CDOC - Human Resources Specialist IV (Employee Benefits Work Lead)

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CDOC - Human Resources Specialist IV (Employee Benefits Work Lead)

Salary

$5,845.00 - $9,353.00 Monthly

Location

Statewide, CO

Job Type

Full Time

Job Number

OHR 3337 HR IV 9.2024

Department

Department of Corrections

Opening Date

09/19/2024

Closing Date

10/3/2024 4:00 PM Mountain

FLSA

Determined by Position

Type of Announcement

This position is open only to Colorado state residents.

Primary Physical Work Address

Statewide

FLSA Status

Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.

Department Contact Information

Jennifer LaDuke at jennifer.laduke@state.co.us or 719-723-3897

How To Apply

Please submit an online application for this position at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado. Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.

• Description

• Benefits

• Questions

Department Information

This position is only open to Colorado state residents.

This posting may be used to fill future vacancies at this location.

This position is eligible for Flexible Work Arrangements (FWA) after the initial training period. The FWA includes a hybrid workplace which is partly remote (work from home) and partly in office at a satellite location that may be located in Canon City, Denver, Pueblo, and other locations throughout the state, or at our Headquarters location in Colorado Springs.

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference and builds greater public confidence in good government, consider joining the dedicated people of the State of Colorado. Our professionals strive to support state government and the citizens of Colorado. Customer service is a key component for every position in state government as is the focus on ideas and ways to redesign the delivery of services in making state government more effective and efficient.

In addition to a great agency and rewarding, meaningful work, we offer:

• Distinctive career advancement opportunities throughout the state system;

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus 401K and 457 plans;

• Medical and dental health plans;

• Short and long term disability coverage;

• Paid life insurance;

• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave;

• Wellness program, tuition reimbursement, training opportunities and more.

Description of Job

The Office of Human Resources (OHR) Employee Benefits Unit plays a critical role in the effective administration of the agency’s comprehensive employee leave and benefits programs. This unit is responsible for ensuring the accurate management of employee benefits, Workers’ Compensation, FMLA, and FAMLI leave, all while upholding compliance with state and federal regulations. The unit’s primary goal is to support staff by providing expert guidance on leave policies, benefits administration, and regulatory requirements, ensuring that all employees receive equitable and timely access to the benefits and resources available to them.

Job duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Responsible for coordinating and administering the effective operation of leave and benefits programs within the agency, ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations, and providing technical leadership to the team ;

• Oversee the management and auditing of leave balances, benefits claims, and compliance with FMLA, FAMLI, Workers' Compensation, and HIPAA regulations;

• Collaborate with internal stakeholders and external agencies to resolve benefit appeals and ensure alignment with agency policies and legal requirements;

• Develop and deliver training programs on leave administration, benefits processes, and compliance with state and federal regulations;

• Assist in designing and implementing improvements to benefits and leave processes to enhance operational efficiency;

• Serve as a technical expert and work leader by assigning tasks, monitoring workflow, and providing mentoring and training to HR Analysts, Technicians, and health/wellness employees;

• Provide input into performance evaluations, leave requests, and other supervisory functions as required;

• This position is a work leader and is accountable for maintaining the operational integrity and consistency of the Employee Benefits Unit while supporting the agency’s mission.

Benefits and Leave Administration/Appeals

• Serve as the initial point of contact and liaison for intake and assessment of employee leave and benefits-related issues, including claims, disputes, and appeals;

• Assist in conducting objective and thorough internal reviews of benefits concerns, leave claims, or appeals related to FMLA, Workers' Compensation, Short-Term Disability, and other employee benefit programs; if applicable, assist in recommending appropriate corrective actions;

• Review employee concerns regarding leave balances, benefits eligibility, or compensation-related complaints, ensuring adherence to legal and policy guidelines;

• Conduct initial interviews and gather information related to employee leave disputes or benefit claims; refer cases to appropriate HR staff when further investigation or action is needed.

Consulting and Collaboration

• Represent the Employee Benefits Unit in discussions with various stakeholders (e.g. management, employee organizations, HR staff) by presenting information, gathering feedback, and assessing input to recommend or implement adjustments to policies, processes, and services related to benefits and leave;

• Monitor the progress of cross-functional teams and participate in multi-departmental efforts aimed at resolving leave administration and benefits issues, ensuring that outcomes align with agency goals and legal requirements;

• Foster positive relationships across the HR function to ensure employee perspectives on leave and benefits are integrated into broader strategic initiatives;

• Partner with division leaders to collaborate on achieving unit goals and contribute to the overall success of the Employee Benefits Unit and the agency.

Curriculum Development and Training

• Oversee, develop, and deliver training to all levels of management and human resources that strategically align with the goals, policies and techniques of effective leave and benefits administration with the intent of establishing best practices;

• Establish training strategies and goals through research and analysis of current training standards. Develop training materials, curriculum, and trainer instruction programs specific to employee benefits and leave administration;

• Lead and deliver training sessions on leave and benefit matters, including administration and compliance;

• Conduct needs assessments to ensure employee understanding and evaluate training outcomes to ensure continuous improvement of the training program;

• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Seven (7) years of Human Resources experience with at least 2 years performing Employee Benefits functions. Employee benefits functions include but are not limited to benefits management, FMLA, Workers' Compensation, Short-Term Disability, FAMLI, and HIPAA regulations

-OR-

A combination (that equals 7 years) of higher education from an accredited college and experience in employee benefits, human resources or relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned.

Required Skills and Competencies:

• High level of integrity;

• Detail oriented and highly accurate;

• Ability to handle a large workload;

• Polished oral and written communication skills;

• Must have strong personal accountability, and the ability to build excellent working relationships with team, peers, and stakeholders;

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills including coaching, conflict resolution, facilitation, and negotiation;

• Excellent customer service skills;

• Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality and work with highly sensitive data and information;

• Excellent reasoning, investigative, analytical, and problem solving agility;

• Fluency in Microsoft Office Suite (Work, Excel, PowerPoint) and Google applications such as Gmail and hangouts;

• Working knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws, regulations, statutes, and rules;

• Ability to read and comprehend the English language;

• Ability to effectively communicate fluently in English both verbally and in writing;

• Ability to create accessible documents and technical content that follows plain language guidelines with accessibility in mind.

• Ability to work in a fast paced, quickly changing environment.

Preferred Qualifications: (Candidates may receive higher ratings for possessing the preferred qualifications criteria.)

• Experience with Employee Benefits;

• Experience with Employee Wellness programs;

• Professional experience in Fair Labor Standards Act, HIPAA, Family/Medical Leave Act and the Workers Comp Act.

• Experience in gathering, researching and reporting statistical data, specifically in a human resources environment;

• Experience in Labor Relations, Employee Relations, and/or Employee Selections;

• Strong working knowledge of governmental hiring processes;

• Experience working in NEOGOV;

• Experience developing job evaluations and job analysis;

• Experience developing comparative analysis, exam/interview questions, and scoring criteria;

• Any HR related certifications such as SHRM-CP/PHR;

• Experience in civil service/merit processes;

• Experience giving presentations or training.

  IMPORTANT INFORMATION

  The Assessment Process : Your application will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum Qualifications (MQ's). Applicants that meet MQ’s will be included in the Comparative Analysis process. Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted through a comparative analysis which may include, but is not limited to, a suitability screening, eSkills Assessment, oral assessment, written performance assessment or it may include a review of your application material and your responses to any supplemental questions by a Subject Matter Expert (SME) to assess and rank applicants in order to establish an eligible list for referral to the hiring manager for final consideration.

  Be sure the “Work Experience” section of your application is complete and specifically addresses your qualifications, experience, and accomplishments as they relate to the Description of the Job , Minimum Qualifications , Required Competencies and Preferred Qualifications as listed above. Resumes and “see resume” statements will not be accepted in lieu of the “Work Experience” section of the application. Failure to include adequate information or follow instructions by the closing date may result in your application not being accepted and/or may affect your score, rank or inclusion in the final pool of eligible applicants.

  If you have transcripts, a license or other relevant documentation regarding your qualifications, upload and attach copies to your application.

  If an unofficial copy of transcripts is being submitted at the time of application, transcripts from colleges or universities outside the United States must be assessed for U.S. equivalency by a NACES educational credential evaluation service. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and must be included as part of your application materials. Failure to provide a transcript or credential evaluation report may prevent your application from moving forward in the selection process.

  Under the Job Application Fairness Act (SB 23-058), applicants may redact information from certifications and transcripts that identify their age, date of birth or dates of attendance from an educational institution.

  In order to process a background investigation, your application must include at least (10) ten years of the most current work experience unless experience related to the job for which you are applying is later than (10) years. Failure to provide this information could result in delays and/or elimination from the background investigation process

  Toll Free Applicant Technical Support: If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV technical support at 855-524-5627 Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time). Helpful hints: if you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application first, ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files and second, close the document before you attempt to upload (attach) it.

  You are encouraged to print a copy of this announcement for your records

  Conditions of Employment: All job offers are contingent upon a successful medical screening by a healthcare professional, certifying the candidate's ability to perform the essential functions of the position. Applicant must consent to hold harmless CDOC and its agents and staff from any liability arising in whole or in part from the testing and the use of this information in connection with CDOC’s consideration of application for employment.

• Must be 21 years of age;

• Possess a valid driver’s license;

• Possess a high school diploma or GED;

• Have NO felony convictions, to include any actions defined in 5 U.S.C. 301; U.S.C. 509, 510; 42 U.S.C. 15601-15609. The CDOC shall not hire nor promote anyone who may have contact with an offender who has engaged in sexual abuse which includes acts, activity, and sexual behavior, in a prison or other institution as defined in 42 U.S.C. 1997; or has been convicted of engaging or attempting to engage in sexual activity in the community facilitated by force, overt or implied threats of force or coercion, or if the victim did not consent or was unable to consent or refuse, or has been civilly or administratively adjudicated to have engaged in the activity described in the above paragraph. The agency shall consider any incidents of sexual harassment in determining whether to hire anyone who may have contact with offenders or residents.

• Applicants must be legally eligible to work in the United States to be appointed to this position. CDOC uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. CDOC does not sponsor non-residents of the United States.

• Successfully pass all modules of the six-week Colorado Department of Corrections Basic Training, to include English reading comprehension , relevant competency assessments and written/practical exams in Defensive Tactics;

• Possess the physical ability to successfully complete Defensive Tactics;

• Lift arms above head and kick as high as own waist;

• Stabilize another person to accomplish a controlled take down;

• Use arms, palms of hands, shins, and feet to deliver blows;

• Withstand impact (slow speed or with a safety bag) on own body from strikes/blows;

• Swing a baton in a striking technique;

• Rotate body 90 degrees with feet planted for striking with foot or using a defensive tactic;

• Get down on one or both knees and up again with multiple repetitions;

• Will be exposed to Oleoresin Capsicum during Basic Training and will be exposed while on assignment;

• Must be able to see and hear in order to observe, address and respond to potential breaches in safety and security;

• Seize, hold, control or subdue violent or assaultive persons and defend oneself or others to prevent injury;

• Demonstrate body agility, strength of all four limbs and the ability to walk and climb stairs consistently;

• Work in situations involving assaultive behavior, physical control of another person and/or restraint situations;

• Deal with individuals with a range of moods and behaviors, utilizing tactfulness and a congenial, personable manner;

• Work with people of the opposite sex, diverse racial ethnic groups, mentally ill and emotionally disturbed offenders;

• Communicate by talking, listening and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information, assignments;

• Work in an environment with fluctuating noise and temperature (hot and cold) which may include working outdoors in inclement weather and/or concrete floor/wall work settings;

• Willing and able to travel;

• Willing and able to work various shifts, days, afternoons, graveyards (nights) which includes a rotating shift schedule;

• TB (tuberculosis) screening is required of all new employees upon hire;

• Employees may be required to submit to regular serial testing and reporting for COVID-19.

  Successful completion of a background investigation is required. Should applicant’s background reveal criminal charges, it shall be the responsibility of the applicant to provide the Department of Corrections with written/official disposition of any charges.

  The CDOC is committed to a work environment free from illegal drugs and alcohol. Employees (see exception below) may use marijuana in their personal time but are prohibited from working while under the influence of any substance, including marijuana. A drug test will be administered to all new employees; employees must successfully pass. Random drug screening will occur throughout employment.

  Exception: Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certified employees are prohibited from the use of marijuana. Health care professionals must check their licensing requirements regarding marijuana use.

  Appeal Rights: If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director.

  An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email ( dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us ), postmarked in US Mail or hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department’s action.

  For more information about the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board; go to spb.colorado.gov ; contact the State Personnel Board for assistance at (303) 866-3300; or refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov under Rules.

Supplemental Information

After submitting an application, you should receive an immediate email acknowledging your submission. If you do not get the email, please check to ensure you have actually submitted the application and typed the correct email address on the application.

Include a working email address on your application; one that is checked daily as time sensitive correspondence WILL take place via email. You may receive email notifications from a Colorado Dept of Corrections employee or from this email address info@governmentjobs.com It is your responsibility to ensure that your email will accept these notices and/or review your junk mail and spam filtered email; if you do not receive correspondence soon after the closing date or if you have questions about this job announcement, please contact Jennifer LaDuke atjennifer.laduke@state.co.us .

SCHEDULED DATES OF POSSIBLE APPLICANT ASSESSMENTS (I.E., EXAMS, ORAL BOARDS, WRITTEN EXAMS) WILL NOT BE MADE UP. IF YOU FAIL TO SHOW AT THE APPOINTED DATE/TIME, MAKE-UPS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED.

The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

Colorado Department of Corrections is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our Employee Relations Specialist, Melissa Bellew , at doc_employeerelations@state.co.us or call 719-226-4403 .

ALL DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FACILITIES AND BUILDINGS ARE TOBACCO FREE.

WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE PROTECTED CLASSES TO APPLY.

The State of Colorado offers permanent employees a variety of benefits including medical, dental, life and disability insurance, as well as a comprehensive leave program. Please click the following link for detailed information: www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/benefits

Please note that each agency's contact information is different; therefore, we encourage all applicants to view the full, official job announcement which includes contact information and class title. Select the job you wish to view, then click on the "Print" icon.

01

If you are using college course work to meet the minimum qualifications for this position, it is required that a copy of your official (or unofficial) transcript(s) noting degree type and date conferred/awarded be attached/uploaded to this application at the time of submission. (Your transcript(s) is required as verification that you meet the requirements). Have you attached/uploaded your transcripts?

• Yes, I have attached my transcripts.

• No, I am not using college course work to meet minimum requirements for this position.

  02

  This position requires successful completion of the 6 week Colorado Department of Corrections basic training at the Corrections Training Academy in Colorado Springs, CO. Daily in-person attendance is a requirement during basic training.

• I so acknowledge.

  03

  By clicking below, you acknowledge that the selections process may consist primarily of a review of your application, supplemental questions against the minimum qualifications, required competencies and preferred qualifications. Your responses will also be evaluated on ability to follow instructions, clarity, conciseness, organization, grammar, spelling and word choice. Do you acknowledge this?

• I so acknowledge.

  04

  Please describe why you are the best candidate for this position and how your past experience, along with the required competencies and preferred qualifications that you possess, has prepared you for the position of Employee Benefits Work Lead.

  05

  Describe any experience you have working in an employee wellness environment.

  06

  Certification and Confidentiality Statement

I certify that:

--I understand that this, my completed Application, the attached Supplemental Questions, and my responses are confidential and that I have neither consulted with others nor received assistance in the preparation, writing, or editing of my responses and the information contained herein is in my own words and was prepared and completed solely by me and only me.

--All the information I have provided herein is true, complete and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief, and is made in good faith.

--I have not communicated the confidential information of this, my Application and the attached Supplemental Questions in any way to other candidates, potential candidates, subject matter experts, or any person.

--I understand that if the confidential information in this, my Application and the attached Supplemental Questions and/or my responses, are found to have been falsified, plagiarized, or shared in any way, I may be disqualified or removed from the position if appointed.

• I agree to the terms and conditions of this Certification and Confidentiality Statement.

  Required Question

Agency

State of Colorado

Address

See the full announcement by clicking

the "Printer" icon located above the job title

Location varies by announcement, Colorado, --

Website

https://careers.colorado.gov/

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