Job Details

The Human Resources Specialist serves a variety of roles and responsibilities within the HR team and across HR functions. The primary responsibility is to participate in the administration of benefits and wellness initiatives throughout the organization. This includes, but is not limited to: the maintenance, administration, and communication of employee medical, dental, vision, life, disability, FSA, 401k, and Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP). The HR Specialist will provide special guidance and assistance to all employees on various employee benefit plans for APEI and companies that APEI provides benefit and wellness support. The human resources specialist works collaboratively with all HR staff members as needed.
Essential Functions:

• Assists employees with benefit related questions and issues and responds by e-mail, phone, and personal meetings within 24 hours of the employee's inquiry.
• Enrolls and terminates employees in all company offered benefit plans accordingly.
• Communicates and documents changes in the benefits and payroll systems.
• Reviews monthly billing invoices for accuracy, documents necessary adjustments, and submits to manager for payment.
• Assists with claims and other issues between employees and various insurance carriers.
• Supports in the communication of Family Medical Leave (FML) information to employees and the maintenance FML documentation and tracks FML time used.
• Ensures the human resources employee records contain updated benefits documentation.
• Maintains a current employee census and updates monthly for APEI and other supported organizations.
• Provides educational training to employees and managers regarding benefits programs.
• Participates in the benefits presentation at new employee orientation.
• Collaborates with all supported organization to provide benefits orientation and processes enrollment and termination of benefits.
• Processes and tracks short and long term disability claims.
• Processes worker's compensation claims, and coordinates the injured employee's return to work.
• Supports benefits open enrollment period by planning, running reports, completing vendor uploads, and handling employee communications.
• Participates and supports the organizational wellness program, including any necessary administrative support.
• Serves as the point of contact for the HR systems team by keeping track of benefit systems projects.
• Serves at the benefits team technical expert for handling systems related questions with the support of the HR systems team.
• Assists with employee events and other human resources activities.
• Monitors federal, state, and local laws to maintain compliance in benefit and wellness practices.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Standard office environment in Charles Town, WV.
• Primary office located in Charles Town with occasional travel to the Manassas office location.

• Essential Human Resources Job Knowledge: Strong understanding of current federal/state regulations related to employment (i.e. EEOC, ADAAA, FLSA etc.), benefits plans, procedures and corporate benefits policies.
• Problem Solving: Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner and gathers and analyzes information skillfully; demonstrates solid troubleshooting abilities.
• Planning/Organizing: Prioritizes and plans work activities, uses time efficiently and develops realistic action plans; possesses strong organizational skills.
• Quality Control: Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness and monitors own work to ensure quality; strong attention to detail in reporting processes.
• Motivation: Sets and achieves challenging goals; demonstrates persistence and overcomes obstacles; measures self against standard of excellence; takes calculated risks to accomplish goals.
• Customer Service: Responds promptly to customer needs; meets commitments.
• Professionalism: Approaches others in a tactful manner; reacts well under pressure; treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; accepts responsibility for own actions; follows through on commitments.
• Mindset: Present an enthusiastic and positive approach to the work; able to demonstrate a fun loving attitude, while also maintaining a high level of professionalism.
• Adaptability: Adapts to changes in the work environment, manages competing demands and is able to deal with frequent change, delays or unexpected events.
• Initiative: Volunteers readily; undertakes self-development activities; seeks increased responsibilities; looks for and takes advantage of opportunities; asks for and offers help when needed; is results driven.
• Innovation: Displays original thinking and creativity; meets challenges with resourcefulness; generates suggestions for improving work; develops innovative approaches and ideas; presents ideas and information in a manner that gets others' attention.
• Confidentiality: Ability to maintain the highest level of discretion and confidentiality.
• Interpersonal Skills: Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; maintains confidentiality; listens to others without interrupting; keeps emotions under control; remains open to others' ideas and tries new things.
• Oral Communication: Speaks clearly, confidently and persuasively in positive or negative situations; listens and gets clarification; responds well to questions; demonstrates group presentation skills; participates in meetings.
• Written Communication: Writes clearly and informatively; presents information effectively; able to read and interpret written information.
• Dependability: Follows instructions, responds to management direction; takes responsibility for own actions; keeps commitments; commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals; completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.
• Collaboration: Ability to influence, motivate and collaborate with others.
• Works Independently: Proven success working under minimal supervision with the ability to self-direct.
• Technical Skills: Strives to continuously build knowledge and skills; shares expertise with others.