Description

This position writes eligibility rules and policies for the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) Program and School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB) Program benefit offerings. This individual performs extensive research and recommends policy and rules changes to executive management, develops administrative policies for use by benefit administrators, and reviews policies and processes for gaps. The ideal candidate will be detail-oriented and have good communication skills. Typical work will include reviewing rules, regulations, policies, and their associated communication materials. If you love to research, analyze rules and laws, and work with stakeholders to solve problems, this may be the position for you!

Per Governor Inslee’s Directive 22-13.1 , state employees must be fully vaccinated. Your vaccine status will be verified upon acceptance of a contingent job offer. Please note, medical or religious accommodation may be available once an offer of employment is made.

About the position:
Reporting to the Employees’ and Retirees’ Benefits (ERB) Division Policy and Rules Coordinator, the staff in this position supports the agency’s goal of achieving consistent interpretation and application of eligibility and enrollment rules for either the Public Employees’ Benefits Board (PEBB) Program and the School Employees’ Benefits Board (SEBB) Program. The staff in this position will independently develop, revise, implement, interpret, and disseminate program specific Washington Administrative Code (WAC) rules, program policies, and program procedures affecting state agencies, school districts, charter schools, educational service districts, employer groups, employees, retirees, and eligible dependents.

Duties

Some of what you will do:
Analysis, development, implementation, interpretation, and dissemination of program rules and administrative policies.

• 
  Manage assigned WAC chapters, draft, review, and evaluate WAC rules as assigned.
• Analyze and implement state legislation; consult with executive management, develop written summaries, anticipate implementation issues, identify policy implications, pose questions for critical policy analysis, and recommend program changes.
• Provide technical and consultative assistance to staff and management in the form of rule and administrative policy interpretation.
• Develop, review, and evaluate written policies, procedures, and administrative guidance in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
• Lead project teams in developing and implementing changes to employee benefit programs, including identifying policy implications, analyzing, and evaluating administrative difficulties, and recommending a course of action.
• Act as liaison, coordinating with internal and external stakeholders to translate program changes and policy decisions into operational processes. Anticipate potential conflicts and recommend alternatives for resolution.

Responsible for technical and consultative assistance in the communication of program rules and administrative policies.

• Serve as a consultant and subject matter expert during the annual review of program communication materials.
• Write or provide subject matter expertise to other authors for member letters, online FAQs, listserv messages, and other communication materials that disseminate federal compliance, WAC, and administrative policies.

Responsible for analyzing state legislative proposals and federal regulation. This staff position will work collaboratively with other work units and impacted agencies to identify and implement program changes necessary for compliance.

• Provide technical assistance to staff responsible for tracking/monitoring the analysis of proposed legislation.
• Develop written bill analyses, laying out assumptions for use in determining fiscal and operational impacts. Evaluate administrative feasibility and anticipate compliance problems.
• Prepare summaries for executive management to use when testifying before legislative committees.
• Serve as the project lead or as a member of a work group to implement program changes necessary for compliance.

Qualifications

Required qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in business administration, public administration, communications, public health, or a related field

AND

Four years of experience in conducting research, analyzing policies, laws, rules, and regulations.

Note: Additional professional level experience conducting research, analyzing policies, laws, rules, and regulations may substitute year for year, for required education.

Preferred qualifications:

Demonstrated ability to:

• 
  Identify issues and propose practical solutions;
• Write briefing documents or executive level summaries and professionally exchange information, ideas, and recommendations to technical and non-technical audiences;
• Facilitate project work groups;
• Develop planning documents (including flow diagrams, work plans, etc.) using various software solutions; and
• Use Word, Excel, Outlook (scheduling module especially), PowerPoint, and Visio.

How to apply:

Only candidates who reflect the minimum qualifications on their NEOGOV profile will be considered. Failure to follow the application instructions below may lead to disqualification. To apply for this position, you will need to complete your profile and attach:

• A cover letter that specifically addresses how you meet the qualifications for this position
• Current resume
• Three professional references

To take advantage of veteran preference, please do the following:

• Attach a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 long-form copy), NGB 22, or USDVA signed verification of service letter.
• Please black out any PII (personally identifiable information) data such as social security numbers. Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.

Supplemental Information

About HCA:
The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) is committed to whole-person care, integrating physical health and behavioral health services for better results and healthier residents.

HCA purchases health care for more than 2.5 million Washington residents through Apple Health (Medicaid), the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) Program, and the School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB) Program. As the largest health care purchaser in the state, we lead the effort to transform health care, helping ensure Washington residents have access to better health and better care at a lower cost.

What we have to offer:

• 
  Meaningful work with friendly co-workers who care about those we serve Voices of HCA
• A clear agency mission that drives our work and is person-centered HCA's Mission, Vision & Values
• A healthy work/life balance, including alternative/flexible schedules and mobile work options.
• A great total compensation and benefit package WA State Government Benefits
• A safe, pleasant workplace in a convenient location with restaurants, and shopping nearby.
• Tuition reimbursement
• And free parking!

Notes:
Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment.

HCA is an equal opportunity employer. We value the importance of creating an environment in which all employees can feel respected, included, and empowered to bring unique ideas to the agency. Our diversity and inclusion efforts include embracing different cultures, backgrounds and viewpoints while fostering growth and advancement in the workplace. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, disabled and Vietnam era veterans, as well as people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. Persons with disabilities needing assistance in the application process, or those needing this job announcement in an alternative format may contact Jake Nelko at 360.725.0945 or jake.nelko@hca.wa.gov.