The Benefits Specialist is responsible for supporting the administration and delivery of employee benefits, leave, retirement, wellness, and compensation programs. The role provides operational, analytical, and employee support to U.S.-based employees, managers, and HR teams.
This position works closely with Benefits and Compensation teams, HR Business Partners, Payroll, vendors, and other external partners to ensure HR programs are administered accurately, efficiently, and in accordance with company policies and applicable U.S. regulations.
Key Responsibilities
- Support the administration of employee benefits, retirement, leave, wellness, and compensation programs for U.S.-based employees.
- Process employee transactions and documentation related to benefits enrollment, qualifying life events, employment status changes, terminations, leave administration, and annual open enrollment.
- Serve as a key point of contact for employees, managers, vendors, and third-party administrators regarding benefits, leave, retirement, and compensation inquiries.
- Maintain accurate employee information and records across HRIS, payroll, benefits, retirement, leave, and vendor systems.
- Support the administration of various U.S. leave programs, including FMLA, ADA accommodations, disability, paid leave, PTO, and return-to-work processes.
- Conduct audits, reconciliations, and data validation to ensure the accuracy and integrity of HR, payroll, benefits, retirement, leave, and compensation data.
- Assist with reporting, system testing, audits, and compliance activities, including ACA reporting, retirement plan audits, and nondiscrimination testing.
- Support compensation-related activities such as job evaluations, market pricing, salary recommendations, FLSA reviews, organizational changes, and compensation reporting.
- Assist with benefits and compensation activities related to acquisitions, organizational changes, and onboarding of newly integrated employees or business units.
- Develop and maintain employee communications, training materials, job aids, and other resources related to Total Rewards programs.
- Participate in process improvement, standardization, automation, and other initiatives to improve HR service delivery and operational efficiency.
- Maintain strict confidentiality and security when handling employee, compensation, medical, and other protected information.
- Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders and participate in meetings as required.
Qualifications
Education & Experience
- Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.
- 3+ years of progressive HR experience, with significant experience in benefits administration, leave management, retirement programs, compensation, or related Total Rewards functions.
- Hands-on experience administering U.S. leave programs, including FMLA, ADA, disability, state leave programs, and return-to-work processes.
- Strong understanding of HR, benefits, leave, payroll, and/or compensation administration.
- Experience supporting U.S.-based employees and U.S. employment regulations preferred.
- Experience with compensation benchmarking, market pricing, salary surveys, or related compensation projects is an advantage.
- Experience using HRIS, payroll, and benefits administration systems; Paylocity experience is preferred.
- Experience handling confidential employee information, compensation data, medical information, and Protected Health Information (PHI).