Benefits Specialist

Position Title: Human Resources Benefits Specialist

Location: District Support Center

Department: Human Resources

Reports To: Leave Manager

Term: Year-round position

Schedule: Mon-Fri Full-time

Salary: Position follows the Classified Salary Schedule 2026-2027 at B250.

Starting salary begins at $27.35-$31.35/hour, based on experience.

Date of last review: August 2026

SUMMARY: The Benefits Specialist operates within the Human Resources (HR) Department by managing district benefits programs, enrollments, and communications with employees and third-party benefit providers.

To Apply: Please complete the application and include up-to-date, relevant submissions of your resume, a letter of interest, and three professional references. Not including the required documents/references may result in loss of candidacy.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty and requirement satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required for the role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: (Other duties may be assigned)

Collaboration:

• Owns creating benefit enrollment documentation for New Hire Onboarding (NHO). Enrollment documents showcase benefits enrollment information and contain applicable timelines for enrollment.
• Acts as a backup for NHO presentations.
• Owns reconciling and submitting monthly reports and payments for Life and Long-term Disability.
• Partners with Leave Manager on Affordable Care Act (ACA) tracking and annual reporting.
• Attends monthly Insurance Committee meetings. Records meeting minutes and attendance to share with applicable audiences.
• Supports the Leave Manager by serving as a back-up for reconciliation, maintenance, and submission of Teacher's Fund for Retirement (TFFR), and North Dakota Public Employee Retirement System (NDPERS) withdrawals, payments, and operation.
• Processes and reconciles name and address changes for HDV, GAP, HSA, and FSA in applicable HR system(s).
• Develops positive, effective working relationships with learners and staff.

Communication:

• Owns the processing of staff application elections and/or changes for benefits open enrollment program.
• Owns communicating with COBRA third-party administrators on any adjustments, questions, status updates, and rate renewals on an ad hoc basis.
• Owns communicating with Long-Term Disability/Life Insurance providers on items such as questions, status updates, and/or completion of intake paperwork for claims.
• Partners with Leave Manager to complete yearly benefit summary communication to district employees.
• Connects and shares ideas through appropriate/applicable formats to express thoughts and ideas with integrity.

Compassion:

• Understands the complexities of cultural and global issues and how they relate to employee and learners' experiences.
• Partners with others to resolve potential controversy and conflict through respectful discussion.
• Proactively seeks to understand the ideas, opinions, and skills of others.

Creativity:

• Connects with team members and shares ideas in an effort to improve the overall learner and employee experience.

Critical Thinking:

• Reasons, interprets, and analyzes information to generate new knowledge and understanding.
• Exercises good judgment, discretion, and adherence for respective confidentiality requirements.

Reflection:

• Maintains communication with supervisor and director regarding general feedback, career advancement opportunities, and areas of growth opportunities.

Resilience:

• Maintains composure while dealing with stressful situations.
• Proactively seeks out resolutions and takes initiatives to resolve knowledge gaps and grow in self-sufficiency.

Responsibility:

• Remains current with laws and regulations surrounding employee benefit programs including areas such as Health, Dental, Vision, Life, Disability insurances, high-deductible health plans, health savings accounts, flexible spending accounts, etc.
• Owns managing the benefits enrollment/changes process for all employees.
• Owns processing benefits and deduction changes in the HR/Payroll system for new and existing employees in areas such as validation of qualifying events and/or terminations.
• Owns processing COBRA notifications and monitors COBRA participation through the third-party administrator portal.
• Owns processing staff resignations for benefit programs and routes data to relevant department personnel for applicable follow-up action.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT: The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the essential duties and responsibilities of this role, the employee is regularly required to reach with hands and arms.
• While performing the essential duties and responsibilities of this role, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, bend, talk, and hear.
• The specific vision abilities required for this role include close and peripheral vision.
• The employee may be required to lift up to ~30 pounds.
• The employee must work with the public and various WFPS staff while simultaneously managing several competing demands.
• The employee will work in an environment that has a quiet to loud noise level.

Education and/or Experience:

• Associate degree in business, HR, payroll, or closely related field or minimum of 2 years of relevant work experience (benefits management, accounting, human resources, etc.) is required.
• Bachelor's degree in business or closely related field is preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of regulations, procedures, and systems related to benefits management is preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of payroll rules and processing related to benefits management is preferred.
• Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Excel is required.
• PHR and/or SHRM-CP is preferred.
• Experience working in a school setting is preferred.
• Experience working in HR for a large employer (i.e., 1,000+ employees) is preferred.
• Experience with TylerTech � Infinite Visions/SchoolERP Pro is preferred.

Language Skills:

• Ability to read, write, and comprehend simple instructions and short correspondences in the English language.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally, expressively, and reactively.

Other Skills and Abilities:

• Exercise confidentiality, discretion, and good judgement.
• Adhere to the assigned work schedule by maintaining regular and punctual attendance.
• Assist with coverage of front desk in HR office as needed.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• None.

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The West Fargo Public School District is committed to maintaining a learning and working environment free from discrimination and harassment in all employment and educational programs, activities, and facilities. The District prohibits discrimination and harassment based on an individual's race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, disability, age, or other protected status by law. External applicants are eligible for ND Veteran's Preference: North Dakota veterans claiming preference must submit all proof of eligibility by the closing date. Proof of eligibility includes a form DD214, and if claiming disabled veteran's status, a current letter of disability. West Fargo Public Schools is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusivity in all hiring and employment practices. Applicants who incorporate a holistic perspective and a commitment to inclusion are encouraged to apply.