ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA) is a not-for-profit, community-owned water utility, overseen by elected officials and citizen appointees from Reno, Sparks and Washoe County. TMWA has a highly skilled workforce who ensure the around-the-clock treatment, delivery and availability of high-quality drinking water for more than 400,000 residents of the Truckee Meadows.

We are looking to hire a Human Resources Technician in the Recruiting & HR Services area, to join our Human Resources Department.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Human Resources Technician performs a variety of technical and administrative activities in support of a centralized human resources system in two focus areas, either Benefits & Leave Administration or Recruiting & HR Services.

The Human Resources Technician is the entry-level classification in the Human Resources Technician series. Initially under close supervision, incumbents learn and perform routine duties while learning TMWA policies and procedures and becoming familiar with the variety of departmental systems and practices. As experience is gained, assignments become more varied, complex, and difficult; close supervision and frequent review of work lessen as an incumbent demonstrates skill to perform the work independently. Positions at this level usually perform most of the duties required of the positions at the Human Resources Technician II level but are not expected to function at the same skill level and usually exercise less independent discretion and judgment in matters related to work procedures and methods. Work is usually supervised while in progress and fits an established structure or pattern. Exceptions or changes in procedures are explained in detail as they arise.

The Human Resources Technician II is the fully qualified classification in the Human Resources Technician series. Positions at this level are distinguished from the Human Resources Technician level by the performance of the full range of duties as assigned, working independently, and exercising judgment and initiative. Positions at this level receive only occasional instruction or assistance as new or unusual situations arise and are fully aware of the operating procedures and policies of the work unit.

Progression from one position level, focus or designation is not automatic nor guaranteed and is based on business need

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
We believe that each employee makes a significant contribution to our success. That contribution should not be limited by the assigned responsibilities. Therefore, this job description is designed to outline primary duties, qualifications, and job scope, but not limit the incumbent nor TMWA to just the work identified. It is our expectation that each employee will offer his/her services wherever and whenever necessary to ensure the success of our endeavors.

• Serves as primary contact and liaison for assigned areas and provides support to employees, retirees, management, applicants, beneficiaries and or benefit plan members; handles inquiries via email, phone or in person.
• Answers questions, provides information, interprets and explains procedures, plans, policies, regulations and CBA provisions; answers procedural questions, troubleshoots issues, resolves complaints and recommends other options available and clarifies discrepancies that pertain to area of focus; escalates questions and or problems of a complex or sensitive nature to appropriate staff.
• Contributes to the efficiency and effectiveness of the department’s service to its customers by offering suggestions and directing or participating as an active member of a work team.
• Performs responsible office support work such as data entry, scanning, indexing and records management activities related to assigned area of responsibility.
• Prepares reports, charts, spreadsheets, and other appropriate technical data, collects and summarizes information, prepares written reports and makes recommendations.
• Ensures data integrity in the HCM database by running queries and analyzing output; provides HCM support for areas of responsibility, including researching and resolving problems, unexpected results or process flaws, recommends solutions or alternate methods to meet requirements.
• Conducts research; prepares, revises and implements various administrative procedures and processes in accordance with sound organizational practices; develops and revises office forms and report formats; establishes procedural documentation for assigned areas.
• Participate with boards, committees and special groups, as well as external agencies to ensure effective cooperation, optimal efficiency and effectiveness of assigned areas; attends, records, and or creates written minutes for a variety of meetings and committees.

Benefits & Leave Administration Focus:

• Administers benefit plans and programs; meets with and counsels on eligibility and use of insurance, deferred compensation, retirement, flexible spending accounts, retirement health spending accounts, life insurance, income protection plans, employee assistance and other employee benefits.
• Effectively and accurately communicates benefit information; utilizes benefit plan documents and program guidelines, regulations, and policies to assist as needed; assists in resolving complaints, discrepancies and various other benefit related problems.
• Develops benefit booklets, newsletters and materials for orientation, open enrollment, benefit and health fairs, and other benefit education or outreach activities.
• Coordinates and administers open enrollment periods and related activities.
• Reviews, verifies and processes benefit and payroll forms and documents, enters information into automated benefit and personnel/payroll systems, corrects errors, monitors workflow to assure transactions are entered and processed into relevant systems in a timely manner.
• Ensures accurate benefit enrollment and billing reconciliation activities are performed and prepares billing and reconciliation documentation and correspondence for benefit and insurance stakeholders.
• Serves as coordinator for post-employment benefit trusts. Responsible for trustee meetings to include scheduling, preparing, organizing, posting, printing, and distributing agendas, minutes, and related materials. Processes, maintains, and tracks retiree benefits and files.
• Counsels employees, retirees and retiree-survivors on the rules, policies and procedures for each of TMWA’s insurance plans and benefit programs.
• Meets with retirees and beneficiaries, providing counsel and guidance to ensure timely and accurate applications for disability, disability retirement benefits and life insurance claims.
• Assists in gathering benefits data for surveys, research or reports and complies data in a usable format; may include making computations, graphics, charts and/or narrative summaries.
• Performs insurance audits and eligibility reviews; develops and prepares employee premium notices; prepares, maintains, and distributes benefit documents.
• Works with healthcare, deferred compensation and other insurance carriers and plan providers to resolve issues concerning eligibility, claims processing and plan provisions.
• Researches and recommends benefit enhancements, wellness activities and benefit offerings to reward and engage employees; identifies outreach and education opportunities and ensures employees and retirees understand and have access to available benefits.
• Administers leave such as FMLA, ADA, USERRA, workers’ compensation, short-term and long-term disability, and other types of leaves of absence.

Recruiting & HR Services Focus:

• Coordinates and administers all phases of recruitment and selection to include planning, creating and recommending recruitment plans with hiring managers, preparing recruitment and selection materials including job announcements and advertisements.
• Researches and recommends advertising sources; places advertisements; updates job sites and TMWA employment site.
• Receives and tracks job applicants using applicant tracking system; enters applicant statistics; evaluates applications and screens applicants to determine eligibility and conformance to the minimum requirements of each position.
• Coordinates and administers selection procedures including, but not limited to, assessments, interviews, employment verifications, background and substance screening processes.
• Assists in creating and recommending standardized interview forms, questions and templates.
• Ensures applicants receive timely and responsive notification of application status changes; prepares documentation and correspondence templates for all applicant stages; collects and maintains all selection and interview documentation in accordance with established procedures.
• Creates and executes targeted outreach programs to engage veteran and minority communities. This includes identifying key organizations, events and platforms where potential candidates are active; establish and nurture relationships with veteran and minority organizations, community leaders and educational institutions to create a robust pipeline of diverse talent.
• Identifies opportunities to participate and represents TMWA at job fairs, workshops, community events, industry meetings, networking events, college, trade and other events to promote job opportunities.
• Tracks and monitors recruitment key performance indicators (KPIs) such as qualified candidates per opening, application completion rate, source quality, time to interview, time to hire, offer acceptance rate, candidate satisfaction, fist-year turnover rate, hiring manager satisfaction, Uses appropriate software to prepare selection process statistics and other departmental records and reports.
• Reviews, verifies and processes recruitment, employment and payroll forms and documents, enters information into automated personnel/payroll systems, corrects errors, monitors workflow to assure transactions are entered and processed into relevant systems in a timely manner.
• Updates and maintains organizational charts and ensures job descriptions accurately reflect changes made to position titles, job class, department, FLSA status, reports to, grades/level, positions supervised and certification, licensure and special requirements.
• Confers with departmental leadership and provides information regarding proper processes and methods of completing forms and processing information; reconciles and corrects errors as required.
• Coordinates, administers and delivers activities related to onboarding, new hire orientation, and offboarding.
• Tracks, monitors, and administers processes to ensure employees maintain requisite certifications and licensing. May assist with safety training tracking and notifications.
• Control, maintain, audit and update HR records (files and databases) for employees and applicants; review content of data and documents ensuring compliance with policies, procedures and the CBA; make revisions as necessary to ensure quality and accuracy of information. Ensures accurate and timely VETS4212 and EEO-4 compliance reporting and filing.

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

Experience: Two (2) years of progressively responsible experience supporting human resources programs, preferably in a government or utility environment.  Additional experience may be substituted for the education on a year-for-year basis.

Education & Training:   Graduation from a high school, or G.E.D. and equivalent to two (2) years of college level course work in business or personnel administration, a social science or field related to the work.

Must have working-level knowledge of the English language including reading, writing, and speaking English.

CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSURE & SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

A valid Nevada (or California – depending on state of residency) Driver License at time of hire and continuing thereafter and ability to maintain insurability under TMWA’s vehicle insurance policy.

Professional designation in human resources management or related specialty is desired.

Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background investigation during hire and periodically thereafter during employment.

This position is considered a safety sensitive position and employment is contingent upon the results of drug and/or alcohol testing which includes screening for marijuana. The presence of marijuana or other screened for substances on any employment related substance test may result in a refusal to hire or termination of employment.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Knowledge of:

Basic practices and techniques of public personnel administration including recruitment, and selection programs; basic benefit program principles and practices, including claims processing, benefits reporting and insurance/benefit plan recordkeeping; standard employee benefit plans, coverages, and insurance recordkeeping requirements; methods and techniques of conducting initial screening on candidate applications; methods and techniques of conducting employee orientation sessions; applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations in assigned areas of responsibility; basic research methods and data analysis techniques; TMWA personnel rules, policies and labor contract provisions; operations and requirements of TMWA’s HRIS and payroll systems; mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols; techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and TMWA staff; the structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar; modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination, including computers and software programs relevant to work performed.

Skill/Ability to:

Perform responsible and difficult paraprofessional and analytical, programmatic and administrative duties involving the use of independent judgment and personal initiative; provide technical and administrative HR support to TMWA’s employees in support of human resources management systems and programs; maintain confidentiality of employee information; understand, interpret, apply, and explain all pertinent laws, codes, regulations, policies and procedures, and standards relevant to work performed; independently organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines, and follow-up on assignments; organize and maintain specialized files; prepare a variety of analytical reports; analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, anticipate consequences of proposed actions and implement recommendations; exercise tact and diplomacy in dealing with sensitive, complex and confidential personnel issues and employee situations; effectively use computer systems, software applications relevant to work performed, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks; communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar and syntax; establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

TMWA is an equal opportunity employer. It is TMWA’s policy to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race (including traits associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles), color, gender, religion, age, national origin, social or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, pregnancy, disability, military and/or veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law. TMWA’s commitment to equal opportunity includes all terms, conditions, and privileges of employment, including but not limited to recruiting, hiring, job placement, training, compensation, benefits, discipline, advancement, and termination.

All decisions affecting any terms and conditions of employment, including recruitment, hiring, assignment, training, compensation, promotion, salary, disciplinary action, and an employee’s caregiving responsibilities, will be made without regard to race (including traits associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles), color, gender, religion, age, national origin, social or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, pregnancy, disability, military and/or veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

TMWA complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact Human Resources at hr@tmwa.com or 775-834-8294.

TMWA is committed to providing a safe work environment and to fostering the health and well-being of our employees. That commitment is jeopardized when any of our employees illegally use drugs at home or at work, comes to work under the influence, possesses, distributes, or sells drugs in the workplace, or abuses alcohol on the job. As part of our commitment to safeguard the well-being of our employees and to provide a safe environment for everyone, TMWA has established a drug-free workplace policy.