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The Human Resources Department is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Human Resources Technician – Employee Benefits and Wellness.
   
If you are interested in joining a team of professionals committed to providing innovative services and delivering exceptional customer service to current County employees, County retirees, and members of the community, we encourage you to apply.  Human Resources Technicians (HR Techs) perform a wide variety of technical and paraprofessional duties in support of our Human Resources divisions which include:

• Employee Benefits and Wellness
• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) / Diversity and Inclusion
• Employee and Labor Relations
• Human Resources Information Management
• Risk Management and Workers' Compensation
• Talent Acquisition
• Training and Development
• Shared Services
• Strategic Support and Partnerships

The current vacancy is in the Employee Benefits and Wellness Division of the department. We are seeking a candidate who has a solid foundation in customer service, along with intermediate to advanced Excel skills to carry out daily tasks.
 
Working as part of the Benefits team, the new HR Tech will provide daily customer service support to County employees and retirees by answering questions about the generous benefits that are offered and conducting trainings and presentations to educate employees and retirees about their benefit packages.  Call center experience is extremely helpful, though not required. Exceptional customer service is a hallmark of the position.

Examples Of Duties

The HR Tech will be responsible for reconciling benefits reports and assisting in the development of dashboards. We are seeking an individual who can gather, organize, analyze, and explain benefit plan data effectively through concise reports. The ideal candidate will possess intermediate to advanced Excel proficiency, allowing them to create pivot tables, formulate equations, conduct calculations, generate visual data representations, and design forms/audit reports.

Additional duties for the HR Tech include assisting with the annual Employee Benefits Fair and determining eligibility requirements.  

The County offers a myriad of benefits which include, but are not limited to Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance; Life Insurance; Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts; Deferred Compensation; Employee Assistance Program; and a nationally recognized Employee Wellness Program.
 
Because of the diversity, complexity, and breadth of the benefits we offer, the ability to learn, synthesize, and retain information is critical.  The HR Tech must be able to recall information, locate resources, interpret data, and impart information in a busy environment.  
 
We are looking for self-motivated, highly organized, flexible individuals who thrive in a fast-paced environment where priorities frequently change, but the mission remains constant – to maximize organizational and individual potential and position the County of San Mateo as an employer of choice.
 
The successful candidate will be extremely-well organized, have strong attention to detail, be capable of working independently within set guidelines, and show initiative.
 
Strong communication skills are a key element.  The chosen applicant will be able to communicate clearly and persuasively with employees at all levels of the organization and with the vendors and health care organizations who provide benefits to County employees.
 
Because this position deals with sensitive information, the chosen applicant will need to understand the importance of confidentiality, tact, and discretion.
 
This is an amazing opportunity to demonstrate and expand your data management skills, while working with a high-functioning team to ensure County employees and retirees understand and utilize the benefits available to them.

Benefits Division
The Employee Benefits Division, led by the Human Resources Benefits Manager, coordinates and administers benefits programs, providing assistance and technical support to County employees and retirees, benefit partners, and insurance providers.

Out team supports a workforce of over 6,000 active employees and 3,000 retirees.  We operate a customer service call center, conduct one-on-one and group benefits education, and facilitate large benefits-related training sessions.  We assist employees with benefit concerns, work closely with administrators and insurance providers to resolve County coverage issues quickly, and process benefit changes efficiently.  

The County offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and various voluntary benefits. Employees and their families also have access to a wide range of Wellness benefits and resources.

Qualifications

Experience and Education:  
Any combination of experience, education, and training that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying.

• A typical way to qualify is three years of increasingly responsible administrative support work with at least two years of HR-related work. 

Experience in Benefits is strongly preferred but not required.
 
Knowledge of:

• Microsoft Excel.
• Principles and practices of human resource/personnel administration and management.
• Federal, State, and local legislation involving human resource/personnel function.
• Organization, procedures, and operating details of the County or similar jurisdictions or agencies.
• Correct English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Modern office methods, procedures, and equipment including computer systems and HR-related programs and applications.

Skill/Ability to:

• Manage and analyze large amounts of complex data.
• Work independently with minimal supervision.
• Employ good judgment and make sound decisions in accordance with established procedures and policy.
• Learn and interpret laws and rules.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Understand and carry out oral and written directions.
• Achieve operating efficiency in an administrative office environment.
• Work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Establish and maintain positive and cooperative working relationships with other employees and the public.

 
NOTE: The eligible list created from this recruitment will be used to fill this vacancy and could be used to fill other future vacancies in HR or other County Departments.

Application/Examination

Open & Promotional – Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, SEIU or AFSCME represented extra-help/term position prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score on this examination.
 
Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply Online" button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to http://jobs.smcgov.org/ to apply. Responses to the supplemental questionnaire must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form.
 
Important Information About the Examination Process 
The examination process will consist of the steps detailed below. Because of this process, not all applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are guaranteed advancement through the examination process.
  
Initial review of application materials.  At this step applicants submitting incomplete applications, lacking relevant qualifications, and/or not following instructions will be disqualified.  Applicants who pass this initial review will be further evaluated for relevant training and experience.
  
Application screening and auto-scored evaluation of relevant training and experience (T&E) that is based solely on the applicants' responses the supplemental questions. Those applicants whose application materials receive a passing score on the T&E evaluation and application screening will be invited to take the online computer-based examination.    
  
Panel interview (weight: 100%). Those applicants who pass the online computer-based exam will be interviewed by a panel of three subject matter experts.  Applicants who pass the interview will be placed on an eligible (or hiring) list and the top ranked candidates will be invited to a second interview and will meet with the Benefits team.  An Excel proficiency exam will be given as part of the second interview.
 
Recruitment and Examination Dates (tentative):
Deadline for Applications:  May 8, 2024
Application Screening and T & E Scoring:  May 13-15, 2024
Panel Interview:  May 29 and/or 30, 2024

Exciting Career Opportunity! 

Foster City is seeking a well-qualified individual with strong leadership skills to fill the position of Human Resources Manager. The Human Resources Manager is responsible for planning, organizing, reviewing, and evaluating the day-to-day operations of the Human Resources Division of the Administrative Services Department.

Successful performance of the work requires knowledge of employee relations, recruitment and selection, employee benefits administration, job analysis and classification, compensation, labor relations, employee training and development, and general human resources administration. Responsibilities include developing and implementing policies and procedures for assigned programs, budget administration and reporting, and program evaluation. Incumbents serve as a professional-level resource for organizational, managerial, and operational analyses and studies. Performance of the work requires the use of considerable independence, initiative, and discretion within established guidelines.

If you are a self-motivated candidate with a passion for public service, take the next step in your career today! 

APPLICATION DEADLINE:  Friday, May 10, 2024, 5:00 P.M.   

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

Equivalent to bachelor’s degree in human resources management, public or business administration, or a related field and five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience in human resources or employee and labor relations, which included at least two (2) years of supervisory experience.

Ideal Candidate:

Highly Desirable:

• Experience with handling labor and employee relations issues including leave management, grievances, and performance management.
• Experience in public sector organizations is a plus.

This position is an excellent opportunity for a seasoned professional to impact a dynamic City focused on employee development, retention, recognition and accountability.    

Licenses and Certifications: 

Possession of, or the ability to obtain, a valid Class C California driver’s license upon appointment.

Benefits:

The City of Foster City provides a superior benefits program which includes: 12 paid holidays per year; sick leave; vacation leave; administrative leave; participation in the California Public Employees Retirement System in the 2% @ 62 retirement plan (some individuals may be eligible to participate in a different CalPERS retirement benefit (2.7% @ 55) dependent upon prior CalPERS service); voluntary 401(a) program; voluntary 457(b) deferred compensation program; flexible benefits program including health, dental, vision, and medical/dependent care reimbursement accounts; VEBA program (tax deferred health benefit program); optional 9/80 work schedule; long-term disability insurance; and life insurance.

Selection Process
Applications will be reviewed for relevant education, experience, training and other job related qualifications. Based upon a review of employment applications received, a limited number of the qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the examination process.

The process will consist of an Oral Panel Interview. An eligibility list will be established from those who pass the examination process with a score of 70% or higher. Current and future vacancies may be filled from this list. The list will remain in effect for at least one year unless exhausted sooner.

The department will invite the most qualified candidates from the eligibility list to a final department interview. The Administrative Services Director will make the hiring decision.

Note: Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee that a candidate will be invited to participate in the selection process. The City of Foster City reserves the right, at its discretion, to limit the number of qualified candidates invited to the selection process.