Benefits Specialist

Benefits Specialist

The Benefits Specialist is responsible for coordinating and administering employee benefits and onboarding processes for the District. This position serves as a primary point of contact for employee benefits enrollment and changes, maintains accurate employee records in the District ERP system, and supports compliance reporting related to workplace safety, workers' compensation, and student accidents. The Benefits Specialist works closely with Human Resources, Payroll, and employees to ensure timely and accurate processing of benefit-related information and employee records.

Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience:

• High school diploma or equivalent required; associate degree in business, human resources, accounting, or related field preferred.
• Experience in benefits administration, human resources, payroll, or office administration preferred.
• Experience working with ERP or HRIS systems preferred, particularly Tyler Technologies or School ERP Pro.
• Knowledge of employee benefits programs and enrollment processes preferred.
• Experience handling confidential information with professionalism and discretion.

Skill and Abilities:

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities.
• Ability to interpret and apply policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Strong customer service and communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and data entry systems.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and professionalism.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Ability to prepare and communicate clear, accurate, and professional benefit-related information to employees.
• Ability to maintain and update web-based employee resources and informational materials.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Employee Onboarding & Records Management

• Assist with onboarding new employees and ensuring all required employment documents are completed.

• Enter and maintain employee information in the District ERP system, including Tyler Technologies / School ERP Pro.

• Process employee status changes, transfers, leave information, and separations in the ERP system.

• Maintain accurate and confidential personnel and benefits records.

• Provide employees with information regarding benefit eligibility, enrollment deadlines, and required documentation.

• Coordinate benefit orientation and enrollment for newly hired employees.

Benefits Administration

• Administer employee benefit programs, including:

- Health Insurance Plans

- Life Insurance

- 403(b) and 457(b) retirement plans

- Short-Term Disability

- Health Savings Accounts (HSA)

- Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRA)

- Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

- Other voluntary and District-sponsored benefit programs

• Process employee enrollments, changes, waivers, and terminations for benefit plans.

• Coordinate with benefit vendors and providers to resolve eligibility or enrollment issues.

• Review and verify benefit deductions and coordinate with Payroll regarding discrepancies.

• Assist employees with benefit forms, claims questions, and enrollment processes.

• Support annual open enrollment processes and employee communications.

• Manage and maintain the District's employee benefits webpage to ensure benefit information, forms, deadlines, and resources are accurate and current.

• Coordinate with benefit vendors, insurance carriers, retirement providers, and third-party administrators to develop and distribute employee benefit communications and educational materials.

• Assist in preparing employee announcements, open enrollment communications, benefit guides, and informational materials related to District-sponsored benefit programs.

• Ensure employees have access to updated benefit resources and communication materials throughout the year.

Compliance & Reporting

• Coordinate OSHA reporting and maintain workplace safety records as required by law.

• Process and track Workers' Compensation claims and related documentation.

• Coordinate student accident reporting and maintain required records.

• Ensure compliance with District policies, negotiated agreements, and applicable state and federal regulations related to benefits and employee records.

• Prepare reports and maintain documentation for audits, compliance reviews, and administrative needs.

Customer Service & Communication

• Provide courteous and professional assistance to employees, administrators, vendors, and the public.

• Respond to employee questions regarding benefits, onboarding, and personnel records.

• Communicate effectively with insurance carriers, retirement vendors, and third-party administrators.

• Maintain confidentiality of sensitive employee and medical information.

Other Duties

• Assist with Human Resources and Business Office projects as assigned.

• Participate in training related to benefits administration, compliance, and ERP systems.

• Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Physical Requirements

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 regularly required to sit; stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee frequently is required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk and hear. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance.

The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Environmental Conditions

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee is regularly required to work in noisy, overcrowded environments, and around dust, fumes, and odors, cleaning chemicals, work with hands in water and must operate machinery with moving parts.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Benefits

Work Year: Year Round

Range and Minimum Salary Grade:

• Grade 20

$35.51 - $55.65 (Based on Experience)

About

The North Slope Borough School District is located at the "top of the world" in Northern Alaska.

Our communities are populated predominantly by the Iñupiat, and today, as in many thousands of years past, we live the Iñupiaq way. Having embraced modern amenities that make life easier, we continue to practice our hunting and sharing traditions and very much value the structure that those activities bring into our lives.

We are a welcoming and friendly people who believe strongly in the value of education. Our highly trained certified and classified staff are dedicated to serving the children of our communities. They work together to meet the unique needs of every student in the district.

Our students are fully immersed in preparing for tomorrow while honoring and perpetuating the priceless traditions and culture they have as a legacy from the past. Our children exude all the warmth and sunshine one could ever hope to find.

We are led by a visionary board. Their mission for our district calls for every child to become proficient in reading, writing and mathematics while gaining an understanding of and appreciation for the values, culture, history and language of the Iñupiat.