Job Type: Non-Union
Job Posting: COP-00146-23
Salary: $97,934 – $117,996
Job Grade Level: A22 – A24
Department: People & Culture (HR) – Department of Total Rewards
About the City of Providence
Providence is the capital city of Rhode Island, where the charm of a small town meets the culture and sophistication of a big city. With a thriving arts community, vibrant neighborhoods, and a celebrated restaurant scene, Providence has been recognized as ‘America’s Coolest City’ and ‘The Country’s Best Small City.’ Under the leadership of Mayor Brett P. Smiley, centered around services and operations, we are committed to making Providence the “best-run city in America” while fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome individuals from all backgrounds, ensuring equal employment opportunities and prohibiting discrimination in all forms. Join us in creating a dynamic community where everyone can thrive.
The City of Providence welcomes and encourages diversity in our workforce at all levels of the organization. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit hiring discrimination of any type. All City hiring decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
Job Summary
The Director of Total Rewards oversees compensation and benefits strategies for the City, with a focus to attract and retain talent, ensuring rewards and compensation programs are competitive, equitable, compliant, aligned with organizational goals and employee needs. This position works collaboratively with and reports to the Deputy Chief of People & Culture for Total Compensation.
Duties & Responsibilities
- Responsible for and examines dense and complex and financial data for purposes of strategic planning and oversight of all health and benefit plans.
- Consults and/or collaborates with senior administrators, auditors, and City Finance team to advise on current use and future costs associated with a complex benefits matrix available to City staff and retirees.
- Plans, organizes, directs and reviews the operations of the compensation and benefits functions to ensure seamless customer service and compliance with regulatory stands and best practices.
- Creates policies and initiatives to ensure compensation and benefits programs follow all legal and organizational rules and guidelines.
- Engages benefits consulting and actuarial services to perform trend and market analysis and identifies opportunities for plan and program design changes and cost reduction.
- Achieves financial objectives by working with benefits consultants to develop annual benefits budget and track and analyze experience monthly.
- Manages the Lawson benefits administration platform by identifying solutions to meet plan requirements, recommending system enhancements and assisting IT staff with the development, testing and implementation to ensure positive results.
- Researches, analyzes, evaluates and prepares proposals relative to collective bargaining, provides expert consultation to lead negotiators, and conducts cost analysis necessary to decision making.
- Oversees in house COBRA training and administration in compliance with federal law.
- Leads sourcing, collaboration and evaluation of administrators, insurers, brokers, and consultants to ensure City interests are managed responsibly.
- Leads team to respond to escalated benefit, payroll deduction, billing, and claims inquiries from employees and retirees.
- Acts as HIPAA Privacy Officer for the City of Providence; facilitates annual staff HIPAA training and production of the City’s federally mandated HIPAA Security Manual.
- Provide testimony by deposition and in person on behalf of the City in all benefit-related litigation including but not limited to arbitration, federal, superior and district court, fairness hearings, and mediation.
- Plans and manages annual Open Enrollment periods for active employees and retirees.
- Facilitates and presents at employee and retiree workshops and meetings in order to educate members regarding their benefit plans.
- Performs other duties as assigned or circumstances necessitate.
Minimum Qualifications (including K.S.As)
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a specialty in business or public administration, human resources, finance, healthcare administration, or a closely related field; and a minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible management experience in human resources, health insurance administration, or business or public administration with a substantial responsibility for the management of active and retiree benefits in a large organization;
- or a combination of education and experience that is substantially equivalent.
- Knowledge of self-funded and/or fully insured benefit programs.
- Familiarity with Medicare compliance and associated products.
- SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP), or HRCI Certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification if preferred but not required.
- Experience managing a complex operations and medical benefits budget.
- Knowledge of software applications used in benefits and office administration to include HRIS, benefits administration systems/platforms, Microsoft Office, and spreadsheet software (MS Excel) necessary for the analysis of dense and complex data for operational and decision-making purposes.
- Ability to present with clarity and competency on complicated matters relating to health benefits and pharmaceutical plans.
- Ability to conduct complex analyses to measure and design compensation systems for the City.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Strong financial aptitude and analytical abilities.
- Experience managing and prioritizing workloads and competing priorities.
- Strong leadership skills and managing people (preferably in a union environment).
- Strong project management and organizational abilities.
Posting expires when filled.