Benefits & Wellness Specialist The anticipated hiring range is $73,672 - $90,000 The Benefits & Wellness Specialist is responsible for performing professional level oversight of the City's employee benefit plans and systems. This position is responsible for subject matter expertise in benefit functions, including application of applicable federal, state, and local laws. This position supports organizational goals and initiatives, provides expert advice and consultation, maintains records, completes special human resources projects; and writes and develops plans, communications, policies, and procedures. Incumbents provide analysis and participate in surveys to determine competitiveness. This position is the technical leader for the City's various employee benefits plans. This position will help manage citywide benefits programs and ensure accountability to internal and external stakeholders. The Benefits & Wellness Specialist will employ in-depth knowledge of benefits plans, regulations, and program data to develop program improvements and customer-focused solutions for city benefits initiatives. The Benefits & Wellness Specialist will ensure timely delivery to customer in benefits delivery. The incumbent oversees administrative work and front-line escalations and implements tools and functional resources necessary to inform good decision making. This role requires leadership and a teamwork mentality, as the Benefits & Wellness Specialist will manage the internal customers and employee requests and questions process across different functional areas within the City of Richmond, as well as Human Resource employees. Duties Include But Are Not Limited ToProgram Administration & Compliance Regulatory Oversight: Manages benefit plans (health, dental, disability, life, voluntary, and retirement programs) in strict accordance with ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, and other federal, state, and local regulations. Vendor & File Management: Manages relationships, issue resolution, and activities with plan vendors; oversees administrative functions, inbound/outbound integration files, plan eligibility, contributions, and reconciliation. Financial & Data Analysis: Analyzes employee benefit costs to recommend cost savings and plan design changes; utilizes advanced Excel and system tools to track program performance and generate reports. Process Improvement: Evaluates processes, applies critical thinking to identify issues, and leverages technology to implement solutions that increase productivity and operational efficiency. Employee Support & Service Escalated Issue Resolution: Manages the customer service support process (calls/emails) for current and former associates; handles complex and escalated inquiries regarding plan provisions, eligibility, and enrollment in a timely manner. Retirement & Life Insurance Guidance: Gathers pension data, interviews prospective retirees, provides estimates, and delivers individualized support on retirement options and life insurance benefits. Education & Presentation: Conducts employee education and benefits information sessions, coordinates provider correspondence, and creates resources to help associates make informed benefit decisions. Team Collaboration & Execution Pod Leadership: Serves as a operational lead to other Benefits Team members, providing guidance and fostering shared institutional knowledge. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partners with internal teams and external agencies to ensure seamless benefits operations, data integrity, and a positive employee experience. Adaptable Execution: Manages multiple high-priority tasks simultaneously in a fast-paced environment while maintaining strict accuracy, attention to detail, and executing additional duties as assigned. Qualifications, Special Certifications and Licenses Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Core Knowledge: Human Resources & Employee Benefits: Foundational understanding of benefits administration and industry practices. Data & Financial Aptitude: Experience with budgeting, reconciliation, and managing large, complex datasets. Communication & Engagement: Familiarity with benefits promotion, advertising techniques, and public speaking to diverse populations. Technical Proficiency: Mastery of Microsoft Office Suite (specifically Word and Excel). Experience navigating legacy ERP systems (e.g., Oracle, Great Plains, or similar database environments) is highly preferred.
Key Skills & Abilities:
Project & Time Management: Ability to manage multiple projects, timelines, and deadlines simultaneously while prioritizing tasks effectively.
Analytical Thinking: Strong research, critical thinking, problem-solving, and sharp attention to detail.
Communication & Diplomacy: Exceptional oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills used to listen attentively and navigate diverse team dynamics.
Autonomy & Resourcefulness: Proven ability to function independently with minimal supervision, demonstrating high motivation and adaptability.
Minimum Qualifications:- 5+ years of Human Resources experience with 3 years in the field of employee benefits
- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field
- An equivalent combination of training and experience (as approved by the department) may be used to meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.
Preferred Qualifications:
3+ years of experience in Benefits Administration Experience navigating and operating within legacy ERP systems (ex., Oracle, Great Plains, or similar database environments).Education in accounting, finance or math is strongly preferred, or training and experience equivalent.
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 Veronica Kenner, by email at HR-ADA@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. The City of Richmond Values Veterans. We are an official V3 Certified Company. The City of Richmond is a proud partner with the US Army Partnership for Your Success PaYS Program.
