Job Details

Why Work For Overland Park?

Employment with the City provides an opportunity to connect with the community while working on meaningful projects that impact lives every day. Learn more about our core values and how City staff support one another to make Overland Park a great place to live, work, and play.

About the Role

Responsible for coordinating all aspects of employee benefit plans (i.e., health, dental, vision, life, long-term care, long and short-term disability, critical illness, on-site clinic, wellness, employee assistance program, and Section 125 plans) that includes conducting new hire orientations; day-to-day administration; handling inquiries about eligibility, changes, enrollments, and benefit plan interpretation; coordinating the benefit renewal process including all activities associated with an annual open enrollment; and ensuring that contracts, plan documents, and amendments are maintained and disclosed as necessary. Also responsible for communicating benefit plan information, staying current on federal, state, and local issues involving employee benefits, and ensuring that the City's benefit plans comply with city, state, and federal regulations.

Daily physical on-site presence in the office, consistent attendance, and reliable punctuality are essential functions of this position. Any changes or adjustments to your assigned work schedule or shift hours must be approved by your supervisor in advance. This position has core business hours and days, Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm, with a one hour scheduled lunch.

Responsibilities

• Provides day-to-day administration of all employee benefits programs.
• Responds to employees and providers with questions concerning eligibility, changes, enrollments, plan design, and benefit plan interpretation.
• Makes recommendations for changes in City's benefit plans.
• May present benefit plan analysis and recommendations to the Council Committee.
• FMLA, review and tracking assistance and backup, potential administration.
• Coordinates the benefits renewal process that includes selecting a benefits consultant; reviewing quotes and offers; developing and presenting staff recommendations to the appropriate council committee, and ensuring that each plan and contract is executed within timeframes established.
• Also responsible for maintaining enrollments and changes to the Section 125 Plan.
• Coordinates the annual Open Enrollment process, creates and distributes packets, schedules and conducts benefit meetings; receives and verifies the accuracy of completed forms and online open enrollment elections, and submits forms and elections to insurance carriers.
• Administers Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) and Section 125 Plan weekly reimbursements.
• Notifies employees and beneficiaries, coordinates enrollments, monitors eligibility and explains plan details.
• Inputs and maintains a database of all COBRA participants and employees in out-of-pay status.
• Tracks and ensures receipt of premium payments and proper accounting of those payments.
• Conducts functions necessary to ensure that insurance premiums for all of the City's benefits are remitted accurately and on time.
• Reconciles insurance registers against payroll registers and insurance billing statements.
• Generates financial requests or automated clearing house transactions.
• Maintains required documentation to provide accountability for City funds.
• Inputs and maintains a database of retirees and the City's subsidy for their continued insurance benefits.
• Tracks and ensures receipt of premium payments and proper accounting of those payments.
• Assists in the day-to-day administration of retirement plans.
• Assists with participant education for retirement plans, including, KPERS, MEPP, KP&F, and the 457 Deferred Compensation Plans by serving as back-up to the Benefits Assistant.
• Inputs and maintains KPERS and KP&F retirement applications, applications for disability, service purchases, and life insurance claims.
• Works with the payroll division to ensure leave of absence status for employee premiums and eligibility are communicated appropriately.
• Performs new employee, first-day orientations.
• Explains all related paperwork and information and assists employees with their portion of insurance-related information and then completes City's portion with necessary information.
• Develops and coordinates distribution of annual employee benefit statements.
• Creates documents outlining value of employer-provided benefits and compensation.
• Communicates important need-to-know information concerning employee benefits using appropriate mediums such as newsletters, voicemail, email, memos and flyers.
• Maintains and updates benefit summary brochure used in recruiting.
• Stays current on federal, state, and local legislation affecting employee benefits and assures that City plans comply with regulations.
• Administers the City's wellness program.
• Coordinates, communicates, and implements programs and services for employees to provide program outcomes for better health.
• Works to scheduling annual biometric screenings, flu shot clinics, and educates employees regarding the City's wellness program through multiple avenues.
• Partners with on-site clinic staff and vendors to ensure the integrity of the clinic and wellness program coordination.
• Coordinates day-to-day administration associated with the City's employee assistance program.
• Reviews utilization reports; assures up-to-date information is available through the City's intranet site; processes monthly invoices; and schedules quarterly training sessions.
• Inputs benefit enrollment and maintenance information in Human Resources Information System (HRIS) and various vendor portals and websites.
• Daily administration of bills, processing, payment and reconciliation.
• The employee must work the days and hours necessary to perform all assigned responsibilities and tasks.
• Must be available (especially during regular business hours or shifts) to communicate with subordinates, supervisors, customers, vendors and any other persons or organization with whom interaction is required to accomplish work and employer goals.
• The employee must be punctual and timely in meeting all requirements of performance, including, but not limited to, attendance standards and work deadlines; beginning and ending assignments on time; and scheduled work breaks, where applicable.

Qualifications

• EDUCATION & SPECIAL LICENSE(S)/CERTIFICATIONS: Bachelor's degree in business administration, a related field of study, or an equivalent combination of formal education and work experience is required. Certification as a benefits professional is preferred. Prior benefit and retirement experience in municipalities or states preferred.
• EXPERIENCE: Three to five years of human resources or administrative experience with preference given for experience in benefits. Advancement toward Certified Employee Benefits Specialist or Certified Benefits Professional is desirable.

Required Skills

• Excellent oral and written communication.
• Expert Excel level experience required (i.e. V-look up).
• Good listening skills.
• Must have working knowledge of windows-based word processing and spreadsheet software applications, along with familiarity with HRIS software systems
• Ability to comply with City's confidentiality policy