Employee Benefits Manager - San Joaquin County California

WHY WORK AT SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

The County Human Resources Benefits Manager is a unique opportunity to play a pivotal role in enhancing the well-being of County employees. You'll be at the heart of the organization, managing and optimizing a comprehensive range of benefits, from health plans to voluntary options. Your work ensures that employees are taken care of in compliance with all regulations, and you'll have a direct impact on cost control and coverage quality. Collaborating with the Principal Leadership team, you'll have a hand in staff management and budget preparation while contributing to the development of health and productivity programs. This position allows you to make a tangible difference in the lives of County employees while working within a dynamic and diverse HR environment.

THE POSITION

The County Human Resources Benefits Manager oversees and manages employee benefits programs for the County's workforce, ensuring compliance with laws and regulations, controlling costs, and enhancing coverage. This role collaborates with brokers and the Director of Human Resources to negotiate contracts and plays a crucial role in staff management and employee well-being programs as a part of the Principal Leadership team.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate for this role is a seasoned professional with a deep understanding of employee benefits, strong negotiation skills, and the ability to navigate complex regulations. They must excel in communication and leadership, oversee a team, and possess financial acumen for budgeting. Staying current with industry trends and advocating for employee well-being is crucial. Extensive HRIS expertise is required to efficiently manage benefits administration and collaborate with the Information Systems Division (ISD) for service delivery.

Human Resources Benefits Manager Brochure

Please be advised that Human Resources will only be accepting Online Application submittals for this recruitment. Paper application submittals will not be considered or accepted.

NOTE: All correspondences relating to this recruitment will be delivered via e-mail. The e-mail account used will be the one provided on your employment application during time of submittal. Please be sure to check your e-mail often for updates. If you do not have an e-mail account on file, Human Resources will send you correspondences via US Mail.

Health Insurance:  San Joaquin County provides a comprehensive benefits package to employees of this bargaining unit.  The benefits include the option of four medical plans: a Kaiser HMO plan, a Sutter Health Plus HMO plan, and two self-funded PPO plans called the Select Plan and Premier Plan. Employees pay a portion of the cost of the premium. Dependent coverage is also available.

Dental Insurance:  The County provides employees with a choice of four dental plans:  Three through Delta Dental and one through United Health Care-Select Managed Care Direct Compensation Plan.  The County pays the full premium for all but one Delta Dental Plan (Buy-up), which the employee pays a slightly higher cost. Dependent coverage is available at the employee’s expense.

Vision Insurance:  The County provides two vision plan options through Vision Service Plan (VSP).  There is no cost for the base plan at employee only coverage. The buy-up plan option has a slightly higher cost. dependent coverage is available at the employee’s expense.

For more detailed information on the County’s benefits program, visit our website at www.sjgov.org under Human Resources/Benefits.

Life Insurance: The County provides eligible employees with life insurance coverage as follows:

1 but less than 3 years of continuous service:                   $1,000
3 but less than 5 years of continuous service:                   $3,000
5 but less than 10 years of continuous service:                 $5,000
10 years of continuous service or more:                           $10,000 

Employees may purchase additional term life insurance up to a maximum of $200,000 at the group rate.Regular employees in this unit shall be provided with a supplemental life insurance policy with a face value up to $75,000.

Section 125 Flexible Benefits Plan:This is a voluntary program that allows employees to use pre-tax dollars to pay for health-related expenses that are not paid by a medical, dental or vision plan  and dependent care costs. Annual limits are set by the IRS and may change each year. 

Retirement Plan: Employees of the County are covered by the County Retirement Act of 1937.  Please visit the San Joaquin County Employees’ Retirement Association (SJCERA) at www.sjcera.org for more information.  NOTE:  If you are receiving a retirement allowance from another California county covered by the County Employees’ Retirement Act of 1937 or from any governmental agency covered by the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS), you are advised to contact the Retirement Officer of the Retirement Plan from which you retired to determine what effect employment in San Joaquin County would have on your retirement allowance.

Deferred Compensation: The County maintains a deferred compensation plan under Section 457 of the IRS code. You may annually contribute $22,500 or 100% of your includible compensation, whichever is less.  Individuals age 50 or older may contribute to their plan, up to $30,000. The Roth IRA (after tax) is also now available. For members of this unit, the County shall make a contribution equal to 1% of the employee’s base salary to the deferred compensation plan.

Vacation:  Maximum earned vacation is 10 days each year up to 3 years; 15 days after 3 years; 20 days after 10 years; and 23 days after 20 years.

Holiday:14 paid holidays per year.

Vacation Cash-Out:  Members shall have the option of purchasing up to eight 8-hour days vacation time once each calendar year from the member’s accumulated vacation with the approval of the County Administrator.

Confidential Unit Supplement:: Members of this unit shall receive a supplement of 10% of base salary.

Sick Leave: 12 working days of sick leave annually with unlimited accumulation.  Sick leave incentive: An employee is eligible to receive eight hours administrative leave if the leave balance equals at least one-half of the cumulative amount that the employee is eligible to accrue.  The employee must also be on payroll during the entire calendar year.

Bereavement Leave:  3 days of paid leave for the death of an immediate family member, 2 additional days of accrued leave for death of employee’s spouse, domestic partner, parent or child.

Merit Salary Increase: New employees will receive the starting salary, which is the first step of the salary range.  After employees serve 52 weeks (2080 hours) on each step of the range, they are eligible for a merit increase to the next step.

Job Sharing:  Employees may agree to job-share a position, subject to approval by a Department Head and the Director of Human Resources.

Recruitment Incentives:  Upon the request of the Department Head and with the approval of theCounty Administrator or his designee, the following recruitment incentives may be provided:

(a)  Reimbursement of moving expenses:  Actual documented cost ofmoving to a maximum of $2,000.  Costs may include movingexpenses, interim housing, and travel expenses related to the move for the candidate and his/her family.  Any approved reimbursementshall be made contingent upon employment, in two incrementalpayments:  the first payment after six months of service, the secondafter twelve months of service.

(b)  Vacation Accrual Rate:  The San Joaquin County vacation accrualrate consistent with the candidate’s total years of public service.

(c)  Sick Leave:  If the candidate is leaving other employment to accept the San Joaquin County position, credit of the candidate’s actual unreimbursable sick leave hours from the candidate’s last agencywill be a maximum of 160 hours.  Such hours shall be subject to SanJoaquin County’s minimum sick leave cash out options.

Educational Reimbursement Program:  Eligible employees may be reimbursed for career-related course work up to a maximum of $850 per fiscal year.  Eligible employees enrolled in an approved four (4) year College or University academic program may be reimbursed up to $800 per semester for a maximum of $1600 per fiscal year.

Parking Supplemental Downtown Stockton:  The County contributes up to $20 per pay period for employees who pay for parking and are assigned to work in the Downtown Core Area.

School Activities: Employees may take up to 40 hours per year, but not more than eight (8) hours per month, to participate in their children’s school activities.

Note: County employees who currently receive a cafeteria plan allowance and subsequently transfer, demote or promote from or into the confidential unit shall have the option to either retain their existing cafeteria plan contribution amount or have a one-time option at time of hire of opting for the 10% unrepresented supplement in lieu of retaining their cafeteria allowance.

Please be advised that Human Resources will only be accepting Online Application submittals for this recruitment. Paper application submittals will not be considered or accepted.

Apply Online:       

www.sjgov.org/department/hr
               

Office hours:               
Monday – Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm; excluding holidays.

Phone:  (209) 468-3370 

Job Line:

For current employment opportunities please call our 24-hour job line at (209) 468-3377. 

When a final filing date is indicated, applications must be submitted online to the Human Resources Division before the submission deadline. Resumes and paper applications will not be accepted in lieu of an online application.  (The County assumes no responsibility for online applications which are not received by the Human Resources Division). 

San Joaquin County Substance Abuse Policy:San Joaquin County has adopted a Substance Abuse Policy in compliance with the Federal Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988. This policy is enforced by all San Joaquin County Departments and applies to all San Joaquin County employees.

Equal Opportunity Employer:  San Joaquin County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer and is committed to providing equal employment to all without regard to age, ancestry, color, creed, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation or belief, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation.  For more information go towww.sjgov.org/department/hr/eeo.