Benefits Specialist / HR Generalist

This position plays a crucial role in supporting various human resources functions. Serves as the main point of contact for the HR team managing benefits administration, directing the evaluation process, onboarding, and assisting with enforcement of City policies and practices.

Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8am - 430pm
Starting salary: $68,048.86 / $32.7158 - $81,736.89 / $39.2966
Initial interviews: April 23rd
Tentative start date: TBD
Explore the City's benefits here: City of Waukesha Benefit Guide (Download PDF reader)

It is not typical for someone to be hired at or near the top of the salary range. The specific compensation offered to a candidate is reviewed and based off a variety of factors including skills, qualifications, experience, certifications, and internal equity.

Essential Job Functions: The job functions listed herein are neither exclusive nor exhaustive but are intended to be illustrative of the types of tasks the employee will most likely be expected to perform on a regular basis. The employee may be asked to perform different or additional tasks than the ones listed here, as the needs of the employer and/or the requirements of the position change.

Benefits Administration:
1. Administer benefits for employees and retirees to ensure proper and efficient execution in accordance with policy and contractual agreements.
2. Coordinate open enrollment periods and communicate benefits information to employees; coordinate annual Health Risk Assessment events; send out plan documents and facilitate the enrollment processes.
3. Collaborate with benefits providers to ensure accurate and timely processing of benefits.
4. Plan, organize, and execute benefits fairs; partner with benefit providers to ensure detailed and up-to-date information is shared with employees.

Performance Evaluations:
5. Assist in coordinating the performance review process, including setting timelines and communicating expectations.
6. Manage performance appraisal software including review of supervisor feedback ensuring consistency and fairness, tracking of performance review completion, training and related functions.
7. Conduct audits of performance review documentation to ensure completeness, consistency, and adherence to performance management guidelines; compile and analyze performance data to identify trends and areas for improvement.
8. Collaborate with City Administrator, HR Director and Finance to develop and maintain merit increase workbooks; outline compensation adjustments based on performance evaluations and budget considerations.
9. Ensure timely and accurate distribution of merit increase workbooks to department heads and guide them through the process.

Employee Processing and New Hire Orientation:
10. Manage all employee and retiree files complete with tax and benefit elections, resumes and applications, disciplinary actions, and other HR related documents.
11. Process and schedule random drug and alcohol testing.
12. Develop and enhance orientation processes; create new hire packets; conduct comprehensive onboarding sessions for newly hired employees to provide an understanding of the organization, policies, and culture. Ensure completion of required paperwork and benefits enrollment if applicable.
13. Manage all employee and retiree personnel files complete with all tax and benefit elections of the employee, resumes and applications, disciplinary actions, and other HR related documents.

Data Management and Reporting:
14. Maintain and update HRIS (Human Resources Information System) databases with accurate employee information, ensuring data integrity and confidentiality.
15. Generate regular and ad-hoc HR reports, including headcount, turnover, compensation analysis, and diversity metrics, to support decision-making and compliance.

Additional Responsibilities:
16. Process monthly HR invoices and bills in Munis system.
17. Assist in the development and implementation of human resources goals, policies, and programs.
18. Maintain knowledge of trends, regulatory changes, and new technologies in human resources, talent management, federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations, and recommended best practices.
19. Serve as backup for worker's compensation injury reporting and recordkeeping; also act as backup for recruitment, including posting vacancies, application review, background checks, and other recruitment activities.
20. Develop and recommend continuous improvement of HR processes, procedures or programs to deliver innovative solutions to meet the need of City employees.
21. Compose professional memos, reports and letters for purposes of city-wide employee communications.
22. Perform general office support functions; update HR website; manage HR email and main HR line; process mail; order office supplies.
23. Respond to questions, complaints, and requests for information by telephone or in person.

Requirements of Work
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in Human Resource Management, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field; at least 4 years of progressively responsible experience in the development and delivery of human resources services including benefits administration; or any combination of education and experience that provides the employee the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform essential job functions and the requirements prescribed to the position below:

Knowledge of

• Employee Benefits Administration
• HR procedures and policies
• General employment law and HR best practices
• Recruitment
• General office procedures and the use of standard office equipment
• Performance Management
• Advanced knowledge of MS Office and HRIS systems

• Maintain confidential and sensitive information
• Work independently with minimal supervision
• Learn new technical systems
• Train individual on relevant human resources related topics
• Assist in performance management and employee oversight
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with employees, leaders, vendors and general public
• Communicate effectively
• Work remotely as needed

• Interpersonal communications at all levels of an organization
• Ethics and cultural awareness
• Training and presentations
• Attention to detail
• Onboarding new employees
• Resourcefulness and problem-solving

• Work is performed mostly in an office setting; must be able to operate computers and various pieces of office equipment.
• Job involves close and/or prolonged visual concentration and the ability to adjust focus.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently is required to sit for long periods of time, stand, talk and hear; use hands and fingers to handle, feel, or operate objects, tools, or controls and reach with hands and arms.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.