Benefits Administrator

WHO WE ARE

We are the Metropolitan Council, the regional government for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. We plan 30 years ahead for the future of the metropolitan area and provide regional transportation, wastewater, and housing services. More information about us on our website.

We are committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

Human Resources works with all divisions of the Metropolitan Council to provide proactive solutions for the Council's workforce needs in the areas of recruitment, hiring, labor relations, benefits, training, organizational development, occupational health, and wellness.

How your work would contribute to our organization and the Twin Cities region :

The Benefits Administrator manages tasks associated with employee benefit plans for active / terminated / retired employees of Metropolitan Council in accordance with policies, contracts, bargaining unit agreements, and federal / state regulations and laws. They ensure accurate processing of status changes, union changes and new hire benefit enrollments. They also provide guidance to active and inactive employees regarding medical, dental, flexible spending, life insurance, long term disability (LTD), deferred compensation programs, retiree benefits, and COBRA continuation. In addition, they coordinate benefits premiums collection for employees on leaves of absence.

Notes : This position is eligible for a hybrid (both remote and onsite) telework arrangement. Candidate's permanent residence must be in Minnesota or Wisconsin. This posting will create a six-month eligibility list for current and future openings.

What you would do in this job

• Explain provisions of the insurance benefit programs for employees and retirees. Provide information about the online enrollment site and answer questions about changes in contracts and coverage, determining if requests meet legal requirements. Perform administrative functions within the online enrollment site (Benefitfocus)
• Ensure that work status changes and qualified status changes affecting employee insurance coverage are correctly processed.
• Audit to ensure HRIS system (PeopleSoft) accurately reflects benefits elections as loaded from the system of record (Benefitfocus).
• Participate in open enrollment activities for active employees; conduct benefits segment of New Employee Orientation.
• Act as liaison between employees, retirees, and insurance carriers to ensure proper claim service and correct payment, resolve complex discrepancies, and provide information about filing appeals, if necessary.
• Audit various billings for accuracy; research and reconcile errors.
• Monitor leaves of absence and missing paychecks. Run automated processes or provide manual process to collect premiums where no payroll deduction has occurred. Coordinate billing process for premium collection. Provide documentation of benefits at medical disqualification meetings. Administer Qualified Medical Support orders and benefit portions of employment verifications.
• Coordinate life insurance claims for employees and retirees.

What education and experience are required for this job (minimum qualifications)

Any of the following combinations of education (Human Resources, Health Administration or a related field) AND experience in benefits administration in a mid-size (500+ employees) or larger organization.

What additional skills and experience would be helpful in this job (desired qualifications) :

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

What you can expect from us :

More about why you should join us!

Additional information

Union / Grade : American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees / Grade E

FLSA Status : Non-exempt

Safety Sensitive : No

What your work environment would be :

You would perform your work in a standard office setting. Work may sometimes require travel between your primary work site and other sites.

What steps the recruitment process involves :

Once you have successfully completed the steps above, then :

If you are new to the Metropolitan Council , you must pass a drug test (safety sensitive positions only) and a background check, which verifies education and employment, covers driving record (if applicable to the job) and any criminal record. If you have a criminal conviction, you do not automatically fail. The Metropolitan Council considers felony, gross misdemeanor and misdemeanor convictions on a case-by-case basis, based on whether they are related to the job and whether the candidate has demonstrated adequate rehabilitation.

If you are already an employee of the Metropolitan Council , you must pass a drug test (if moving from a non-safety sensitive position to a safety sensitive position) and criminal background check if the job you're applying for is safety sensitive, is a supervisory or management job, is in the Finance, Information Services or Human Resources departments, or has access to financial records, files / databases, cash, vouchers or transit fare cards.

IMPORTANT : If you make a false statement or withhold information, you may be barred from job consideration.

The Metropolitan Council is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and veteran-friendly employer. The Council is committed to a workforce that reflects the diversity of the region and strongly encourages persons of color, members of the LGBTQ community, individuals with disabilities, women, and veterans to apply. If you have a disability that requires accommodation during the selection process, please email HR-OCCHealth@metc.state.mn.us .