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District of Columbia Housing Authority

Benefits Specialist

District of Columbia Housing Authority, Washington, District of Columbia, us, 20022


ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The below statements are intended to describe the general nature and scope of work being performed by this position. This is not a complete listing of all responsibilities, duties and/or skills required. Other duties may be assigned:

BENEFITS ADMINISTRATIONAdministration of employee benefits programs such as medical, dental, vision, life insurance/AD&D plans; wellness program; 401k plans, flexible spending plans; voluntary benefits.Maintains records of cost of benefits and compiles data for cost analysis. Partners with Finance and others as needed regarding accuracy of carrier billing/client billing/employee contributions.Ensures full compliance with all state and federal regulations, reporting and filing requirements relating to all benefit plans. Work closely with benefit brokers and vendors.Administers the open enrollment process for all benefit and 401A programs, including the development of timelines, communication plan utilizing various media, system updates, coordinating with 3rd party partners, brokers, vendors and reporting.Manages the relationships with vendors including benefit brokers and service administrators, relating to quality, service agreements, costs/billings, reporting, audits and controls.In coordination with Human Resources, supports the execution of all Leaves of Absences, including employee communications, legal compliance, and management of leave tracking related to FMLA, Short-Term & Long-Term Disability, and Worker's Compensation.Performs annual audits on benefits, employee classifications, Cobra, and leave administration etc.OTHER DAY-TO-DAY RESPONSIBILITIES

Ensures the accuracy of all benefits enrollments in the HRIS to provide vendors with accurate eligibility information.Assists with developing documents, scheduling and conducting new-hire orientations.Performs quality checks of benefits-related data.Assists with completing tasks relating to the workers compensation program.Assists employees regarding benefits claim issues and plan changes.Distributes all benefits enrollment materials and determines eligibility.Enrolls employees with carriers and process life status changes.Responds to benefits inquiries from managers and employees on plan provisions, benefits enrollments, status changes and other general inquiries.Processes and administers all leave-of-absence requests and disability paperwork: medical, personal, disability and FMLA.Effectively interprets FMLA and ADA implications as they relate to leaves of absences/disabilities.Responds to 401(k) inquiries from managers and employees relating to enrollments, plan changes and contribution amounts. Manages the annual catch-up contribution enrollment.Administer the open enrollment process.Provides necessary reports for allocation/billing charges.Provides updates to classification systems.Performs other duties as assigned.EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field(s) and at least three (3) years experience in administering employee compensation and benefits. A PHR or SPHR certification is preferred.

JOB COMPETENCIES

Knowledge of the general operations and procedures of a Public Housing Agency (PHA).Knowledge of the purposes, policies, and regulations of the Housing Authority as established by the Board of Commissioners.Knowledge of Human Resource practices and federal, state and local law and they pertain to staffing, recruitment, and selection.Knowledge of modern office equipment including copiers, personal computers, mainframe terminals, calculators, facsimile machines, etc.Ability to understand, act on, and interpret policies, regulations, and procedures as set forth by the Housing Authority and/or the Department of Housing and Urban Affairs (HUD).Ability to prepare and present ideas in a clear and concise manner, both orally and in writingAbility to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, vendors, consultants, contractors, residents, and local, state, and federal officials; ability to communicate with people from a broad range of socio-economic backgrounds.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field(s) and a minimum of three (3) years experience in administering employee compensation and benefits. A PHR or SPHR certification is preferred.

An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that provides the required knowledge and abilities may be considered sufficient.

TECHNICAL SKILLS

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have strong computer skills (MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, and MS Outlook) and demonstrate proficiency in typing. Must be able to learn other computer software programs as required by assigned tasks.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work requires no unusual physical demands. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk and listen. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.