Benefits and Leave Specialist

Westbrook Health Services, Inc.; Parkersburg (WV); On-site; USD 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Westbrook Health Services, Inc. is seeking a Benefits Administration and Leave Management professional in Parkersburg, WV.

The role focuses on administering health, dental, vision, life, disability, retirement, wellness, and voluntary benefits and overseeing LOA processes to support employees and compliance. Join a team that emphasizes employee well-being, open enrollment coordination, HRIS data accuracy, and proactive benefits analysis to drive cost-effectiveness and excellent service for staff

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in HR, Business Administration, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 3-5 years of experience in benefits administration and/or leave management.
• Strong knowledge of employment laws and compliance requirements (ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, ACA, FMLA, ADA, state leave laws).
• Proficiency with HRIS and benefits/leave management systems.
• Exceptional communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
• Detail-oriented with strong follow-through to manage multiple priorities.
• Ability to communicate clearly and accurately with a variety of individuals and work well in a team environment.
• Work with staff, consumers and others in a professional, cooperative, ethical, respectful and effective manner.
• Must pass Criminal Investigation Background and DHHR background check as well as post offer drug screen.

Responsibilities

• Administer health, dental, vision, life, disability, retirement, wellness, and voluntary benefits programs.
• Administer transactions of the 403(b) plan and processes employee requests for loans and/or distributions
• Serve as the primary contact for employee benefits questions, enrollment, changes, and issue resolution.
• Maintain accurate benefits data in HRIS systems and ensure timely coordination with payroll for deductions.
• Manage vendor relationships, escalating and resolving benefit-related issues as needed.
• Support annual open enrollment, including employee communications, presentations, and system updates.
• Conduct benefits audits and reporting to ensure accuracy, compliance, and cost-effectiveness.
• Stay informed on benefit trends and regulations to recommend improvements and best practices.
• Oversee LOA requests (FMLA, ADA, personal, parental, workers' compensation, military, and other leaves).
• Provide employees with clear communication on eligibility, requirements, and return-to-work procedures.
• Partner with managers, HR, and third-party administrators to ensure compliance and consistency.
• Track leave cases, document communications, and maintain confidential records.
• Coordinate and track FMLA
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws (FMLA, ADA, HIPAA, state leave laws) and internal policies, procedures and regulations.
• Monitor intermittent leaves and coordinate accommodations when required.
• Educate employees and leaders on leave processes, rights, and responsibilities.
• Assist employees with benefit claims as needed.
• Demonstrates knowledge of and supports Westbrook Health Services mission, vision, values, policies and procedures, operating instructions, confidentiality standards and code of ethical behavior.

Job description

Benefits Administration

• Administer health, dental, vision, life, disability, retirement, wellness, and voluntary benefits programs.
• Administer transactions of the 403(b) plan and processes employee requests for loans and/or distributions
• Serve as the primary contact for employee benefits questions, enrollment, changes, and issue resolution.
• Maintain accurate benefits data in HRIS systems and ensure timely coordination with payroll for deductions.
• Manage vendor relationships, escalating and resolving benefit-related issues as needed.
• Support annual open enrollment, including employee communications, presentations, and system updates.
• Conduct benefits audits and reporting to ensure accuracy, compliance, and cost-effectiveness.
• Stay informed on benefit trends and regulations to recommend improvements and best practices.

Leave of Absence (LOA) Management

• Oversee all LOA requests (FMLA, ADA, personal, parental, workers' compensation, military, and other leaves).
• Provide employees with clear communication on eligibility, requirements, and return-to-work procedures.
• Partner with managers, HR, and third-party administrators to ensure compliance and consistency.
• Track leave cases, document communications, and maintain confidential records.
• Coordinate and track FMLA
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws (FMLA, ADA, HIPAA, state leave laws) and internal policies, procedures and regulations.
• Monitor intermittent leaves and coordinate accommodations when required.
• Educate employees and leaders on leave processes, rights, and responsibilities.
• Assist employees with benefit claims as needed.
• Demonstrates knowledge of and supports Westbrook Health Services mission, vision, values, policies and procedures, operating instructions, confidentiality standards and code of ethical behavior.

Qualification Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in human resources, Business Administration, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 3-5 years of experience in benefits administration and/or leave management.
• Strong knowledge of employment laws and compliance requirements (ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, ACA, FMLA, ADA, state leave laws).
• Proficiency with HRIS and benefits/leave management systems.
• Exceptional communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
• Detail-oriented with strong follow-through to manage multiple priorities.
• Ability to communicate clearly and accurately with a variety of individuals and work well in a team environment.
• Work with staff, consumers and others in a professional, cooperative, ethical, respectful and effective manner.
• Must pass Criminal Investigation Background and DHHR background check as well as post offer drug screen.

Preferred Qualifications

• HR certification (SHRM-CP, PHR, or CEBS) strongly preferred.
• Experience working with third-party benefit and leave administrators.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Mobility and ability to sit for long periods of time, use a standard computer keyboard, bend, reach and lifts up to 10 pounds are required in this position.

Summary

The professionals at Westbrook Health Services believe in promoting the well-being of individuals and families struggling with a wide range of challenges. Our staff meets the needs of over 7,000 people annually. Experienced and compassionate, we empower people to achieve wellness with the guidance of our knowledgeable and experienced staff.

Westbrook Health Services provides a comprehensive, low-cost benefits package to all full-time employees that includes medical, dental, vision, life, short and long-term disability, critical illness, accident, and pet insurance coverage options. Paid time-off, paid holidays, and paid training provide a healthy work life balance.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Westbrook provides Equal Employment Opportunity to all employees and applicants. Employment decisions are made based upon an individual’s skills and qualifications without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, age, national origin, citizenship, disability as defined in the law, veteran status, sexual orientation, pregnancy and related conditions, genetic information, gender identity or any status or characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local laws. Westbrook also prohibits unlawful discrimination based upon the perception of those characteristics or any association with a person who is perceived to have any of those characteristics. Discrimination based on any of these factors is totally inconsistent with our philosophy of doing business and will not be tolerated at any time.

Qualified individuals with bona fide disabilities, as the term “disability” is defined in the law, are entitled to reasonable accommodations in the application process and in their employment. Although Westbrook is responsible for providing reasonable accommodations, the responsibility for identifying whether accommodation is needed and what constitutes a reasonable accommodation is shared jointly by the employee and Westbrook.