Benefits Specialist
Hernando County, Florida BOCC, Brooksville, FL, United States
Under the direction of the Benefits Manager, the Benefits Specialist provides administrative and technical support for employee benefit programs within the county. This position is responsible for benefit enrollments, qualifying life events, record maintenance, and reporting while ensuring compliance with applicable federal, state, and county regulations. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned, including working in other functional areas to cover absences or relief, to equalize peak work periods, or otherwise to balance the workload.
Responsibilities
Coordinates new hire orientation and prepares standard benefits packets.
Assists with filing disability and life insurance claims.
Processes new hires, terminations, qualifying events related to employee benefits.
Audits BenTek data, including eligibility, salary information, dependents, vendor feeds, and payroll deductions and makes any necessary updates on an ongoing basis.
Participates in the planning, development, and execution of the annual Employee Benefits Fair.
Assists Benefit Manager with coordination of annual open enrollment, employee benefit meetings, and service dates for all employees and retirees, including communication with insurance carriers, constitutional office liaisons, retirees, and agents of record.
Responsible for updates and changes to the department’s website and intranet pages.
Develops an updated guide with FAQs for employees seeking to submit applications for service retirement, including related forms information with the State of Florida Retirement System.
Maintains and organizes benefits documentation by scanning, filing, and indexing records in compliance with applicable laws, policies, and records retention guidelines.
Emergency Response County employees are required to report for work during a state of emergency and are subject to recall around the clock for emergency response operations which may include duties other than those specified in this job description. Employees may request an exemption from this requirement by submitting the appropriate exemption form, subject to review and approval.
Minimum Qualifications
Associate’s degree from an accredited college or university in Human Resources, Public Administration, or related field.
Three (3) to five (5) years of experience in professional human resources functions and/or related field.
Applicants must submit a resume and cover letter tailored to the position. Application materials must demonstrate clear, professional written communication skills.
Licenses, Certifications, or Registrations
Must possess and maintain a valid Florida Driver’s License, or obtain it within 30 days of establishing residency in Florida and be insurable by the current insurance carrier; a Florida Identification Card is acceptable only for positions not required to drive a county vehicle.
NIMs certification 100, 200, and 700 (must be obtained within 30 days of employment).
Professional in Human Resources (PHR), SHRM-CP, or related certification preferred.
Required Competencies
Extensive knowledge of employee benefits and applicable legal requirements related to the administration of employee benefits.
Knowledge of principles, practices, and procedures of employee benefits plans and programs.
Excellent communication skills with the ability to convey information clearly to employees at all levels.
Strong analytical skills with attention to detail.
Ability to work collaboratively within a team environment while also being self-motivated.
Ability to maintain confidential personnel information.
Ability to build and maintain relationships with employees, leadership, and constitutional offices.
Ability to work in a dynamic environment that requires sensitivity to change and responsiveness to changing goals, priorities, and needs.
Physical Requirements / Work Environment
Requires sitting most of the day.
The job involves frequent lifting and carrying up to 10 pounds, and occasionally up to 20 pounds.
The job requires frequent bending, twisting, and occasional squatting, climbing, kneeling, and balancing.
The job requires the completion of tasks that involve simple grasping, pushing, pulling, fine manual manipulation, and typing.
The job requires normal visual acuity and field of vision, depth perception and color vision, hearing, and speaking.
Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Travel Requirement
Occasional to moderate travel may be required, sometimes involving personal vehicles or overnight stays for meetings, training, or to visit other office locations.
Pay Pay Grade: 8. Salary Disclosure: Pay rates are based on policy, education, skill, experience level, and internal equity.
Veterans’ Preference Under Section 295.07, F.S., Chapter SSA-7, Hernando County BOCC provides preference in appointment to preference‑eligible veterans.
Equal Opportunity Employer Hernando County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, gender, orientation, national origin, age, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, disability, or any other protected characteristic as defined by law.
Drug-Free Workplace Hernando County is a drug‑free workplace. All employees are subject to drug testing in accordance with Federal and Florida State Law.
Reasonable Accommodation Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act must provide notification to the BOCC in advance to allow sufficient time to provide an accommodation.
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Responsibilities
Coordinates new hire orientation and prepares standard benefits packets.
Assists with filing disability and life insurance claims.
Processes new hires, terminations, qualifying events related to employee benefits.
Audits BenTek data, including eligibility, salary information, dependents, vendor feeds, and payroll deductions and makes any necessary updates on an ongoing basis.
Participates in the planning, development, and execution of the annual Employee Benefits Fair.
Assists Benefit Manager with coordination of annual open enrollment, employee benefit meetings, and service dates for all employees and retirees, including communication with insurance carriers, constitutional office liaisons, retirees, and agents of record.
Responsible for updates and changes to the department’s website and intranet pages.
Develops an updated guide with FAQs for employees seeking to submit applications for service retirement, including related forms information with the State of Florida Retirement System.
Maintains and organizes benefits documentation by scanning, filing, and indexing records in compliance with applicable laws, policies, and records retention guidelines.
Emergency Response County employees are required to report for work during a state of emergency and are subject to recall around the clock for emergency response operations which may include duties other than those specified in this job description. Employees may request an exemption from this requirement by submitting the appropriate exemption form, subject to review and approval.
Minimum Qualifications
Associate’s degree from an accredited college or university in Human Resources, Public Administration, or related field.
Three (3) to five (5) years of experience in professional human resources functions and/or related field.
Applicants must submit a resume and cover letter tailored to the position. Application materials must demonstrate clear, professional written communication skills.
Licenses, Certifications, or Registrations
Must possess and maintain a valid Florida Driver’s License, or obtain it within 30 days of establishing residency in Florida and be insurable by the current insurance carrier; a Florida Identification Card is acceptable only for positions not required to drive a county vehicle.
NIMs certification 100, 200, and 700 (must be obtained within 30 days of employment).
Professional in Human Resources (PHR), SHRM-CP, or related certification preferred.
Required Competencies
Extensive knowledge of employee benefits and applicable legal requirements related to the administration of employee benefits.
Knowledge of principles, practices, and procedures of employee benefits plans and programs.
Excellent communication skills with the ability to convey information clearly to employees at all levels.
Strong analytical skills with attention to detail.
Ability to work collaboratively within a team environment while also being self-motivated.
Ability to maintain confidential personnel information.
Ability to build and maintain relationships with employees, leadership, and constitutional offices.
Ability to work in a dynamic environment that requires sensitivity to change and responsiveness to changing goals, priorities, and needs.
Physical Requirements / Work Environment
Requires sitting most of the day.
The job involves frequent lifting and carrying up to 10 pounds, and occasionally up to 20 pounds.
The job requires frequent bending, twisting, and occasional squatting, climbing, kneeling, and balancing.
The job requires the completion of tasks that involve simple grasping, pushing, pulling, fine manual manipulation, and typing.
The job requires normal visual acuity and field of vision, depth perception and color vision, hearing, and speaking.
Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Travel Requirement
Occasional to moderate travel may be required, sometimes involving personal vehicles or overnight stays for meetings, training, or to visit other office locations.
Pay Pay Grade: 8. Salary Disclosure: Pay rates are based on policy, education, skill, experience level, and internal equity.
Veterans’ Preference Under Section 295.07, F.S., Chapter SSA-7, Hernando County BOCC provides preference in appointment to preference‑eligible veterans.
Equal Opportunity Employer Hernando County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, gender, orientation, national origin, age, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, disability, or any other protected characteristic as defined by law.
Drug-Free Workplace Hernando County is a drug‑free workplace. All employees are subject to drug testing in accordance with Federal and Florida State Law.
Reasonable Accommodation Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act must provide notification to the BOCC in advance to allow sufficient time to provide an accommodation.
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