Are you Richmond R.E.A.D.Y? Respect. Equity. Accountability. Diversity…YOU!!!
 
This is an EXCITING time to Join the City of Richmond! We are committed to nurturing talent, fostering growth opportunities, and building strong connections within our workforce. As we continue to make strides to becoming the employer of choice, we are thrilled about the below employee benefit enhancements:

• Virginia Retirement System (VRS)
• Language Incentive
• Referral Bonus
• Tuition Assistance Program

Description

The Human Resources Department’s mission is to support our customers in accomplishing their missions by attracting and retaining a highly skilled and diversified workforce that is compensated and rewarded for its effort in an equitable, safe and responsible work environment.

Our mission is accomplished within existing resources, in an environment of change, with integrity, and in a manner that is consistent with the City’s policies, Code of Ethics, merit system principles, and federal and state laws. We are responsible for recruitment and testing, classification and compensation, training, benefits administration, and workforce relations.??

The HR Benefits Associate provides expertise assists with the various operations of providing employee benefits to the City.  This position carries out the employee benefit functions to include ensuring compliance with city programs and practices. Incumbent coordinates the benefit process including logging, updating, adding and entering data in the city’s systems, answering questions and providing customer service, ensuring accuracy of data in the system, validating files, reconciling data and performing other administrative functions.   The Benefits Associate is responsible for the processing of sensitive and confidential personnel transactions and maintenance of employee records, reviewing data for accuracy, creating/maintaining spreadsheets and activity logs, and assisting in various employee benefits and wellness plans.  This job includes administrative work and front-line customer service, as well as using the tools and functional resources necessary to make good decisions. This role requires a teamwork mentality, as the Benefits Associate will support requests and questions from a wide variety of employees across different functional areas within the City of Richmond, eligible retirees, as well as other Human Resource employees.  
 
Supervision Exercised/Received: 

• Exercised: This classification typically does not supervise other employees but may serve as a lead worker. 
• Received: This classification typically reports to a compensation lead work/supervisor, Human Resources Division Chief or another level of manager. 
• Note: Other reporting relationships may apply.

 

 

Duties include but are not limited to

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS, RESPONSIBILITIES, DUTIES: 

• Under direct supervision, provides administrative support of assigned benefit plans; ensures plan compliance for highly regulated benefit plans and follows City’s programs and practices. 
• Provides customer service support and materials (calls and emails) to current and former associates and employees. Provides issue resolution, creates and maintains reporting, administrative functions, inbound and outbound integration files, plan eligibility, contributions and reconciliation. 
• Coordinates and manages programs and projects; prepares necessary forms and other documentation; performs necessary administrative duties related to programs. 
• Under direct supervision, performs data analysis and reporting for stakeholders leveraging the HRIS system.  
• Prepares and maintains complex MS Excel spreadsheets.  
• Communicates status updates to associates. 
• Prepares, distributes and submits reports, logs, notes and other documents. 
• Performs administrative duties and provides back-up support. 
• Assists with special projects and ensures compliance of all benefit programs with federal, state and local regulations and programs. 
• Leverages technology to increase productivity and efficiencies. 
• Performs all additional related duties and responsibilities as required. 
• Assists with meetings such as open enrollment and new hire orientation.  
• Performs all additional related duties and responsibilities as required. 

 Note: The above description is intended to represent only the key areas of responsibilities; specific position assignments will vary depending on the business needs of the department. The employee may perform other duties of a similar nature or level as required.

 

Qualifications, Special Certifications and Licenses

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES: 

• Working knowledge of benefits administration 
• Strong customer service focus, delivers on customer commitments 
• Strong attention to detail and a commitment to follow through; owns the work and is dependable 
• Proven organizational skills – must be able to operate in a fast-paced environment 
• Critical thinking skills – seeks to understand root cause and find effective solutions 
• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written) 
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team 
• Works well with others and builds strong relationships 
• Expresses opinions and innovative ideas 
• Ability to maintain confidentiality in all aspects of the job 
• Advanced Microsoft Office experience, including virtual team platforms for meetings, shared team documents, and instant messaging communications 
• City of Richmond community awareness and values 

 Required Training and Experience: 

• 3+ years of experience in Human Resources  
• Minimum High School Diploma or GED 

Preferred Certifications/Licenses

• Certified Compensation Professional (CCP) preferred or 
• HRCI HR Certification (PHR/PHR) or 
• SHRM HR Certification (SHRM-CP) 

 Preferred Training and Experience: 

• 2+ years of experience in Benefits Administration 
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources; Business Administration; Public Administration; or a related field 

 

 

Americans with Disabilities Act Requirements

 

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS: Working conditions may include exposure to travel to other locations within the City of Richmond as well as outside of the City of Richmond; exposure to hazardous physical conditions such as mechanical parts, electrical currents, vibrations, etc.; atmospheric conditions such as fumes, odors, dusts, gases, and poor ventilation; inadequate lighting; intense noise; and environmental hazards such as disruptive people, imminent danger, and a threatening environment.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT: Due to the nature of work assignments, incumbents must be able to perform detailed work on multiple, concurrent tasks with frequent interruptions and under time constraint. The essential duties of this classification may require the ability to regularly finger, talk, hear, see, and perform repetitive motions; frequently walk; and occasionally stoop, reach, stand, push, pull, lift, grasp, and feel. The working conditions may contain environmental hazards. In terms of the physical strength to perform the essential duties, this classification is considered to be sedentary, exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to move objects.

 

 

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The City of Richmond provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

The City of Richmond is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, the City of Richmond will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodations. If you require reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to participate in the job application and/or the interview process, please contact Jessica McKenzie, Human Resources Manager by email at Jessica.McKenzie@RVA.GOV.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

 

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