Description
The Organization
Fremont is a well-managed and innovative city! Located in the heart of the Bay Area and Silicon Valley, Fremont prides itself on innovation, clean technology and advanced manufacturing, a low crime rate, great schools, a low unemployment rate, quality parks, nearby open space, and an incredibly diverse population of over 235,000 residents. As a full-service city, Fremont employs 962 regular employees and operates on a FY 2020-21 General Fund budget of $213.4 million. With its strong and diversified business base, Fremont is an important economic force in the region. The City strives to be an innovator in municipal government, with dynamic leadership provided by the City Council and City Manager.
The Department
The Human Resources Department consists of a total staff of 15 and is responsible for the following program activities:
- Recruitment and selection
- Classification and compensation
- Employee and labor relations
- Organizational development
- Employee benefits and payroll administration
The Position
The Human Resources Benefits & Payroll Manager is one of three division level manager positions reporting to the Human Resources Director. The position is a working manager and has overall responsibility for planning, managing and evaluating the benefits and payroll activities, programs and staff (Human Resources Analysts and Technicians) within the division. Major responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Manage and coordinate a diverse portfolio of medical, dental, vision and other employee benefits plans and programs, including short term and long term disability, flexible spending accounts, basic and supplemental life, deferred compensation and many other benefits plan options.
- Monitor the developments and legislation related to human resources benefits and payroll-related matters, including evaluating the impact upon City operations, and recommends and implements policy and procedural improvements.
- Manage and assist the team with troubleshooting and initiating the appropriate resolution on a variety of benefits and payroll issues.
- Lead and engage the benefits and payroll team to update and modernize administrative policies and processes.
- Manage and coordinate the annual benefits open enrollment process.
- Partner and coordinate with benefits providers and the City’s benefits broker to obtain the best rates and coverages for a variety of products.
- Conduct benefits costing and analysis in support of the labor negotiation process.
- Oversee administrative benefits/payroll activities, which includes benefits billing and reconciliation, audits, CalPERS disability retirements, the City’s retiree medical reimbursement program and responding to public records act requests.
- Manage and facilitate the City’s Deferred Compensation Governance work plan items in partnership with the Deferred Compensation Governance Committee.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate will be a seasoned human resources professional that is well-versed in benefits and payroll administration. The Human Resources Manager will be a results-oriented, team player and will have exceptional interpersonal, communication and collaboration skills, coupled with the ability to provide leadership and direction to the Payroll and Benefits Division that continues to strive for excellence. The selected candidate should be a key facilitator and supporter of change across the organization, in a dynamic and fast paced environment. It will be important for the selected candidate to have the following:
Knowledge of:
- Benefits and payroll administration, including appropriate methods, procedures and technical expertise
- Contemporary and emerging human resources practices, particularly related to benefits programs, payroll administration and HR systems (i.e., PeopleSoft, CalPERS)
- Principles and practices of leadership, motivation, team building and conflict resolution
- Pertinent local, State and Federal laws, rules and regulations regarding human resources management, benefits and payroll (i.e., FMLA, CFRA, FEHA, ADA, FLSA, Military Leave, HIPPA, COBRA, ACA)
- Flexible spending account plans, short/long-term disability, life insurance, among others
Experience with:
- HRIS systems (The City uses PeopleSoft 9.2), including implementing new technologies
- Deferred compensation governance
- Management of health and benefit programs in a public sector environment
- CalPERS administration
And the ability to:
- Demonstrate a high level of personal integrity and ethics
- Manage relationships and navigate political sensitivities
- Be courageous and consistent in policy implementation
- Be successful and thoughtful in managing change
- Be creative and collaborative in approaches to problem solving and continually improve human resources benefits program for the City
- Be a proactive teambuilder who empowers staff
- Manage tasks, set priorities and meet deadlines in a high-volume, fast-paced environment
- Leverage technology to drive benefits and payroll efficiencies
- Supervise a team
- Provide technical training to staff
Minimum Qualifications
The successful candidate will typically possess the following:
Education: Possession of a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in Industrial Relations, Public or Business Administration, or a related field. A Master’s degree is highly desirable for this complex assignment and may be substituted for one year of experience.
Experience: Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in two or more Human Resources functional areas managing recruitment, examination, benefits, labor relations or payroll, one year of which includes supervisory responsibility. Public Sector professional level Human Resources experience is highly desirable.
Licenses/Certificates: Possession of a valid California Class C driver’s license is required.
Benefits
The following generous benefits are provided:
- Medical – A variety of plans are offered through CalPERS.
- Dental – Plans are offered through Delta Dental.
- Vision – Plans are offered through VSP.
- Health Benefit Allowance – The City contributes up to $2,350 towards health benefit premiums (medical, dental and vision) and unused allowance up to $580 is paid monthly to the employee.
- Retirement – As defined by the Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) and in the CalPERS retirement system:
Classic Members will receive CalPERS retirement benefits under the 2% at age 60 plan.
New Members will receive CalPERS retirement benefits under the 2% at age 62 plan.
- Deferred Compensation
Voluntary Plan Options – The City offers two optional 457 plans for employee participation.
401(a) – 2% City paid contribution.
- Income Protection – The City provides basic plan coverage for Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment and Long Term Disability with additional coverage available for purchase by the employee.
- Flexible Benefit Plan – Employees have the option to contribute tax-free income for medical premiums, healthcare reimbursement and dependent care reimbursement.
- Commuter Benefits (Parking and Transportation) – Employees have the option to set aside money on a pre-tax basis to pay for work-related commuting and parking expenses.
- General Leave – Up to 128 hours per year.
- Management Leave – Up to 112 hours per year.
- Holidays – 12 days paid and 1 floating holiday.
A complete benefits summary can be found at www.fremont.gov
Special Instructions
How To Join Our Team
To view the complete job announcement and application instructions, visit: www.fremont.gov/cityjobs
The first review of applications is 12:00 p.m. (Noon), July 7, 2021.