Benefits Analyst

Brown University Health; Rhode Island; On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Brown University Health seeks an experienced Benefits Administrator to coordinate and administer employee benefit programs for Brown University Health and its partners. You will analyze plans, interpret provisions, and resolve coverage questions for employees.

The role includes processing enrollments, maintaining HRIS data, coordinating vendor communications, and ensuring regulatory compliance while identifying cost-effective plan changes and communicating updates across the organization.

Qualifications

• Associate's degree in HR management or related field, or equivalent experience.
• At least three years of experience with benefit plans and regulatory requirements.
• Experience with retirement and group insurance programs.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a member of the local HR client service team, providing customer-focused support to assigned affiliate sites regarding benefit plan provisions and options.
• Process benefit enrollments and changes to existing coverage.
• Support HR Generalists in interpreting benefit plans, policies, procedures, and government regulations affecting employee benefits and rights.
• Ensure timely and accurate entry of employee benefit information into the HRIS, maintaining data integrity and completeness.
• Coordinate the electronic transfer of eligibility and enrollment information to benefit vendors.
• Maintain records of activities and recommend process improvements to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
• Administer employee benefit programs and policies for Brown University Health and its partners.
• Participate in the investigation, analysis, and evaluation of benefit program alternatives.
• Review market survey data to assess competitive positioning and develop cost analyses for new or modified plan features.
• Recommend plan changes that maximize cost-effectiveness and employee value.
• Develop and implement communication plans for new or revised benefit programs, including fact sheets, newsletter articles, posters and related materials.
• Coordinate vendor presentations to educate employees on benefit offerings.
• Participate in new employee orientation sessions to present benefits information.
• Respond to employee inquiries regarding current coverage, benefit options, and contribution rates.
• Prepare or coordinate employee-specific benefit statements, cost analyses, and benefits activity summaries.
• Provide retirement counseling, calculate anticipated retirement benefits, and process retirement enrollments.
• Ensure timely processing of monthly retirement benefits and maintain related records and reports.
• Monitor plan participation, calculate expenses, and coordinate vendor fund transfers.
• Prepare and review statistical and financial reports, including budget variance analyses.
• Audit vendor billing and payment reports to ensure accuracy and completeness.
• Analyze reporting needs and coordinate HRIS reporting solutions, including testing and data verification between HRIS and vendors.
• Ensure timely and accurate preparation of required filings, reports, and plan summaries to maintain regulatory compliance.
• Assist internal and external auditors by providing clarification and supporting documentation.
• Support the development and maintenance of benefits administration manuals and HRIS user documentation.
• Stay current on industry trends, legislation, and regulatory requirements through professional development activities and recommend actions to maintain compliance.
• Participate in or lead committees, task forces, and quality improvement initiatives as needed.

Skills

Customer service

HRIS experience

Data entry

Benefit programs knowledge

Communication skills

Vendor coordination

Regulatory compliance

Analytical thinking

Education

Associate's degree in HR/IR/BA

Tools

HRIS systems

Job description

Under general direction, coordinates and administers employee benefit programs for Brown University Health and its partners. Participates in the review, analysis, and recommendation of new programs or modifications to existing programs. Communicates and interprets plan provisions and resolves employee-specific coverage questions and concerns.

Brown University Health employees are expected to model the organization's values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence, which guide everyday interactions with patients, customers, and colleagues.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as a member of the local Human Resources client service team, providing customer-focused support to assigned affiliate sites regarding:
  • Benefit plan provisions and options
  • Contribution rates
  • System and affiliate-specific policies and procedures
  • Applicable collective bargaining agreement provisions
• Process benefit enrollments and changes to existing coverage.
• Support Human Resources Generalists in interpreting benefit plans, policies, procedures, and government regulations affecting employee benefits and rights.
• Ensure timely and accurate entry of employee benefit information into the Human Resources Information System (HRIS), maintaining data integrity and completeness.
• Coordinate the electronic transfer of eligibility and enrollment information to benefit vendors.
• Maintain records of activities and recommend process improvements to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
• Administer employee benefit programs and policies for Brown University Health and its partners.
• Participate in the investigation, analysis, and evaluation of benefit program alternatives.
• Review market survey data to assess competitive positioning and develop cost analyses for new or modified plan features.
• Recommend plan changes that maximize cost-effectiveness and employee value.
• Develop and implement communication plans for new or revised benefit programs, including:
  • Fact sheets
  • Newsletter articles
  • Posters and related materials
• Coordinate vendor presentations to educate employees on benefit offerings.
• Participate in new employee orientation sessions to present benefits information.
• Respond to employee and site representative inquiries regarding:
  • Current coverage
  • Benefit options
  • Contribution rates
• Prepare or coordinate employee-specific benefit statements, cost analyses, and benefits activity summaries.
• Provide retirement counseling, calculate anticipated retirement benefits, and process retirement enrollments.
• Ensure timely processing of monthly retirement benefits and maintain related records and reports.
• Monitor plan participation, calculate expenses, and coordinate vendor fund transfers.
• Prepare and review statistical and financial reports, including budget variance analyses.
• Audit vendor billing and payment reports to ensure accuracy and completeness.
• Analyze reporting needs and coordinate HRIS reporting solutions, including testing and data verification between HRIS and vendors.
• Ensure timely and accurate preparation of required filings, reports, and plan summaries to maintain regulatory compliance.
• Assist internal and external auditors by providing clarification and supporting documentation.
• Support the development and maintenance of benefits administration manuals and HRIS user documentation.
• Stay current on industry trends, legislation, and regulatory requirements through professional development activities and recommend actions to maintain compliance.
• Participate in or lead committees, task forces, and quality improvement initiatives as needed.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Associate's degree in Human Resource Management, Industrial Relations, Business Administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

EXPERIENCE

At least three years of progressively responsible related experience, including demonstrated familiarity with a variety of benefit plans, such as qualified retirement and group insurance programs, and thorough knowledge of applicable regulatory requirements.

Work is performed in a typical office environment and involves prolonged periods of sitting, as well as standing and walking.