As part of our total benefit package, Macomb County proudly offers medical, dental, and vision coverage, with no monthly premium to employees for single, two (2) person or family coverage. Health care, dental and vision benefits are effective the first day of employment.
CLASSIFICATION TITLE:
Human Resources Specialist - Benefits & Retirement
SALARY:
$66,559.45 - $86,089.08
DEPARTMENT:
Human Resources and Labor Relations
Opening Date:
08/12/2026
Closing Date:
08/26/2026 12:00 a.m.
FLSA Stat us: Non-exempt - overtime pursuant to Human Resources policy
Current hours: 8:00 -4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
Employment Relations hip: Just cause subject to probationary period
GENERAL SUMMARY
The position provides comprehensive support for the Benefits and Retirement team. Responsibilities include assisting with Open Enrollment by drafting employee communications, running OE reports, and responding to employee inquiries. The role is responsible for administering the workers' compensation program and serves as the benefits subject matter expert in Workday. Additional duties include supporting the administration of the defined pension plan and the 401(a) plan, assisting with complex benefits-related questions, and providing benefit support to both active employees and retirees.
Under direction of the Benefits Administrator, assists in the administration of all benefit programs, including healthcare, retirement, health and wellness. Oversees the enrollment processes; reconciles and audits invoices, determines eligibility; consults and advises new hires, employees and retirees on healthcare and retirement options.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Assists the Benefits Administrator in the administration of benefits programs, including healthcare, retirement, health and wellness.
Assists with the design, configuring, testing, implementation and maintenance of retirement and/or benefits in Workday.
Oversees the enrollment processes for new hires and retirees into the correct benefit plan based on eligibility criteria.
Calculates, reconciles and audits invoices, eligibility for retirement, dependent eligibility, and pension calculations.
Consults and advises new hires, employees, and retirees on availability and eligibility for healthcare and retirement options.
Communicates with employees, retirees, former employees, and vendors about benefit programs, procedures, changes, and government-mandated disclosures.
Assists in the administration of Worker’s Compensation, Americans with Disabilities Act, and leave of absence processing.
Consults with legal counsel, as necessary, on benefit and retirement related issues.
Researches and resolves employee and retiree issues to ensure proper administration of plan member benefits for all applicable plans.
Manages and maintains information systems, including Workday, to support benefit and retirement processes.
Investigates and assists to resolve issues impacting employees in enrollment to eligible programs.
Supports the day to day activities of Human Resources Assistants assigned in the same program area.
Collaborates with the Benefits Administrator to support Macomb County’s open enrollment process, drafts communication material, updates Workday, attends meetings, processes changes and meets with employees and retirees as needed.
Prepares and completes monthly reports as needed for the Retirement Board and leadership team.
Serves as the liaison to the Macomb County Retirement Board and Defined Contribution Advisory Board including attendance at all meetings.
Oversees and calculates the process of employee payoffs when employees are retiring or exiting employment with Macomb County.
Manages projects as related to healthcare benefits and retirement programs.
Operates an automobile to perform assigned job functions.
Performs related duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required Education and Experience
- Associate’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Business Management, Human Resources, Organizational Development or related field
- A minimum of three (3) years of benefit or retirement administration experience
Preferred Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Business Management, Human Resources, Organizational Development or related field
- Previous administration experience in the fields of retirement, leave of absence and/or w orkers' compensation
Required Licenses or Certifications
- Possession of a valid Michigan driver’s license and operable, insured automobile for authorized travel
COMPETENCIES FOR SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCE OF JOB DUTIES
Knowledge of:
- Public sector benefit and retirement programs
- Macomb County Employees Retirement System Ordinance
- Human Resources policies, procedures and processes
- Affordable Care Act (ACA), Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Workers’ Compensation Act, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) and other benefit related acts and federal laws
- Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and other laws and policies regarding confidentiality
- Various computer systems, including Workday, Precision, ADP, Gallagher, vendor systems, Onbase, and Microsoft Office
- Database applications and report writing, data mining and collection for operational review
Skill in:
- Interpersonal skills necessary to develop and maintain effective and appropriate working relationships with staff and the public
- Assigning, prioritizing, monitoring, and reviewing work for program staff and activities
- Exercising independent judgment and initiative in analyzing problems and making recommendations
- Conflict resolution
- Organization and time management
Ability to:
- Analyze benefit data and make appropriate recommendations
- Make decisions in accordance with laws, regulations and established policies and procedures
- Speak and present information to audiences in a clear, concise manner
- Perform moderate to high level administrative related duties with a high degree of accuracy
- Understand and carry out oral and written direction
- Maintain the confidentiality of information and professional boundaries
- Work in an environment which embraces the county’s Dignity Campaign
- Effectively speak, write and understand the English language
- Effectively speak, write and understand a language other than English is preferred
- Understand and carry out oral and/or written instructions
- Accurately organize and maintain paper documents and electronic files
- Maintain the confidentiality of information and professional boundaries
- Work independently
WORK ENVIRONMENT/CONDITIONS
The work environment and exposures described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
N/S =Never/Seldom O =Occasionally F/C = Frequently/Continuously
Work Environment
Office or similar indoor environment: F/C
Outdoor environment: N/S
Street environment (near moving traffic): N/S
Construction site: N/S
Confined space: N/S
Exposures
Individuals who are hostile or irate: O
Individuals with known violent backgrounds: N/S
Extreme cold (below 32 degrees): N/S
Extreme heat (above 100 degrees): N/S
Communicable diseases: N/S
Moving mechanical parts: N/S
Fumes or airborne particles: N/S
Toxic or caustic chemicals, substances, or waste: N/S
Loud noises (85+ decibels): N/S
Blood Borne Pathogens: N/S
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
N/S =Never/Seldom O =Occasionally F/C = Frequently/Continuously
Demand :
Balancing on even or uneven surfaces/ground: N/S
Bending (forward or backward bending at the waist): O
Climbing up or down stairs, ladders, scaffolding and platforms: O
Crawling (moving about on hands and knees): N/S
Inspecting in confined spaces: N/S
Digging: N/S
Driving on sealed and unsealed roads: O
Grasping, gripping, holding, clasping with fingers or hands: O
Kneeling to work at low levels: N/S
Manual Dexterity (fine finger movements i.e., keyboard operating, writing): F/C
Lift/Carry/Move objects from one level/position to another:
Up to 10 pounds: O
Up to 50 pounds: N/S
More than 50 pounds: N/S
Over 100 pounds: N/S
Push/Pull objects away from or towards the body: O
Reaching overhead (arms raised above the shoulder) or forward reaching (arms extended): O
Sitting in a seated position during the task performance: F/C
Standing in an upright position without movement: O
Walking considerable distances in the facility on multiple surfaces: O
Running considerable distances in the facility on multiple surfaces: N/S
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS AND DISCLAIMERS
Complies with P.A. 390, as amended, known as the State’s Emergency Management Act and the County’s Emergency Management resolution as well as all related plans, policies and procedures covered by those statutes.
The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by employees in this job. Employees may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.
Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require accommodation to apply for a job or to perform your job. Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment amongst other possible accommodations.
