Benefits & Retirement Specialist

Chapman University; Orange (CA); On-site; USD 36,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job summary

Chapman University is seeking a Benefits Specialist to manage enrollment, eligibility, tuition remission, and retirement processing for employees. The role reports to the Senior Benefits Manager and requires precision, customer service orientation, and confidentiality.

The position is on-campus, with open enrollment support and collaboration with brokers, carriers, and Payroll. Candidates should have 2+ years in benefits administration and an associate degree or equivalent.

Qualifications

• Associate degree or equivalent combination of education and experience required.
• Minimum of two years’ experience in benefits administration.
• Working knowledge of health and welfare benefit plans, eligibility rules, and enrollment processes.
• Familiarity with retirement plan enrollment processes (e.g., 403(b)/401(k)) preferred.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to multitask, prioritize, and work independently or as part of a team to deliver a seamless employee experience.
• Communicates with empathy, professionalism, and sound judgment, ensuring consistent follow-through.
• High degree of accuracy and attention to detail; exercises discretion and maintains confidentiality with sensitive information.

Responsibilities

• Process new-hire enrollments, terminations, benefit election changes, and qualifying life events, verifying supporting documentation.
• Verify eligibility for employees and dependents in accordance with plan rules.
• Audit benefit enrollments for accuracy and resolve discrepancies.
• Support all open enrollment activities.
• Process retirement plan enrollments, changes, loans, and distributions, coordinating with the plan vendor.
• Monitor contributions, employer match, and vesting; reconcile with plan recordkeeper.
• Support annual compliance activities including nondiscrimination testing and 5500 audit prep.
• Perform tuition remission data entry and processing; process payroll deduction forms.

Skills

Benefits administration

Organizational skills

Customer service

Attention to detail

Education

Associate degree

Tools

PeopleSoft

Workday

ADP

Job description

Chapman University is seeking a Benefits Specialist to manage enrollment, eligibility, tuition remission, and retirement processing for employees. The role reports to the Senior Benefits Manager and requires precision, customer service orientation, and confidentiality.

The position is on-campus, with open enrollment support and collaboration with brokers, carriers, and Payroll. Candidates should have 2+ years in benefits administration and an associate degree or equivalent.