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CITY of SOMERVILLE Benefits Manager in Somerville, Massachusetts

The Benefits Manager is responsible for overseeing the enrollment of employees in the City?s health and welfare benefits programs and ensuring that the benefits offered are cost-effective, affordable, and meet the needs of the City and School employees, and retirees. The Benefits Division of the Human Resources Department administers employee benefits including health insurance (through the Massachusetts Group Insurance Commission), dental, vision, and life insurance, short- and long-term disability programs, and worker\'s compensation. The Division also oversees Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and 457(b)/deferred compensation plans with assistance from third-party administrators. The Benefits Manager is a supervisory position, ensuring compliance with applicable local, state, and federal regulations. Essential Functions: The essential functions or 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 the position. Oversees Division staff as well as several third-party administrators in the management of the City?s various benefits programs; Cross-trains staff within the Division as needed. Keeps staff apprised of key benefit changes in order to provide the best possible customer service; Drafts and/or reviews all internal and external benefits-related correspondence, including open enrollment and other benefit changes to employees and retirees as needed; Works collaboratively with the Somerville Retirement Board, City Auditor, including external auditors, Payroll staff, and school administrators on all benefits-related activities; Collects and/or oversees the collection, analysis, auditing, reconciliation, and reporting of benefits data; Manages and administers Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Health Insurance Responsibility Disclosure (HIRD) reporting; Assists with the preparation of GASB 45 and/or other mandated reports; Oversees reconciliation of benefit-related deductions and insurance billing to the City?s Financial/Payroll systems; Performs analytical work related to benefit plans, including research, plan design performance, claim trends cost forecasting, and projecting collective bargaining proposal costs; Ensures compliance with all legal, security, and privacy requirements of benefit programs; Reconciles administrative costs and employee deductions across multiple payrolls, appropriations to payroll systems and the General Ledger; Performs regular audits of employee records; Serves as HR?s primary contact with benefit-related third-party administrators; Manages open enrollment, vendor bidding and other benefit-related projects; Analyzes data and trends; Coordinates meetings between School, City and Retiree constituents to discuss concerns or outstanding items as needed; Complies with Departmental standard operating procedures; and Performs other related duties as assigned Recommended Minimum Qualifications: Education and Experience: Bachelor?s Degree and five (5) years? experience administering benefits, including at least three years of supervisory experience; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Experience with automated payroll systems. Benefits experience with a large, complex public employer and/or MUNIS software experience are strongly preferred.

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