What are the responsibilities and job description for the Employee Benefits Technician I position at Alameda County?
Introduction
READ THIS ENTIRE BULLETIN FOR INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO REAPPLY FOR THIS RECRUITMENT
THIS IS A REOPENING OF A CONTINUOUS EXAMINATION. If you have previously applied or started an application for Employee Benefits Technician I, Examination #21-0265-01, and choose to reapply, please contact the examination analyst, Erika Beams at ERIKA.BEAMS@ACGOV.ORG to have your previous application released back to you.
*The scores and dispositions of candidates for this examination will be merged with previous exam participants. If you previously submitted an application and choose to reapply, your new score/disposition will replace your current disposition. If you do not wish to change your score/disposition, you are not required to reapply to this examination. Candidates who received a qualifying score cannot participate in the examination within six (6) months of their disposition notice. Candidates who did not qualify may reapply sixty (60) days from their disposition notice. Candidates who failed any of the exam components (i.e., written, oral exam), may reapply sixty (60) days from the exam date.*
Supplemental Questionnaire: A properly completed Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted with each application. Failure to submit the Application or Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification.
Applications must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing.
Applications and Supplemental Questionnaire will only be accepted online.
DESCRIPTION
THE AGENCY
Department Mission
Deliver high quality and timely human resource services in partnership with County agencies, departments and special districts to enable our customers to reach their organizational goals.Vision
To be the employer of choice and a great place to work.
Values
In a spirit of partnership, HRS strives for: Excellence in everything we do. Responsiveness to our customers and their needs. Fairness in our policies and practices. Innovation in developing and implementing new programs. Diversity in recognizing everyone’s unique contribution. Development of every employee’s full potential. Anticipate and meet the changing needs of employees and candidates to ensure the recruitment and retention of a talented and committed workforce. Support the County’s organizational culture that values customer service, performance excellence, diversity, and fiscal stewardship. Redesign and transform the recruitment function for improved customer service and satisfaction. Champion workforce planning and development to ensure that employees have every opportunity to assume leadership positions as baby boomers retire. Improve the efficiency and effectiveness of services through the increased use of technology.THE POSITION
Employee Benefits Technician I is the entry-level class. Incumbents work under close supervision and may be assigned all duties. After the equivalent of one-year full-time service, incumbents hired at the first level may be promoted to the II level if satisfactory job performance is demonstrated.
For more detailed information about the job classification, visit: Employee Benefits Technician I (#0265)
IDEAL CANDIDATE
Alameda County's Human Resources Services Department-Employee Benefits Center, is seeking qualified individuals to serve in the position of Employee Benefits Technician I. Employee Benefits Technician I's work in a fast paced call center environment providing information to County Employees in the following areas but are not limited to the following:
- Providing customer service and explanation of comprehensive benefit plans to employees. Benefits include but are not limited to Medical, Dental, Vision, Basic & Supplemental Life & AD& D Insurance plans, FMLA and other related leave plans, Disability Insurance Plans, Health and Dependent Flexible Spending Accounts, Critical Illness, Accident, Hospital Indemnity, Group Legal, Group Auto & Home and Vacation Purchase/Sellback.
- Conducts New Employee Orientations. Discusses and provides forms to employees and follows-up within established timeframes to ensure that payroll deductions begin.
- Processes enrollment forms for various benefit programs by checking for accuracy and completeness, verifying employee eligibility, and transmitting forms to appropriate departments, agencies, or plan administrators.
- Inputs, verifies and retrieves employee benefit related data from the HRMS computer system and other related duties as assigned.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS TECHNICIAN I
EITHER I
Experience:
The equivalent of one-year full-time experience as a Retirement Specialist II or a Specialist Clerk II in the Alameda County Employee Benefits Center with experience processing and explaining employee health related benefits in the Alameda County classified service.
Completion of the Alameda County Management Academy “Management & Supervision Certificate Program” may substitute for six (6) months of required qualifying experience.
OR II
The equivalent of two (2) years full-time experience processing and explaining employee health related benefits in a benefits program or department of a private or public organization.
NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
The most suitably qualified candidates will possess the following competencies:
Knowledge of:
- Laws, regulations and procedures related to employee benefit programs.
- General employee benefits administration.
- General employee payroll processing.
- Current trends in employee benefit rules, regulations and practices.
- Principles and practices of effective and efficient customer service.
- Computer software applications including HRIS computer application software.
- Business mathematics.
Ability to:
- Reconcile reports in a timely manner.
- Follow and interpret administrative guidelines and procedures related to employee benefit programs.
- Gather and evaluate relevant information in researching and resolving benefit-related issues.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with County department personnel, co-workers, employees and the general public.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with outside vendors.
- Perform detailed work accurately within established timeframe.
- Explain and apply regulations, policies and procedures of various employee benefits.
- Review documents for completeness, accuracy, appropriate authorization and compliance.
- Maintain accurate records and files.
- Work with and prioritize multiple tasks.
- Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
- Create and conduct effective oral presentations.
- Maintain confidentiality of employee benefit records and reports.
- Perform various mathematical computations, using a calculator, related to rates, premiums, refunds, deductions, and contributions.
- Maintain information system database through accurate input of data.
- Use and/or design spreadsheet applications to automate work processes.
- Function proficiently in an automated office environment.
EXAMINATION COMPONENTS
The examination will consist of the following steps:
- A review of candidates' application to verify possession of minimum requirements. Those candidates who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the examination process.
- A review of the supplemental questionnaire to determine the best qualified.
- An oral interview which will be weighted as 100% of the candidates' final examination score. The oral interview may contain situational exercises.
Candidates must attain a qualifying rating on each portion of this recruitment.
WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED EXAMINATION STEPS.
Alameda County utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit. Such a system is competitive and based on broad recruitment efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to test in an examination process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness, and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position. Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, the eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position. Other recruitments may be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work.
To learn more about our recruitment and selection process, please visit the “What You Need to Know” section of our website, www.acgov.org/hrs.
Selection Plan
- The combined oral examination/hiring interview, in addition to establishing an eligibility list, may serve as the final selection interview for vacancies in this classification.
BENEFITS
Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being. These benefits include but are not limited to*:
For your Health & Well-Being
- Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
- Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
- Vision or Vision Reimbursement
- Share the Savings
- Basic Life Insurance
- Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees)
- Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
- County Allowance Credit
- Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
- Short-Term Disability Insurance
- Long-Term Disability Insurance
- Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
- Employee Assistance Program
For your Financial Future
- Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
- Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)
For your Work/Life Balance
- 11 paid holidays
- Floating Holidays
- Vacation and sick leave accrual
- Vacation purchase program
- Management Paid Leave**
- Catastrophic Sick Leave
- Group Auto/Home Insurance
- Pet Insurance
- Commuter Benefits Program
- Guaranteed Ride Home
- Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
- Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
- Child Care Resources
- 1st United Services Credit Union
- Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement. This provides a brief summary of the
