*Revised* Benefits Specialist
Central Office
4 hours/day for 261 days/year
$30,193.50 - $40,947.50 annually (depending on experience)*
*Possible salary increase of 5.05% pending School Board Approval
***Must Be Combined with Job ID 6057: Confidential Secretary - Business Services, 4 hours/day***
JOB SUMMARY
The position provides confidential support to senior administrators including attending meetings, keeping required minutes, completing special projects, and providing routine and requested administrative/clerical support.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Essential duties of this position include the following tasks. Employees in this position perform some or all of the following tasks. Other duties may be assigned at any time.
Coordinates with the Assistant Superintendent of Business Services in the planning, organizing, and administration of the district's employee health benefit program. Develops procedures and systems necessary to maintain proper health benefit records in organized paper and electronic files.
Primarily responsible for maintenance of employee health benefit programs and acts as the main initial district contact. This responsibility includes significant effort and support in the fall during the annual insurance enrollment, in January for ACA reporting, and in June for year-end summer insurance processing.
Reports to and assists the Assistant Superintendent of Business Services in the planning, organizing, and administration of the district’s employee health benefit program. Develops procedures and systems necessary to maintain proper health benefit records in organized paper and electronic files.
Assists in the planning, development, and implementation of new or enhanced health benefit programs.
Prepares a variety of reports for authorized district personnel and the Oregon Department of Education.
Maintains filing, temporary storage and permanent retention of records pursuant to federal and state laws and requirements and district policies and procedures.
Maintains and secures confidential records and inquiries pursuant to federal and state laws and requirements and district policies and procedures.
Independently answers routine questions and correspondence not requiring the supervisor’s attention.
Manages special projects as assigned.
With guidance, provides interpretations of negotiated collective bargaining agreements, district policy and/or laws to executive directors and others.
Assists with payroll and budget functions.
Establishes and maintains departmental files, budgets, records, databases, and communications, maintaining confidentiality where needed.
Assists in preparation and analysis of confidential information for collective bargaining with employee unions.
Consistent, daily and punctual attendance.
Notary Public, as assigned.
NON-ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Non-essential duties of this position include the following tasks. Employees in this position perform some or all of these tasks. Other duties may be assigned at any time.
Operates and troubleshoots various office equipment including telephones and photocopy machines.
Attends in-service trainings, staff meetings and other meetings as assigned.
Communicates information about district, school and/or departmental policies and procedures to students, staff, parents and patrons.
Reports issues to the principal and the appropriate authorities including safety, sanitary and fire hazards, vandalism, thefts and errant wildlife.
Organizes special events.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Consistently follows all applicable federal and state laws and all district policies, rules and supervisor directions.
Observes ergonomics of sedentary office work including placement of computers and monitors, and sitting alignment.
Observes proper lifting techniques and other strategies to avoid accidents and personal injury while performing job duties.
Performs other duties as assigned.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
All school employees may have some responsibility for supervising students and assisting in maintaining a safe environment.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education and/or Experience:
Specific working knowledge of health insurance benefits. Direct experience with governmental fund accounting, and federal and state grant requirements is desirable.
Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources or Health Care Administration preferred or four years in a related benefits position.
Interpersonal Skills: Works well with others from diverse backgrounds. Focuses on solving conflict, maintaining confidentiality, listening to others, keeping emotions under control, remaining open to others’ ideas and contributing to building a positive team spirit. Demonstrates the ability to remain calm and professional in an environment with frequent interruptions. Interacts with staff and students appropriately.
Language Skills: Ability to communicate English fluently both verbally and in writing, including proficiency in spelling and grammar. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from students, parents, staff, regulatory agencies, vendors and members of the community. Ability to read and interpret documents including governmental regulations, safety rules and operating and maintenance instructions/ instruction manuals. Ability to prepare routine reports and correspondence with high degrees of accuracy and professionalism.
Mathematical Skills: Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals. Ability to calculate rates, ratios, percentages and proportions. Ability to read and interpret various charts, bar graphs and similar visual data depictions.
Reasoning Ability: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in oral, schedule or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving more than one variable.
Computer Skills: Ability to effectively use office computers and internet access for email, research, word processing, database manipulation, visual presentations and general web-based applications. Ability to type 50 wpm accurately.
Other Skills and Abilities: Ability to exercise good judgment and work effectively in a dynamic environment.
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations: Must have or be able to obtain various certificates, licenses and/or registrations as required by federal, state or local law(s) and/or determined by the district.
PHYSICAL EXPECTATIONS
The physical expectations described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
When performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk, see, or hear. The employee is frequently required to walk, stand, sit, use fingers and hands for fine manipulation, handle or feel, reach with hands and arms and move around inside and outside of buildings. The employee is occasionally required to push, pull, bend, stoop, crawl, kneel and crouch. The employee must lift and/or move up to 35lbs. The employee may occasionally climb stairs or ladders. The employee must have, with or without vision correction, close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
The work environment is a standard school office setting. The noise level of the work environment is usually low to moderate, but occasionally high depending upon the location, the student population and current activities. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet or humid conditions and outdoor weather conditions, including seasonal heat and cold. The employee may occasionally be exposed to contagious diseases, bodily fluids and blood-borne pathogens.
NOTE: This is not necessarily an exhaustive or all-inclusive list of responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, efforts, functions or working conditions associated with the job. This job description is not a contract of employment or a promise or guarantee of any specific terms or conditions of employment. The school district may add to, modify or delete any aspect of this job (or the position itself) at any time as it deems advisable.
Equal Opportunity Employer:
The Lake Oswego School District is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable state and federal statutes and regulations in employment and school district programs. Equal employment opportunity and treatment shall be provided in recruiting, hiring, retaining, transferring, promoting and training of all employees regardless of the individual’s race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, age or disability. It is the Lake Oswego School District’s policy to provide veterans and disabled veterans with preference as required by law. Applicants who are veterans will need to provide certification of eligibility for preference, in addition to other requested materials.
Lake Oswego School District is a Drug-Free/Smoke-Free Workplace
