Salary: $73,672.00 - $115,825.00 Annually
Location : City Hall, 900 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA
Job Type: Full-Time Permanent
Job Number:Department: Human Resources
Opening Date: 10/09/2026
Closing Date: 10/23/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
DescriptionThe anticipated hiring range is $73,672 - $90,000The
Benefits & Wellness Specialist is responsible for performing professional level oversight of the City's employee benefit plans and systems. This position is responsible for subject matter expertise in benefit functions, including application of applicable federal, state, and local laws. This position supports organizational goals and initiatives, provides expert advice and consultation, maintains records, completes special human resources projects; and writes and develops plans, communications, policies, and procedures. Incumbents provide analysis and participate in surveys to determine competitiveness.
This position is the technical leader for the City's various employee benefits plans. This position will help manage citywide benefits programs and ensure accountability to internal and external stakeholders. The Benefits & Wellness Specialist will employ in-depth knowledge of benefits plans, regulations, and program data to develop program improvements and customer-focused solutions for city benefits initiatives. The Benefits & Wellness Specialist will ensure timely delivery to customer in benefits delivery. The incumbent oversees administrative work and front-line escalations and implements tools and functional resources necessary to inform good decision making. This role requires leadership and a teamwork mentality, as the Benefits & Wellness Specialist will manage the internal customers and employee requests and questions process across different functional areas within the City of Richmond, as well as Human Resource employees.
Duties include but are not limited toProgram Administration & Compliance- Regulatory Oversight: Manages benefit plans (health, dental, disability, life, voluntary, and retirement programs) in strict accordance with ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, and other federal, state, and local regulations.
- Vendor & File Management: Manages relationships, issue resolution, and activities with plan vendors; oversees administrative functions, inbound/outbound integration files, plan eligibility, contributions, and reconciliation.
- Financial & Data Analysis: Analyzes employee benefit costs to recommend cost savings and plan design changes; utilizes advanced Excel and system tools to track program performance and generate reports.
- Process Improvement: Evaluates processes, applies critical thinking to identify issues, and leverages technology to implement solutions that increase productivity and operational efficiency.
Employee Support & Service- Escalated Issue Resolution: Manages the customer service support process (calls/emails) for current and former associates; handles complex and escalated inquiries regarding plan provisions, eligibility, and enrollment in a timely manner.
- Retirement & Life Insurance Guidance: Gathers pension data, interviews prospective retirees, provides estimates, and delivers individualized support on retirement options and life insurance benefits.
- Education & Presentation: Conducts employee education and benefits information sessions, coordinates provider correspondence, and creates resources to help associates make informed benefit decisions.
Team Collaboration & Execution- Pod Leadership: Serves as a operational lead to other Benefits Team members, providing guidance and fostering shared institutional knowledge.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partners with internal teams and external agencies to ensure seamless benefits operations, data integrity, and a positive employee experience.
- Adaptable Execution: Manages multiple high-priority tasks simultaneously in a fast-paced environment while maintaining strict accuracy, attention to detail, and executing additional duties as assigned.
Qualifications, Special Certifications and LicensesKnowledge, Skills, and AbilitiesCore Knowledge:- Human Resources & Employee Benefits: Foundational understanding of benefits administration and industry practices.
- Data & Financial Aptitude: Experience with budgeting, reconciliation, and managing large, complex datasets.
- Communication & Engagement: Familiarity with benefits promotion, advertising techniques, and public speaking to diverse populations.
- Technical Proficiency: Mastery of Microsoft Office Suite (specifically Word and Excel). Experience navigating legacy ERP systems (e.g., Oracle, Great Plains, or similar database environments) is highly preferred.
Key Skills & Abilities:- Project & Time Management: Ability to manage multiple projects, timelines, and deadlines simultaneously while prioritizing tasks effectively.
- Analytical Thinking: Strong research, critical thinking, problem-solving, and sharp attention to detail.
- Communication & Diplomacy: Exceptional oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills used to listen attentively and navigate diverse team dynamics.
- Autonomy & Resourcefulness: Proven ability to function independently with minimal supervision, demonstrating high motivation and adaptability.
Minimum Qualifications - 5+ years of Human Resources experience with 3 years in the field of employee benefits
- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field
- An equivalent combination of training and experience (as approved by the department) may be used to meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.
Preferred Qualifications - 3+ years of experience in Benefits Administration
- Experience navigating and operating within legacy ERP systems (ex., Oracle, Great Plains, or similar database environments).
- Education in accounting, finance or math is strongly preferred, or training and experience equivalent.
01
5-point veteran's must have been discharged under honorable conditions and had one of the following:Active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States, in a war, or during the period 4/28/52-7/1/55 or active duty for more than 180 consecutive days other than for training, any part of which occurred during the period beginning 2/1/55 and 10/14/76 or active duty during the Gulf War sometime between 8/2/90 - 1/2/92 or active duty in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized or active duty for which more than 180 consecutive days other than for training, any part of which occurred during the period beginning 9/11/2001 and ending on the date prescribed by the Presidential proclamation or by the law as the last date of operation Iraqi Freedom. Do any of these apply?
02
10-point compensable veteran. You must have an existing compensable service-connected disability of 10 percent or more. Other 10-point veteran include disabled veteran or a veteran who was awarded the Purple Heart for wound or injuries received in action, veteran's widow or widower who has not remarried, wife or husband of a veteran who has a service-connected disability, widowed, divorced or separated mother of an ex-service son or daughter who died in action, or who is totally and permanently disabled. Do any of these apply?
03
Which answer best describes your highest level of education?
- High School Diploma/ GED
- Associate's Degree
- Bachelor's Degree
- Master's Degree
- None of the above
04
What is your level of experience managing benefit vendors and eligibility/contribution files?
- Limited exposure to vendor interaction or file processes
- Assisted with vendor communications or file reviews
- Managed routine vendor relationships and file reconciliations
- Led vendor relationships, escalations, and complex data integrations
- Designed or improved vendor/data processes across an organization
05
How would you rate your experience administering benefit plans in compliance with ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, and related regulations?
- No direct experience
- Some exposure; supported tasks but not responsible for compliance
- Hands-on experience administering plans under guidance
- Independently responsible for compliance and regulatory updates
- Organizational subject-matter expert, advises others on compliance
06
How experienced are you with analyzing benefit costs and using Excel for complex data analysis?
- Basic Excel skills; limited data analysis experience
- Intermediate Excel (pivot tables, formulas), able to analyze small datasets
- Advanced Excel (LOOKUPs, nested formulas), regular benefit cost analysis
- Expert Excel use, including modeling and trend analysis for plan design
- Advanced analytics and financial modeling influencing strategic decisions
07
What is your experience providing retirement or life insurance guidance?
- None
- Basic understanding; provided general information
- Provided data or estimates to employees
- Conducted retirement interviews and guided employees through options
- Led retirement counseling efforts and created organizational resources
08
How would you evaluate your analytical and problem-solving skills?
- Comfortable completing structured tasks
- Can identify issues and offer basic solutions
- Independently analyzes complex data and identifies root causes
- Anticipates issues and proposes strategic solutions
- Recognized as an analytical expert in the organization
09
How effectively do you manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment?
- Prefer working on one task at a time
- Can manage multiple tasks with guidance
- Independently manages multiple deadlines
- Regularly balances complex, competing priorities
- Leads large-scale, multi-stream project efforts
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