Benefits & Leave Specialist Level IV

Job description

GENERAL SUMMARY OF POSITION: Under the supervision of the HR Manager and direction of the Director of Human Resources, this position is responsible for the comprehensive, centralized administration of employee leave programs for the Saginaw Intermediate School District (SISD) and assigned local educational agency (LEA) districts, and for support in the administration of defined employee benefits. The Specialist ensures timely, accurate, consistent, and confidential service in accordance with applicable collective bargaining agreements, employment contracts, Board policies, benefit plan documents, insurance provider requirements, and state and federal law. The Specialist coordinates closely with employees, supervisors, local-district contacts, payroll, finance, benefit carriers, and Human Resources staff. ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES: Leave Administration and Compliance 1. Serve as the primary point of contact for employee leave requests and administer all assigned leave programs for SISD and four assigned LEA districts, including FMLA, ESTA, ADA-related leave and accommodation coordination, leave provisions under collective bargaining agreements and employment contracts, Board-policy leaves, unpaid leaves, and other statutory or approved leaves. 2. Manage the complete leave process from intake through closure, including eligibility review, required notices, rights and responsibilities, certification and recertification tracking, designation, extensions, intermittent or reduced-schedule leave monitoring, status updates, return-to-work documentation, and case closure. 3. Interpret and consistently apply collective bargaining agreements, employment contracts, Board policies, procedures, and applicable state and federal law related to paid and unpaid leave. Consult with HR leadership on complex, high-risk, or precedent-setting matters. 4. Determine and coordinate the sequencing and integration of sick leave, vacation, personal leave, unpaid leave, disability benefits, workers' compensation, and other applicable paid-time or wage-replacement programs. 5. Maintain accurate leave dates, balances, hours, status codes, notes, and supporting documentation in Skyward and other approved systems; maintain required confidential medical files; and reconcile leave information with payroll, timekeeping, benefits, and employee-status records. 6. Provide clear, timely, and supportive communication to employees, supervisors, payroll staff, and local-district contacts regarding leave eligibility, documentation, responsibilities, status, deadlines, benefit continuation, premium obligations, work restrictions, and return-to-work requirements. 7. Coordinate ADA interactive-process documentation and implementation of approved accommodations in consultation with HR leadership, supervisors, medical providers, and legal counsel as appropriate. 8. Coordinate long-term disability, insurance continuation or discontinuation, employee premium collection, and COBRA-related actions that arise during or at the end of a leave, ensuring accurate implementation with payroll, benefits staff, and HR Generalists. 9. Administer workers' compensation processes for SISD and assigned LEA districts, including claim intake and reporting, carrier or third-party administrator communication, wage and employment information, medical-status and work-restriction tracking, return-to-work coordination, and claim documentation. 10. Prepare and maintain unemployment claim records; respond to claims and information requests; coordinate with district representatives and third-party administrators; and participate in hearings or appeals as assigned. 11. Monitor leave and related compliance developments; maintain procedures, forms, templates, calendars, and communications; provide training; and support audits, reporting, and corrective action as directed. Benefits Administration Support 1. Administer the defined employee benefits support functions for assigned districts, including health, dental, vision, life, disability, HSA, FSA, and other benefit programs applicable under each district's HR service agreement and plan offerings. 2. Establish procedures and service standards for routine new-hire benefit enrollment and employee termination transactions processed by HR Generalists; provide training and guidance; conduct periodic quality audits; and resolve exceptions or discrepancies. Process and audit qualifying life events, dependent or employee status changes, waivers, corrections, special enrollment rights, and other benefit transactions outside routine new-hire and termination processing. 3. Plan and facilitate annual and special open enrollment for assigned districts, including timelines, employee communications, informational meetings, enrollment support, processing, audit, and follow-up. 4. Coordinate with payroll to establish, change, audit, and correct employee deductions, employer contributions, cash-in-lieu payments, HSA contributions, and other benefit-related payroll transactions. 5. Audit and reconcile monthly invoices, enrollment records, payroll deductions, employer contributions, and benefit transactions; resolve discrepancies with district contacts, payroll, carriers, and vendors; and support timely payment processing through the business office. 6. Provide benefit education and responsive customer service to employees and district contacts; explain plan options, eligibility, enrollment procedures, and applicable policies; and serve as liaison with insurance providers to resolve enrollment, coverage, billing, and claims-service issues. 7. Administer COBRA, including qualifying-event follow-through after terminations or loss of coverage, required notifications, monitoring, enrollment, and billing coordination; monitor overage dependents and dependent eligibility; and complete annual compliance notices, carrier surveys, and verification requests. 8. Participate in the planning and implementation of benefit plan, platform, carrier, or process changes for assigned districts; test data and workflows; update procedures and communications; and support employee transition activities. 9. Maintain accurate, current, and accessible benefit information, forms, procedures, calendars, plan resources, and employee communications for assigned districts. 10. Maintain confidential data files and follow district policies and procedures for sharing confidential information. Ensures the privacy of employee health information. (HIPAA) 11. Any and all other duties as assigned by the Executive Director/Director of Human Resources. OTHER SKILLS 1. Demonstrated commitment to responsive, respectful, and accurate customer service for employees, supervisors, local school districts, and community partners. 2. Ability to manage a large, confidential, and deadline-driven leave caseload while completing recurring benefit deadlines for three districts; prioritize statutory, employee-safety, payroll, carrier, and open-enrollment requirements; and follow matters through completion. 3. Working knowledge of, or ability to learn, employee benefit terminology; leave and accommodation requirements; workers' compensation and unemployment processes; and related rules, regulations, procedures, and documentation standards. 4. Ability to read, interpret, and consistently apply collective bargaining agreements, employment contracts, Board policies, benefit plan documents, carrier requirements, and administrative procedures. 5. Strong analytical and problem-solving ability, including the ability to reconcile invoices and payroll deductions, identify data discrepancies, research issues, document decisions, and recommend process improvements. 6. Highly developed written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex or sensitive information to a diverse population and to prepare clear correspondence, reports, procedures, presentations, and employee communications. 7. Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment within assigned authority, identify when escalation or workload reprioritization is required, and collaborate effectively as a member of the Human Resources team. 8. Demonstrated discretion, confidentiality, integrity, empathy, and professionalism when assisting employees during medical, family, disability, financial, or other sensitive circumstances. 9. Ability to work in a flexible environment with respect to assigned district needs and peak workload periods while maintaining the position's leave and defined benefits service priorities. QUALIFICATIONS: 1. Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Human Resources, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field required. An Associate's degree in a related field and substantial directly related human resources, benefits, leave, or public-school experience may be considered in lieu of a Bachelor's degree. 2. Minimum of three years of progressively responsible human resources experience required, including direct experience with employee leave administration and employee benefits administration, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 3. Experience administering employee benefit plans and experience in a Michigan public-school or unionized environment preferred. 4. MSBO Human Resources Specialist certification, or the ability to obtain the certification within three years of appointment. 5. Demonstrated knowledge of or ability to become proficient in FMLA, ADA accommodation coordination, ESTA, COBRA, HIPAA, workers' compensation, unemployment, collective bargaining agreement administration, and other applicable leave and benefit requirements. 6. High proficiency in business technology. Ability to learn and become proficient in the District's HRIS, payroll, benefits, case-management, and carrier systems; Skyward and insurance platform system experience preferred. 7. Demonstrated ability to manage detailed leave tracking, enrollment changes, payroll, billing, reconciliation, and confidential recordkeeping work with a high degree of accuracy and timeliness. 8. Strong communication, presentation, mathematical, analytical, decision-making, organizational, and problem-solving skills. 9. Ability to collect, organize, analyze, and communicate benefits, leave, payroll, and employment information and to prepare reports and statistical summaries as required. 10. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple deadlines, adapt to changing requirements, maintain professional relationships, and provide effective service across multiple organizations. 11. Willingness to participate in ongoing professional development and training to maintain current knowledge and improve job skills.