BENEFITS MANAGER

The Benefits Manager is responsible for the strategic leadership, administration, and continuous improvement of the City of Douglasville’s employee benefits programs. This position serves as the subject matter expert for all benefits-related functions and provides oversight of benefit plan design, compliance, vendor management, and employee communications.

 Reporting directly to the Human Resources Director, the Benefits Manager manages the City’s benefits operations to ensure regulatory compliance, fiscal responsibility, and high-quality service delivery. The position supervises the HR Programs and Benefits Specialist and works closely with Finance, Payroll, retirement systems, and external vendors to support active employees, retirees, and COBRA participants to ensure regulatory compliance, fiscal responsibility, risk mitigation, and high-quality service delivery aligned with the City’s workforce strategy.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Provides strategic oversight and day-to-day management of the City’s employee benefits programs, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, voluntary benefits, retirement plans, and COBRA administration.
• Serves as the City’s primary subject matter expert on benefits-related matters, including plan interpretation, eligibility, enrollment, and compliance.
• Leads annual open enrollment planning and execution, including vendor coordination, system configuration, employee communications, and enrollment validation.
• Oversees benefits compliance activities to ensure adherence to applicable federal, state, and local regulations (including ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA coordination, ERISA, and applicable state retirement requirements), coordinating with legal counsel, brokers, and third-party administrators as needed.
• Manages strategic relationships with benefits brokers, carriers, third-party administrators, and consultants; evaluates vendor performance, service delivery, and contract effectiveness, and recommends changes as appropriate.
• Supports budget forecasting related to employee benefits and total rewards planning.
• Partners with Finance to reconcile benefits invoices, monitor costs, resolve discrepancies, and support budget forecasting related to employee benefits.
• Coordinates benefits data exchange and integration with HRIS (ADP), payroll, and vendor systems to ensure accuracy and data integrity.
• Supervises and provides guidance to the HR Programs and Benefits Specialist, ensuring timely processing of enrollments, changes, billing, and employee inquiries. 
• Provides performance feedback and supports professional development of the HR Programs and Benefits Specialist.
• Develops and delivers employee benefits education, communications, and resources to support employee understanding and engagement.
• Supports retirement-related processes, including onboarding, retiree transitions, and coordination with pension and retirement systems.
• Serves as a key contributor to benefits-related audits, Open Records requests, and reporting requirements.
• Evaluates benefits programs and recommends plan design changes, enhancements, or cost-containment strategies based on utilization data, market trends, and organizational needs.
• Collaborates with the Human Resources Director to align benefits strategy with overall HR operations and organizational goals.
• Participates in cross-functional initiatives and committees as assigned.
• Performs related duties as required.

 MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS 

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, Public Administration, or a related field.
• Five (5) or more years of progressively responsible experience in employee benefits administration, including experience with complex benefits programs.
• Experience administering employee benefits programs within a self-insured municipal or public sector environment. 
• Experience working with HRIS platforms (ADP preferred) and benefits vendors.

DESIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Master’s degree in Human Resources, Public Administration, or related field.
• Experience in local government or public sector benefits administration.
• Professional certification such as CEBS, PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP.
• Experience supporting retiree populations and public-sector retirement systems.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES 

• Thorough knowledge of employee benefits laws and regulations.
• Strong analytical skills related to benefits costs, utilization, and compliance.
• Ability to lead change initiatives related to benefits design and delivery.
• Ability to interpret plan documents and communicate complex benefits information clearly.
• Strong vendor management and negotiation skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments and with external partners.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Requires sitting long periods of time at a desk; standing to file’ walking through building to perform needed tasks; carrying and holding files and boxes of supplies up to 5 lbs; dragging and lifting boxes of paper, files and supplies up to 10 lbs; pulling and pushing file drawers open and closed; stooping, crouching, bending, squatting and kneeling to retrieve files and boxes; occasional crawling to retrieve items under desk, etc., feeling for needed objects on desk and in file drawers; reaching and twisting in chair to reach phone and files; filing and sorting of files; writing typing, using computer and answering telephone in daily duties of job; simple grasping of objects and files and using fingers for fine manipulation of using computer keyboard; static, rotational, flexing and extension of head and neck needed to answer phone and turn to find files; near acuity vision, color vision and up, down, right and left field of vision needed; requires speaking, hearing, and dealing with employees and the public.

WORK ENVIRONMENT        

 The incumbent primarily works in air-conditioned environment in an office setting. Occasionally outdoors walking to other City Departments which may involve working in all types of weather.  Exposed to constant noise and dust/mites.  Low to medium stress level.