Benefits Coordinator

Human Resources is seeking a new Benefits Coordinator to join their team. This vacancy is due to a planned retirement after 32 years of service. This position supports the Human Resources Director in managing a wide range of personnel functions, including payroll and benefits administration, and employee education. The employee serves as a key resource, offering guidance and information related to the City’s payroll and benefits programs. Works as an advocate for employee in navigating the various insurance programs to their benefit.

Starting Salary: $76,802.81 - $82,271.17 Annually, based on experience and qualifications

*This position will remain open until filled* First review of applications will be March 7th.  Anticipated start date April 28, 2025.

Essential Job Functions

 

• Administer various employee benefits programs, such as Health, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, Income Continuation, Long Term Disability, AFLAC, and HSA and HRA plans.
• Coordinate with health plan broker all aspects of the city health plan design and coordinate the Employee Benefit Committee. Conducts annual negotiations for rates and coverage. Recommends plan design changes to remain within the city’s expenses and provides comprehensive employee coverage.
• Manage all records and reporting for the Wisconsin Retirement System.
• Manage the city’s employee payroll system, to include setup of pay, deductions, accruals, benefit enrollment, employee self-service portal, Onboard, and encumbrances.
• Conducts new employee orientations including policy review and insurance enrollments.  Processes required State and Federal employee reporting (e.g., E-verify, New Hire reporting).
• Conduct benefit orientations for employees and retirees, answering questions and resolving problems as needed. Reconcile the monthly premium billing statements for all group insurance policies and maintains statistical data relative to premiums, claims and costs.  Resolve administrative problems with the carrier representatives.
• Employee Wellness Clinic coordination, marketing, and program evaluation – regular meetings held with Sun Prairie Area School District and Insurance Consultant (USI).
• Prepares and assists in the preparation of benefit and tax related reporting.
• Coordinates the administration of the city’s Section 125 Cafeteria Plan and Flexible Spending Accounts.  Administers the city’s Health Reimbursement Accounts and Health Savings Accounts. Audits external accounts where appropriate.
• Conducts exit interviews including calculation of final pay and administers COBRA program.
• Administers the City’s life insurance programs, long-term disability, and income continuation programs, answering questions and resolving problems as needed.
• Oversees administration of Family Medical Leave requests and recording of time used and initiates follow up/notifications where appropriate.
• Performs periodic audits of benefit providers to ensure compliance to plan documents and appropriate laws.
• Manages a communication plan designed to help employees obtain information and understand city benefits.  Ensures distribution of required employee notices.
• Advise supervisors and employees on interpretation of city policy, bargaining unit contracts, and benefit programs.  Refers matters to the HR Director as appropriate.

 

Requirements of Work

 

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Public or Business Administration or related field, and between four to six years of experience administering employee benefits; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• Preference for advanced training and/or certifications which may include: Certified Public Manager, SHRM-CP, NPELRA CLRP, Certified Payroll Professional or Specialist, or Payroll Compliance Practitioner.

Knowledge of:

• Advanced experience in Microsoft Office Suite including an advanced knowledge of word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local labor laws, health insurance, COBRA, and payroll regulations, typically gained through at least three years of experience in payroll, accounting, or bookkeeping, ideally within a municipal government environment.

Ability to:

• Stay abreast of changes through continued training.
• Conduct research of employment and benefit issues as required.
• Work accurately with figures and meet imposed deadlines.
• Relate to and deal tactfully with the wide variety of city employees and persons outside the organization as needed.
• Use high-level of discretion with little direct guidance from supervisors.
• Develop goals and monitor programs that impact the city’s financial position, employee satisfaction/engagement, or public relations.
• Work independently on a variety of projects in a busy office environment.
• Have a significant role or primary responsibility for the development of policies and procedures for a division or organizational component of a department, as well as the interpretation, execution, and recommendation of changes to department policies.

Skill in:

• Communicating clearly and concisely both orally and in writing.
• Managing relationships, influencing others, and initiating changes in policy/procedures to address the issue and avoid issues in the future. 

 

Other Job Functions

 

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.

• Work is performed mostly in an office setting; hand-eye coordination is necessary to operate computers and various pieces of office equipment. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently is required to stand and talk or hear; use hands and fingers to handle, feel, or operate objects, tools, or controls and reach with hands and arms. 
• The employee is occasionally required to walk; sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, or crouch.

The City of Sun Prairie is committed to advancing equity, honoring our diverse identity, and creating an inclusive culture.  These serve as our guiding principles every day in all that we do.  Keep us accountable to this mission and join us in this commitment to a thriving Sun Prairie, as you live, work, and play.  If you need an accommodation during the hiring process, please contact Human Resources at 608-825-1174 or HumanResources@cityofsunprairie.com.