Description:
Benefits Specialist
Are you excited about a new opportunity? Do you have excellent communications skills? Are you able to analyze and interpret complex benefit information? Are you mission-driven and want to be a part of an organization whose mission is to improve health and end homelessness in Washington, DC? Well, look no further! At Community of Hope, we have worked diligently to improve health and end family homelessness to make Washington, DC, more equitable. We believe everyone in DC should have access to good healthcare, a stable income, and home, and hope! If you are ready to make a positive difference in the community, this position is for you!
At COH, we strive for: Caring for Families. Improving Lives. Leading Change
Our Approach and Values:
We care for families by providing direct services with a focus on prevention, healing, and wellness.
We improve lives by building on families’ strengths, honoring their choices, and taking a whole-family, multi-generational approach.
We lead and advocate for system change to address the effects of historical and current racial inequities on health outcomes and housing opportunities.
We embrace the diversity of our community, welcome all voices and perspectives, and treat everyone with respect, compassion, and integrity.
We strive for excellence in all that we do, implement evidence-based practices, measure our outcomes, and use this knowledge to continuously strengthen our work.
Position Summary:
The Benefits Specialist supports employee recruitment and retention through the administrative support of Community of Hopes employee benefits programs. This is a full-time position that reports directly to the Benefits and Wellbeing Manager.
Salary – Indeed provides its own estimated salary calculator and is not affiliated with COH’s range. The salary for this position starts in the high 40's and up based on education and experience.
Highlighted Duties and Responsibilities:
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Maintains a thorough understanding of benefits offered to employees based on the employee benefits guide and other employee benefit communications in the COH toolbox.
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Sends benefit orientation information emails to new hires within one week of their hire date, follows-up to ensure completion of electronic benefits enrollment at least two weeks prior to their eligibility date, and conducts benefit orientation meetings with each new staff member based upon their eligibility.
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Processes benefit enrollments, changes, and terminations within the 30 days of the eligibility date.
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Enter all enrollments, changes, and terminations into the benefits systems prior to the effective date. Ensure this information is entered into the human capital management (HCM) system for the payroll period during which the date of eligibility occurs.
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Tracks employee eligibility for two-year COH contribution to retirement account, sends eligibility notices to employees one month in advance and assists employees with online enrollment as needed.
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Reports employee benefits terminations in the HCM within two business days of termination to ensure that COBRA notifications are sent out on time.
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Supports Benefits and Wellbeing Manager with the benefit plan audits and reporting, including preparation and submission of the annual Form 5500, annual 125 Non-Discrimination Testing, annual Affordable Care Act (ACA) Reporting and annual 403(b) audits.
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Attends bi-weekly HR and Payroll touch base meetings to review benefit reconciliation issues and other items.
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Provides additional support as requested. *
Requirements:
Minimum Qualifications:
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Highschool diploma required. Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience preferred.
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1 or more years of professional experience strongly preferred, preferably in HR, administration, or a related field.
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Ability to prioritize tasks and complete in a timely and thorough manner.
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Attention to detail and strong organization skills.
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Ability to work independently and ask for support as needed.
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Critical thinking skills.
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Strong interpersonal skills.
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Working knowledge of MS Word, Outlook, and Excel.
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Prior office/administrative experience preferred.
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Ability to travel to other sites during open enrollment or as needed.
At COH, we understand the toll that the Covid-19 pandemic has taken on the workforce, which is why we prioritize the following well-being and work-life balance centered benefits:
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Remote work opportunities are available for many of our roles, promoting a culture of work-life balance
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8-hour workdays, which include a paid lunch
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11.5 paid company holidays, 1 personal floating holiday, 15 days of paid vacation (increases to 20 after 3 years of service), and 12 days of paid sick leave on an annual basis
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Annual performance-based raises, up to 5% of your annual pay
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Tuition reimbursement, loan repayment for clinicians, licensing reimbursement, and continuing education unit funds for licensed staff
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Many opportunities for internal promotions and transfers across the agency as we continue to grow; we average 30+ promotions each year
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Ongoing internal leadership training for supervisors
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Diversity, equity, and inclusion training and initiatives for all staff
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Ongoing wellbeing activities, culture compact activities, and trauma-informed care initiatives
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Medical/Dental/Vision Plans through CareFirst BlueCross Blue Shield
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Life insurance, short-term disability and long-term disability insurance
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403(b) Retirement Plan
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Flexible Spending Accounts for medical and dependent care reimbursable expenses
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And much more!
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In relation to remote work versus on-site expectations, this position is classified as the following:
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Remote: A majority of the position may be able to work remotely, but employees will be required to report to the office a minimum of twice per month.
Please note that remote work designations are subject to change or fluctuate at any point in time and the supervisor may require in person learning for a specific amount of time after hire.
About Us:
Community of Hope is a mission-driven, innovative, and rapidly growing nonprofit. For over 40 years, we have provided healthcare, housing, and supportive services for under-resourced, underserved and people experiencing homelessness in Washington, DC. As a Federally Qualified Health Center, we provide medical, dental, emotional wellness, and care coordination services for the whole family at three locations in DC. Community of Hope also strongly emphasizes maternal and child health, with midwifery practice and the only free-standing birth center in DC. In 2020, Community of Hope provided about 28,400 medical visits, 7,000 dental visits, and 10,000 behavioral health visits for about 11,000 patients. Community of Hope provides community walk-in COVID testing and COVID vaccines. Community of Hope is also one of the largest providers in DC of housing and support services for families and individuals experiencing homelessness. Through providing these programs, we live out our mission to improve health and end family and individual homelessness to make Washington, DC, more equitable.
Community of Hope cares for families and individuals by providing direct services focusing on prevention, healing, and wellness. We improve lives by building on families' and individuals' strengths, honoring their choices, and taking a whole-family, multi-generational approach. We lead and advocate for system change to address the effects of historical and current racial inequities on health outcomes and housing opportunities. We embrace the diversity of our community, welcome all voices and perspectives, and treat everyone with respect, compassion, and integrity. We strive for excellence in everything we do, implement evidence-based practices, measure our outcomes, and use this knowledge to strengthen our work continuously. We were selected as one of The Washington Post 150 Top Workplaces in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, and 2021 based on feedback from our staff.
To request a reasonable accommodation to complete an employment application or for general questions about employment with Community of Hope, contact a Recruiting Coordinator. Email: hr@cohdc.org Phone: 202-407-7747. Community of Hope is an equal opportunity employer.