Occ. Code 1423100
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS REPRESENTATIVE 1, GRADE 18 |
1423100 |
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS REPRESENTATIVE 2, GRADE 23 |
1423200 |
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS REPRESENTATIVE 3, M-2 |
1423300 |
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS REPRESENTATIVE 4, M-3 |
1423400 |
Positions in this series plan, coordinate, direct, manage, and support a wide variety of administrative activities associated with employee benefit programs such as health, dental, vision and life insurance plans; as well as workers compensation, income protection, and disability benefits. They establish and apply eligibility requirements, and arrange and communicate to eligible enrollees the details of each benefit plan. These positions are classified only in the Department of Civil Service. They are technical experts providing guidance and direction to establishing and maintaining benefit plans for the employees of New York State and other participating employees of New York State and other participating public employers. More experienced incumbents at any of the four levels may participate with the Governors Office of Employee Relations in the collective bargaining process where benefit levels, cost, and eligibility matters are negotiated. They may also be asked to explain benefits on the telephone, in oral presentations and in correspondence, or to assist management of other jurisdictions by consulting when benefits are being discussed or negotiated with their employees, retirees, or eligible dependents.
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS REPRESENTATIVE 1: entry level; responds to phone calls and correspondence; may research complex cases needing interpretation; refers more complex matters to more experienced staff; often assigned to team(s) engaged in policy determinations, preparation of written materials explaining benefits, making oral presentations to retirees and other interested groups of enrollees about benefits; reviewing existing contract language; reviewing new technology; or engaged in attracting additional employers into the New York State Health Insurance Program.
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS REPRESENTATIVE 2: Provides direction and assistance to EBR 1s and other staff in dealing with more complex cases; first supervisory level, may supervise, train, and schedule the phone, correspondence, and presentation work of subordinates, or direct a team consisting of both professional and support staff engaged in benefit analysis, procedural reengineering, recommending or implementing administrative improvements, including new technologies. Identifies specific issues needing policy clarification and may be assigned to benchmark items against other employer groups, or to work with Counsel's office to evaluate the legal implications of law, rule or regulations on benefits and the need to seek appropriate revision(s).
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS REPRESENTATIVE 3: serve as program managers of significant organizational units within the Employee Benefits Division communications, operations, and program services. Plans, supervises and coordinates the activities of staff, outsourced vendor/consultant specialists, and interacts with representatives of other organizations or jurisdictions with interests in the New York State employee benefit package. Such others include public employee unions, associations of interested enrollees, labor/management committees, the Civil Service Commission, the Division of the Budget, the Governor's Office of Employee Relations and the Office of the State Comptroller.
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS REPRESENTATIVE 4: incumbents generally head up a Bureau level program/organization within the Employee Benefits Division, such as Policy, Communications or Program Services. They may be responsible for managing public contact, customer relations, production, and service delivery skills of a large staff composed of clerical and professional employees or managing a unit which handles matters of a complex nature such as legislative analysis and policy development. Recognition of the advantages that systems automation and reengineering can bring to such settings is essential as these positions manage change.
Provide technical assistance.
- Answer in-person and telephone inquiries from retired enrollees and others seeking guidance about their health, prescription drug, dental, vision, workers compensation, Managerial/Confidential life insurance, or Income Protection benefits.
- Answer correspondence about benefits.
- Travel throughout the State to present benefit informational sessions.
- Respond to agency inquiries seeking guidance regarding the proper application of, suspension or waiver of various rules, eligibility questions about benefits, etc.
- May be asked to serve on management bargaining team(s) or to advise those negotiating for other jurisdictions regarding State of New York benefits, advise and counsel employees and their organizational representatives, and managers from other State departments and agencies including the Governors Office of Employee Relations and others concerning application of the benefit articles contained in union agreements covering State employees.
Training
- Develop materials and present training for Division staff and agency personnel involved in benefit administration.
- Assist technical IRM staff in automating processes and procedures maximizing the use of available technology. Engage staff in implementing new processes and assist them throughout the change cycle.
Research
- Review certificates of insurance and other informative material to resolve misunderstandings of the provisions in benefit plans.
- Maintain background materials regarding the negotiation of benefit or leave provisions during collective bargaining and use such in the ongoing administration throughout the contract term.
- Monitor legislation.
- Recommend law, rule or regulation changes or additions.
- Identify issues and prepare background rationale when policy statements or other techniques of management control are needed to assure proper and consistent administration of benefit and leave provisions.
General
- Perform supervisory functions such as selecting new employees, reporting on their progress during probation periods, and any annual Performance Plan programs as required.
- Assign and monitor the work performed by others for accuracy and completeness. May be asked to set priorities for work performed by others in the work unit or on project teams.
- May be assigned to marketing activities in order to describe a benefit plan to other public jurisdictions eligible to offer such benefit to its employees and/or retirees.
Incumbents of positions in this series are assigned to work with a great deal of independence. Their answers must conform to policy and established practice set by the Division and advisory entities such as the Health Insurance Council. Individuals are accountable for the answers and solutions they arrange. Incumbents must be able to grow on the job, and recognize when to seek consensus or specific direction from Division Senior Management.
Representatives at all levels communicate on a daily basis orally and in writing with a wide variety of individuals and in a wide variety of settings. They serve as a conduit of information between benefit plans and enrolled participants; between management and unions; between individuals and insurance companies or service providers; between politicians and constituents; between enrollees and dependents; and among themselves and other Division employees, Department employees, and a host of control, regulatory, and legislative committee folks.
They develop and review written instructions, bulletins, and policy memoranda directing others in the fine points of benefit administration. They make scheduled presentations to retiree groups and at pre-retirement seminars at locations across New York State and have appeared at union sponsored events to speak to retirees covered by the New York State Health Insurance Plan living in Florida.
They also communicate with a host of other public jurisdictions about State benefits, and may be assigned for a period of time to liaison directly with a specific insurance company or benefit provider organization when changes to law, rules, contracts, or regulations create particularly troublesome issues.
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS REPRESENTATIVES 1 may be required to supervise 1-7 paraprofessional support staff. They are working supervisors and generally perform staff work assigned and reviewed by higher level Division staff. The 1 and 2 levels are often assigned to perform in leadership positions on project teams or committees.
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS REPRESENTATIVES 2 work under less direct supervision. They are often subject matter experts for a specific benefit or aspect of benefit administration. In some assignments they may be responsible for 1-7 members of a project or work team.
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS REPRESENTATIVES 3 work independently under general direction from a higher level manager. Each is responsible for overseeing a functional area critical to the success of the Divisions mission to administer the State of New Yorks benefit programs, including attendance and leave.
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS REPRESENTATIVES 4 provide indirect supervision and management to a bureau within the Employee Benefits Division. They communicate management policies to staff, coordinate work with that of other units and programs, determine work priorities, and are responsible for the procedures, guidelines, and resources needed to process the bureau and Division workload.
Promotion: Eligible to take the PATT or related clerical bridge exam open to Grade 14 or above permanent competitive employees, and satisfactory completion of a two-year traineeship.
Open Competitive: Bachelors Degree and eligible to take the PCT or related entry level professional examination and satisfactory service in a two-year traineeship.
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS REPRESENTATIVE 2
Promotion: One year of permanent competitive service as an Employee Benefits Representative 1.
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS REPRESENTATIVE 3
Promotion: One year of permanent competitive service as an Employee Benefits Representative 2.
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS REPRESENTATIVE 4
Promotion: One year of permanent competitive service as an Employee Benefits Representative 3.
Date: 5/02
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 of the work that might be appropriately performed by a class. The minimum qualifications above are those which were 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.