Summary

The HR Generalist will provide accurate, reliable, and efficient specialized human resources-related services to help meet the objectives of the human resources, payroll, and benefit areas of the Cooperative. This position will provide exceptional customer service to employees and retirees through timely, courteous, and accurate responses to their inquiries and needs.

Reporting

• Reports to: Manager of Human Resources
• Directs: None

Responsibilities

• Processes pay and position changes according to established procedures, securing appropriate approval signatures; sends payroll change forms to Payroll Accountant in a timely manner.
• Complete annual Affordable Care Act (ACA) filing.
• Administer employee benefit and retirement programs including health, 401(k), wellness and education programs.
• Resolve benefit related issues with vendor representatives and provide guidance and assistance to employees and retirees with benefit questions. Handle benefit inquiries and complaints to ensure quick, equitable, and courteous resolution. 
• Coordinate the annual benefit enrollment process. Prepare announcement material, booklets, brochures, and other media for communicating new plans to employees. Conduct or facilitate employee benefit seminars for employees.  Revise and reissue communications material on benefits as needed.
• Support new employees’ timely enrollment in employee benefit plans.
• Implement and maintain accurate and compliant Family Medical Leave (FMLA) program and recordkeeping. Prepare and process FMLA paperwork in a timely manner. Communicate and explain FMLA program to employees.  Accurately track full and intermittent leave time.
• Assist employees with short-term and long-term disability claims. Coordinate claim process with benefit carriers.  Resolve claim and approval process issues in a timely manner.
• Maintain accurate benefits records including enrollment and application records.
• Develop benefit information and statistical and census data for actuaries, insurance carriers, and others as required.
• Assure company compliance with provisions of Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). Prepare reports and forms required by law to be filed with federal and state agencies, such as the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Labor and other regulatory agencies. 
• Review changes to state and federal laws pertaining to benefits and report necessary or suggested changes to the Manager of Human Resources.
• Maintain years of service awards.
• Alert the Manager of Human Resources of any potentially fraudulent matters pertaining to medical claims, worker’s compensation, short-term and long-term disability.
• Create and manage the Cooperative wellness program.
• Assist and perform the filing information and maintain integrity and confidentiality of the human resource files and payroll information.
• Complete census information for insurance renewals and budgeting purposes.
• Assist with pension and disability benefits for employees and retired employees.
• Assist with the employee evaluation system (i.e., add new hires, schedule initial evaluations, update promoted employees). Assist employees and supervisors with system related questions.
• Assist with compensation administration by maintaining data, auditing records, and preparing reports, while maintaining confidentiality of the information to ensure necessary documentation of changes are recorded.
• Assist with new hire orientation, interviews as necessary.
• Support the Safety Coordinator with workman compensation claims as needed.
• Assist in special projects as necessary.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, human resources, or a related field.
• 5 years of Human Resources experience preferred.
• Must be able to use PC and related software in the performance of position responsibilities.
• Must have working knowledge of federal and state employment laws. Familiarity with COBRA, ERISA, FMLA and benefits related state and federal regulations required.
• Knowledge and understanding of insurance regulations, plan designs and third-party record keeping/ administration preferred.

Required Skills and Abilities

• Must be able to maintain professionalism and control under all circumstances.
• Has and maintains a valid driver’s license and acceptable driving record and is able to operate SVEC vehicles.
• Must become and remain certified in CPR and first aid. Must also be skilled in the use of safety equipment.
• Ability to organize work effectively, prioritize, and manage multiple tasks with special attention to detail.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to create and maintain positive, team-building attitudes among employees.
• Maintain a high level of confidentiality with regards to employee, member, and corporate information.
• Ability to handle stressful situations.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office products including Excel and Word.
• Must have access to reliable transportation to and from work.

Physical Requirements

• Participation in SVEC job safety and training programs, relevant workshops, seminars and other SVEC sponsored courses and events.
• Must be able to use office equipment including telephone, computer, and other systems and related software in the performance of position responsibilities.
• Must be able and available, during any and all types of weather conditions, to work weekends, holidays, evenings and other times outside normal duty hours to assist in service restoration and other emergencies that may arise or when the workload demands.
• Must always maintain an operating telephone or personal communication device at his/her place of residence. Ability to contact the telephone or personal communication device must be made available to SVEC for the purpose of contacting the manager to conduct legitimate routine and/or emergency business.
• This position primarily works indoors. Must be able to lift objects unassisted (up to 30 pounds). Some standing, walking, climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling to a minimal degree.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be constructed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.

About Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Chartered in 1936, SVEC maintains over 8,100 miles of electric lines and serves more than 97,000 member accounts in the counties of Augusta, Clarke, Frederick, Highland (all), Page (all), Rockingham, Shenandoah and Warren in Virginia, and the city of Winchester (all). Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative was the first electric cooperative chartered in Virginia. SVEC is governed by a democratically elected 10-member board of directors. Each year, at SVEC’s annual meeting, directors are elected by members. Directors serve four-year terms.

Connections working at Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative, Inc.