Total Rewards Specialist

Total Rewards Specialist

The City of Asheville is seeking qualified applicants for the position of Total Rewards Specialist. The Total Rewards Specialist supports administration and maintenance of the City's compensation, benefits (including retirement plans), and other policies and programs, ensuring that the administration of vendors and other internal partners are in alignment with vendor contracts, City policies and guidelines, as well as in compliance with legal and fiscal regulations / requirements.

The following duties are normal for this position. The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Other duties may be required and assigned.

Analyzes and evaluates proposed and edited job descriptions for inclusion in the organization's compensation program. Grades jobs for compensation. Administers the City's Compensation policy to recommend salaries as consulted by recruiting partners. Consults with departmental leaders to authorize and shape new cash compensation programs, such as supplements, premiums or career ladders. Collaborates with departmental leadership and total rewards vendors to implement benefits programs. Researches new and updated benefits program offerings. Participates in the proposal and contracting process for new and renewed vendor relationships. Monitors contracts for renewal and other milestones to ensure timely management of contracting processes. Ensures program documentation is current and accurate, liaising with vendors and other internal colleagues to coordinate updates as necessary to contracts, policies, and plan documents. Designs, analyzes and delivers reports on compensation and benefits data to support ongoing needs. Conducts regular audits of total rewards data in Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS) to ensure participation is in alignment with eligibility criteria and other design parameters. Gathers and delivers compensation data to external partners in support of market reviews, salary surveys and regulatory reporting requirements. Configures deductions into the HRIS to support adoption of new benefits or vendors and to support open enrollment. Collaborates with internal and external partners to ensure HRIS configuration allows for accurate and compliant benefits and compensation processing. Identifies issues that are impacting the effectiveness, efficiency, or accuracy of compensation and benefits processes and administration. Collaborates with the Finance team to configure the organization's total rewards systems for accurate payroll and accounting. Researches and addresses complex issues arising from total rewards programs and implements solutions as needed and authorized. Requests non-routine data and reports from vendor partners to support ongoing or emergent needs. Escalates employee requests and issues to vendor partners for resolution. Leads routine and recurring project-based assignments, such as the organization's annual benefits enrollment and large scale compensation adjustments. Collaborates on large-scale initiatives representing the Total Rewards function. Administers the city's Leave programs, including but not limited to sick time, vacation and protected forms of leave such as FMLA. Serves as a subject matter expert for the broader HR team to address significant issues and investigations or to administer complex combinations of leave programs. Provides functional direction to HR colleagues to ensure the accurate application of provisions related to employee entitlements throughout the employment life cycle. Designs and implements benefits handbooks, website and other benefits administration documentation in collaboration with internal and external partners. Maintains current and accurate program information on the City's total rewards website. Designs and delivers presentations regarding benefits programs to new and existing employees.

Required - Bachelor's Degree in human resources, or a related field required; supplemented by a minimum of three years of experience in human resources, benefits administration, compensation administration or related field; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job. Must possess and maintain a valid North Carolina driver's license. Must be able to demonstrate proficiency in performance of the essential functions and learn, comprehend, and apply all City or departmental policies, practices, and procedures necessary to function effectively in the position.

Preferred - Human Resources professional certification. Relevant certifications include but are not limited to : Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (IFEBP), Total Rewards Specialist Credential (SHRM), Certified Benefits Professional (WorldAtWork), and Certified Compensation Professional (WorldAtWork).

Performance Aptitudes : Data Utilization : Requires the ability to evaluate, audit, deduce, and / or assess data using established criteria. Includes exercising discretion in determining actual or probable consequences and in referencing such evaluation to identify and select alternatives. Human Interaction : Requires the ability to work with others to coordinate the more complex programs and more complex problems associated with the responsibilities of the job. Often represents the department and / or organization when dealing with others. Equipment, Machinery, Tools, and Materials Utilization : Requires the ability to operate, maneuver and / or control the actions of equipment, machinery, tools, and / or materials used in performing essential functions. Verbal Aptitude : Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of reference, descriptive, and / or advisory data and information. Mathematical Aptitude : Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; ability to calculate decimals and percentages; may include ability to perform mathematical operations with fractions; may include ability to compute discount, interest, and ratios; may include ability to calculate surface areas, volumes, weights, and measures. Functional Reasoning : Requires the ability to apply principles of influence systems, such as motivation, incentive, and leadership, and to exercise independent judgment to apply facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to resolve problems. Situational Reasoning : Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving the evaluation of information against sensory, judgmental, or subjective criteria, as opposed to that which is clearly measurable or verifiable. ADA Compliance : Physical Ability : Tasks require the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, but which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and / or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (5-10 pounds). Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation. Sensory Requirements : Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate colors or shades of colors, sounds, and visual cues or signals. Some tasks require the ability to communicate orally. Environmental Factors : Essential functions are regularly performed without exposure to adverse environmental conditions.