WHO WE ARE

This position is eligible for a hybrid (both remote and onsite) telework arrangement. Candidate's permanent residence must be in Minnesota or Wisconsin.

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 facilitate qualified status changes, union changes for employees, and new hire benefits. 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 facilitate LTD benefits and MSRS disability, and coordinate benefits premiums collection for employees on leaves of absence.

Starting Salary Range: $61,755 - $80,000*
Full Salary Range: $61,755 - $93,226

• Salary is determined by candidate's qualifications and internal comparisons to maintain equity.

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)
• Facilitate qualified status changes for employees. Ensure that work status changes affecting employee insurance coverage are correctly processed. Terminate coverage for employees, retirees, and/or dependents as requested or required, and maintain documentation of changes.
• 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.
• Audit job records against union contracts to determine availability of benefits upon retirement and current retiree records for administrative accuracy.
• 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 long-term disability benefit application and billing process for disabled employees and life insurance claims for employees and retirees. Provide documentation of benefits at medical disqualification meetings.

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

A Bachelor's or higher degree in Human Resources or related field AND one or more years of benefits administration experience in a mid-size (500+ employees) or larger organization

• PeopleSoft and/or Benefitfocus experience
• Payroll and/or accounting experience
• Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) certification
• Fluent in Spanish, Somali or Hmong in addition to English

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of benefits administration processes and legislative requirements.
• Knowledge of policies; procedures; labor agreements; and federal/state laws, regulations, and statutes as they relate to employee benefit plans.
• Basic Microsoft Word skills, intermediate Microsoft Excel skills.
• Ability to read and interpret documents, instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers.
• Ability to calculate figures and amounts.
• Skill to provide basic client services to the public and other agencies within the organization while exercising tact, courtesy and cooperation when exchanging information.
• Ability to promote an equitable, positive and respectful work environment that values culture and diversity among employees.

What you can expect from us:

• We offer the opportunity to make a difference and positively influence the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
• We encourage our employees to develop their skills through on-site training and tuition reimbursement.
• We provide a competitive salary, excellent benefits and a good work/life balance.

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:

• We review your minimum qualifications.
• We rate your education and experience.
• We conduct a structured panel interview.
• We conduct a selection interview.

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 .

We believe our employees are a key to our agency's success! In order to attract and retain high quality employees, the Council provides a highly competitive benefits package both in choice and coverage levels. Some highlights about our benefits are listed below:

• Guaranteed monthly retirement income through Minnesota State Retirement System pension fund
• Opportunity to save additional funds for retirement on a tax-deferred basis through a voluntary deferred compensation (457) plan
• Two or more medical plans from which to choose, with employer contribution towards premiums over 80%
• Dental insurance, life insurance and vision insurance

The following benefits are provided to all employees as part of working for the Council. You will have access to free:

• Well@Work clinic
• bus/rail pass valued at over $1200 per year
• parking at many job locations
• fitness centers at many job locations
• Employee Assistance Program
• extensive health and wellness programs and resources