Human Resources Assistant - Benefits (Limited-Term)

Human Resources Assistant - Benefits (Limited-Term)

Salary

$5,605.60 Monthly

Location

City of Bellingham, WA

Job Type

Limited Term

Job Number

26-HR Asst. Benefits (LT)

Department

Human Resources

Opening Date

08/21/2026

Closing Date

9/4/2026 4:30 PM Pacific

FLSA

Non-Exempt

Bargaining Unit

Eteam

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Nature of Work

The City of Bellingham is seeking a Benefits Assistant to join our Human Resources team! This limited-term position is expected to conclude between December 31, 2026 and up to one (1) year from the date of hire. In this role, you will play a key part in delivering top-notch administrative and technical support for HR benefits services while we transition to a new HRIS System, Workday. You will help employees navigate the benefits process, ensuring accuracy in records, and supporting a range of HR functions. If you're organized, eager to contribute to a collaborative environment, and ready to make a meaningful impact, we want to hear from you!

JOB SUMMARY

This position performs paraprofessional, technical and advanced administrative tasks in support of the City's Human Resources Department with a primary focus on the Benefits Division. Provides general information and facilitates access to human resources benefits services. Interprets and explains existing human resources benefits policies, procedures, and programs to employees, managers and the public. Delivers training and orientation in areas of responsibility. Maintains confidential benefits records and generates reports. Provides technical and administrative assistance in support of professional human resources benefits staff.

For more information, please review the job description.

WHY JOIN OUR TEAM?

Joining the City of Bellingham means becoming a part of a team that believes our greatest impact comes from working together with purpose, humility and a shared commitment to our community. Every employee contributes to delivering meaningful results for the people who live, work and visit here. We value people who approach challenges with curiosity, respect and collaboration. If you are motivated by building a career in public service, we encourage you to apply.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

This position will start at Step 1 ($32.34/hour). Employees receive step increases annually in accordance with the E-Team Handbook and City policy. The full hourly range for this position is $32.34 - $39.31. For internal candidates, placement within the range is based on City Pay Placement Procedures.

At the City of Bellingham, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that helps you thrive in both your career and personal life. Join our team and enjoy peace of mind knowing that you and your loved ones are well cared for. Here's a closer look at the outstanding benefits that come with being part of our team. You can find more details on our employment benefits page and labor agreements page.

• 13.33 hours of vacation leave per month, with increased accrual over time
• 12 paid holidays + 1 floating holiday per year
• 40 hours of sick leave upon hire + 8 hours accrued monthly
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families
• Life insurance and long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts and medical insurance opt-out program
• Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Washington State Retirement plan (DRS) for retirement security
• Optional 457 deferred compensation savings plan and 401(a) Retirement Savings Plan with employer match

Leave accruals are based on 1.0 FTE, accruals are pro-rated if part-time and require employees to be in paid status at least 120 hours/month.

Closing Date/Time: Fri. 09/04/26 4:30 PM Pacific Time

Experience and Training

• High school diploma required.
• Three years of administrative office experience including at least six months of experience in a human resources or related setting.
• Associate or bachelor's degree in human resources, business administration or related field preferred.
• Professional in Human Resources (PHR) or Society of Human Resource Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) certification preferred.
• Experience using a Human Resources Information System (HRIS) and other similar databases preferred.
• In place of the above requirements, an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to provide the applicant with the knowledge, skill and ability to successfully perform the essential functions of the job will be considered.

Necessary Special Requirements

• Employment contingent upon passing a criminal background check (see Fair Hiring Practices below).
• Verification of ability to work in the United States by date of hire.
• Requires a minimum of 4 days per week on site work in the Human Resources office.

Selection Process

You are encouraged to print a copy of this job announcement for your reference as the process moves along

Please ensure your application is complete and all required information has been provided. Standard completeness means all application fields (contact information, personal information, education, work experience, references, and supplemental questions). Application materials should comprehensively document your experience and skills related to the position responsibilities and experience/training requirements. As part of the City's commitment to reducing bias in the hiring process, Human Resources redacts personally identifiable information for reviewers. Only the documents listed as required will be reviewed.

Interviews for the most qualified candidates are tentatively scheduled for the week of September 21, 2026. Invitations to participate in the Interview process will be sent via e-mail on or around September 16, 2026.

Please Note: Candidates will receive updates regarding application status via email. Please be sure to check your email frequently, including your spam folders for messages filtered by your email providers.

Equal Opportunity:

Our environment is characterized by respect for cultural backgrounds, belief systems, and ethnic diversity. The City of Bellingham is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in its work force. We do not make decisions on the basis of an individuals race, religion, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, age (40+), disability, retaliation, sexual orientation or gender identity, honorably discharged veteran or military status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, or any other basis prohibited by local, state, or federal law. All are encouraged to apply for employment.

Fair Hiring Practices

• The City provides individuals who have been arrested or convicted of a criminal offense an equal and fair opportunity to obtain employment.
• The City will not inquire about an applicants criminal history until after a conditional job offer has been made.
• The City will disregard the prior arrest and conviction record of an otherwise qualified individual unless the offense is directly related to the job position for which the individual has applied.
• The City will notify an otherwise qualified applicant about a potentially disqualifying conviction and give the applicant an opportunity to submit information regarding the accuracy of the criminal records as well as evidence of mitigation or rehabilitation, as appropriate.

There are many good reasons for working at the City of Bellingham. The work is rewarding and you have an opportunity to serve your community. Another good reason is the great benefits that the City offers its employees. See our benefits section for additional information.

This position is unrepresented. Specific benefit information including Holidays, Vacation Accruals, Health, Dental and Vision Plans with cost sharing and Deferred Compensation Match can be found in the E-Team Handbook.

This position is covered by the State of Washington Department of Retirement Systems PERS plan. PERS requires mandatory employee and City contributions. Please visit the DRS website for more information on PERS.

01

Thank you for your interest in this position at the City of Bellingham! To ensure a consistent review, only the City of Bellingham job application and required supplemental documents will be reviewed. Cover letters and resumes are not reviewed unless they are required as part of the process. When applying for this position, you must thoroughly complete each section of your application, and provide a thorough response to each of the supplemental questions. Please do not indicate "see resume" or copy content that is unrelated to the position being applied for from your resume when answering these questions.

Have you read and understood the information listed above?

• Yes
• No

02

This position is a limited-term role, meaning it is hired for a specific period of time, ranging from an end date of December 31, 2026 to no longer than one (1) year. By applying, you acknowledge and confirm your understanding that the position has a defined end date within this time frame. Do you understand and accept this condition?

• Yes
• No

03

Do you have a high school diploma or equivalent (GED)?

• Yes
• No

04

Do you have three (3) years of administrative office experience including at least six months of experience in a human resources or related setting? [Note: this must be clearly demonstrated under your work experience above.]

How We Count Work Experience: Your experience must be equal to full-time paid work. If you worked part-time, we'll calculate your experience based on the total number of hours you worked in a year. For example, if you worked 10 hours per week for 12 months, that equals 3 months of full-time experience (10 hrs x 52 weeks= 520 hrs/173.33 full time hrs per month = 3 months).

• Yes
• No

05

If you answered NO to question #4, do you have an equivalent combination of education and experience that provides you with the knowledge, skill and ability to successfully perform the essential functions of this position? Please explain in detail.

06

The following requirements are preferred. Please select from the list below which requirement(s) you meet.

• I have an Associate or Bachelors degree in human resources, business administration or related field.
• I have the Professional in Human Resources (PHR) or Society of Human Resource Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) certification.
• I have experience using a Human Resources Information System (HRIS) and other similar databases.
• I do not have any of the preferred qualifications and understand that this will not disqualify my application.

07

Describe a time when you had to explain complex policies or procedures to employees. How did you ensure the information was clear and understandable, and how did you handle any follow-up questions?

08

In your previous role(s), how did you assist with the administration of employee benefits or similar programs? Describe how you helped with tasks such as benefits open enrollment, audits, or preparing reports. What specific systems or tools did you use to manage this?

Required Question

Employer City of Bellingham

Address 104 West Magnolia Street

Bellingham, Washington, 98225

Phone 360-778-8220

Website http://www.cob.org/employment