Program Specialist

Westchester County Department of Finance is actively recruiting for a Program Specialist (Benefits).

Under general supervision, an incumbent of this class assists in the coordination and administration of a variety of employee benefit programs including health, dental, and vision care. This position is also responsible for assisting in the administration of unemployment and workers compensation insurance, using a variety of database management systems to enroll employees, enter payroll deductions, and post and receive payments to and from retirees, etc.,

and establishing and maintaining extensive and substantive contact with insurance carriers and worker’s compensation company representatives. Other duties involve assisting in the implementation and administration of changing laws and regulations relating to health care and benefits and serving as a point of contact for individual employees and/or departmental administrators to resolve customer issues relating to their benefits. Technical advice and assistance are provided as needed.

Supervision may be exercised over clerical and staff support personnel. Does related work as required.

• Assists in the coordination and administration of the County’s Benefits plan, including the administration of worker’s compensation claims;
• Explains the various benefit packages offered by the County to employees as well as departmental representatives to assist employees in making important choices relating to their benefits and health care;
• Uses a variety of database management systems, including both County systems and the proprietary systems of third-party providers;
• Serves in a lead capacity over subordinate support personnel, ensures tasks are completed and provides instruction in program procedures; may provide supervision on various assignments, as needed;
• Verifies proper enrollment of employees, based upon eligibility guidelines, terminations and changes as required;
• Assists in the implementation of changes to federal and state laws, rules and regulations regarding benefits and health care, and the administration of same;
• Responds to employee complaints or problems; handles more complex inquiries as referred by subordinate staff;
• Contacts insurance carriers, employees and eligible former employees, both in writing and by telephone, to ensure implementation of and compliance with program requirements, and to handle unusual problems;
• Analyzes and interprets new or revised requirements or programs to determine their impact upon existing administrative and procedural activities

A high school or equivalency diploma and either: (a) seven years of experience in employee benefits, Finance or Human Resources, which included or was supplemented by one year of experience assisting in the administration of health insurance plans; or (b) seven years of experience in government operations, which included or was supplemented by one year of experience which must have involved assisting in the development and implementation of service delivery or operational systems for employee benefits, Human Resources and/or Finance.

SUBSTITUTION:
Satisfactory completion of 30 credits towards a Bachelor’s Degree
* may be substituted on a year for year basis for up to four years of the above stated experience.

• Besides a competitive salary, our compensation package includes comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, deferred compensation, paid leave and retirement plan.

Westchester County, located in the heart of the historic Hudson Valley, covers 500 square miles and has a population of just…