, speaking and hearing. Specific visual abilities are also required. The employee is regularly required to reach with his/her hands and arms and occasionally lift items weighing less than 40 lbs. Additionally, the employee must be able to understand vague and implicit instructions, be able to readily recall facts and details, handle conflict and make effective decisions under pressure. The employee must have the ability to effectively manage the stress of working with students, parents, and other employees representing diverse cultures, personalities, and work styles in a dynamic work environment.

The Anchorage School District is committed to providing reasonable accommodations, according to applicable state and federal laws, to all individuals with a qualified physical or mental disability.

Work Environment
Work is performed in a professional environment with a wide variety of individuals having differing functions, personalities and abilities, including working with diverse groups of people in a variety of different settings.

While performing the duties of this job the employee may be regularly exposed to a video display. The employee may be exposed to outdoor weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

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.

The Anchorage School District is an equal employment opportunity employer.