Occ. Code 1436114
HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST 1 (BENEFITS), GRADE 18 |
1436114 |
HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST 2 (BENEFITS), GRADE 23 |
1436204 |
HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST 4 (BENEFITS), M-2 |
1436524 |
HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST 5 (BENEFITS), M-3 |
1436624 |
New York State Department of Civil Service
Classification Standard
Human Resources Specialists (Benefits) plan, coordinate, and manage various employee benefits such as health, dental, vision, and life insurance; and workers compensation, income protection, and disability benefits. They establish and apply eligibility requirements; and arrange and communicate to enrollees the details of each benefit.
These positions exist only in the Department of Civil Service, the States central human resources agency, in the Employee Benefits Division.
HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST 1 (BENEFITS): full performance level; responds to phone and written inquiries on various benefits; researches complex cases needing interpretation; participates in teams engaged in determining policy and preparing documents explaining benefits; makes presentations to enrollees and interested groups regarding benefits; assists in marketing the New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP); may supervise lower level staff.
HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST 2 (BENEFITS): first supervisory level; oversees professional and support staff engaged in benefits administration.
HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST 4 (BENEFITS): second supervisory level; oversees a small unit or team, and coordinates activities among staff, vendors, and consultants.
HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST 5 (BENEFITS): manages a large unit such as Policy or Audit; or oversees projects of a complex nature such as legislative analysis and program development.
RELATED CLASSES
Human Resources Specialist is a generalist series and incumbents perform various human resources activities, such as classification, recruitment, placement and provision of employee services, in an agency.
Human Resources Specialist (Labor Relations) administers the employee and labor relations activities for a State agency. Human Resources Specialists in Attendance & Leave, Classification & Compensation, Municipal Assistance, Staffing, and Testing parenthetics in the Department of Civil Service, the States lead human resources agency, provide services to State agencies and municipalities in administering merit system activities.
ILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES
Technical Assistance
· Answers inquiries from enrollees and others seeking guidance about their health, prescription drug, dental, vision, workers compensation, life insurance, or income protection benefits.
· Travels throughout the State to present benefit informational sessions.
· Responds to agency inquiries regarding the proper application of, suspension or waiver of various rules, eligibility questions about benefits, etc.
· May serve on management bargaining team(s) and advise those negotiating for various jurisdictions regarding benefits.
· Advises employees and their organizational representatives, and managers from State agencies including GOER and others concerning application of the benefit articles contained in union agreements covering State employees.
· Develops and reviews Plan communication materials.
Research
· Reviews certificates of insurance and other informational materials to resolve misunderstandings of the provisions in benefit plans.
· Maintains background materials regarding the negotiation of benefit or leave provisions during collective bargaining and uses such documents in the ongoing administration throughout the contract term.
· Monitors legislation; and recommends law, rule, or regulation changes.
Training
· Develops materials and presents training for agencies and Division staff.
· Participates in automating processes and procedures. Engages staff in implementing new processes and assists them throughout the change cycle.
May be assigned to marketing activities of NYSHIP to public jurisdictions eligible to offer such benefit to their employees and/or retirees.
HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST 4 & 5 (BENEFITS)
In addition to the above activities, Human Resources Specialist 4 & 5 (Benefits)
· Handles difficult and/or high-profile inquiries and situations regarding various benefits.
Human Resources Specialists (Benefits) communicate with a wide variety of individuals to explain benefits and resolve problems. They serve as liaison between enrollees and benefits providers, elected officials and their constituents, individuals and insurance companies or service providers. They develop and review written instructions, bulletins, and policy memoranda related to benefits administration. They make presentations regarding the benefits programs before various groups; and interact with various public jurisdictions about State benefits.
HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST 1 (BENEFITS)
Open Competitive: Bachelors degree and satisfactory completion of a two-year traineeship.
HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST 2 (BENEFITS)
Promotion: One year of permanent service as a Human Resources Specialist 1 (Benefits).
HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST 4 (BENEFITS)
Promotion: One year of permanent service as a Human Resources Specialist 2 (Benefits).
HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST 5 (BENEFITS)
Promotion: One year of permanent service as a Human Resources Specialist 4 (Benefits) or Human Resources Specialist 4 (Benefits Contracts).
Attachment
Date: 1/18
NOTE: Classification Standards illustrate the nature, extent and scope of duties and responsibilities of the classes they describe. Standards cannot and do not include all the work that might be appropriately performed by a class. The minimum qualifications above are those required for appointment at the time the Classification Standard was written. Please contact the Division of Staffing Services for current information on minimum qualification requirements for appointment or examination.
PARENTHETIC ATTACHMENT
Human Resources Specialists (Benefits Contracts) develop specifications and evaluation criteria for benefits procurements; negotiate contracts and amendments; and manage contracts with insurance companies and other vendors engaged in providing services for one or more aspects of an employee benefit.
HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST 2 (BENEFITS CONTRACTS): performs contracts analysis; participates in the contractor selection process; notifies contractors of benefits changes and oversees required modifications to contractors procedures; analyzes carrier recommendations for changes in procedures and benefits administration, and makes recommendations; monitors contracts to ensure vendor compliance; serves as liaison with insurance carriers and obtains reporting data for administering contracts; analyzes benefits structure for efficiency and effectiveness; participates in developing policy and recommends changes; may function as the contract manager for a benefits contract typically valued at less than $100 million; and may supervise lower level staff engaged in benefits contracts activities.
HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST 4 (BENEFITS CONTRACTS): supervises a staff engaged in the administration of benefits contracts; guides and directs studies of contracts performance; directs the development of procurement and contract documents; establishes evaluation parameters and applies them in determining the best "value" for the State; drafts reports pertaining to the utilization, cost, and value of benefits, and proposed benefits changes; provides information and analyses related to benefits for collective bargaining negotiations; and functions as the contract manager for one or more benefits contracts typically valued at more than $100 million.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST 2 (BENEFITS CONTRACTS)
Promotion: One year of permanent service as a Human Resources Specialist 1 (Benefits).
HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST 4 (BENEFITS CONTRACTS)
Promotion: One year of permanent service as a Human Resources Specialist 2 (Benefits Contracts).