Benefits Specialist

Common Sail Investment Group; Canton (OH); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Common Sail Investment Group is seeking a Benefits Specialist to support benefits programs for a large workforce. You will handle enrollments, compliance, reporting, and partner with HR and payroll to ensure accurate deductions and timely communications. This is an on-premises role reporting to the Benefits Manager.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in HR with 3+ years in benefits administration, strong knowledge of ERISA, HIPAA, ACA, and FMLA, and solid experience with HRIS and benefits software.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration, or a related field.
• Certifications such as CEBS, PHR, or SHRM-CP are a plus.
• Minimum 5 years HR experience with 3 years in benefits administration.
• Familiarity with benefits management software and HRIS systems.
• Strong knowledge of ERISA, HIPAA, ACA, and FMLA.

Responsibilities

• Assist Benefits Manager in administering and renewing benefits programs.
• Process enrollments, changes, and terminations accurately and timely.
• Coordinate with brokers and providers on claims and discrepancies.
• Prepare for annual enrollment and new hire guides with cross-functional teams.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
• Generate reports to monitor program effectiveness.
• Serve as Level 2 escalation for complex benefits issues.
• Administer COBRA processes and HIPAA training coordination.

Skills

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Microsoft Office

HRIS proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR or related field

Certifications such as CEBS, PHR, or SHRM-CP

Tools

ADP Lyric

HWSE

Job description

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The Benefits Specialist will support the Benefits Manager in administering and managing employee benefits programs for a workforce of 10,000+ employees. This role involves handling day-to-day benefits operations, ensuring compliance with regulations, and providing excellent service to employees. The ideal candidate will have strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and an employee-focused approach. This is an on-premises position and reports to the HR Benefits Manager.

Essential Responsibilities and Duties

• Assist the Benefits Manager in administering benefits programs, health, dental, vision, life, and accidental insurance, short-and long-term disabilities, critical illness, EAP, and retirement plans.
• Process benefits enrollments, changes, and terminations accurately and in a timely manner.
• Ensure inquiries are resolved promptly and professionally.
• Coordinate with broker and benefit providers to address claims and discrepancies.
• Support the Benefits Manager in preparing for annual enrollment and new hire guides, including working with Communications Manager and Learning & Development on materials and conducting employee sessions.
• Work with Benefits Manager and broker to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations and coordinate annual HIPAA training sessions for appropriate attendees.
• Gather ongoing employee feedback regarding benefit programs and provide recommendations for improvements to Benefits Manager.
• Generate and review reports for management to ensure program effectiveness and compliance.
• Collaborate with HR and payroll teams to ensure seamless benefits administration.
• Distribute educational materials to employees about available benefit options, eligibility, and enrollment procedures.
• Manage billing and reconciliation for COBRA, HSA, and life & disability benefit programs, ensuring accuracy between carrier invoices, payroll deductions, and general ledger entries.
• Conduct regular benefit deduction audits and reviews to identify discrepancies, ensure payroll accuracy, and confirm alignment between enrollment elections and deductions.
• Serve as the Level 2 escalation point for complex benefits matters, including unresolved claims, deduction discrepancies, and carrier or vendor issues requiring advanced problem-solving.
• Administer COBRA processes end-to-end, including qualifying event notifications, enrollment, premium billing, and compliance with federal notice and coverage timelines.
• Partner with HRIS on benefits-related updates and testing.
• Reconcile EDI file errors and discrepancies with carriers to ensure accurate data transmission.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration, or a related field preferred.
• Relevant certifications (such as CEBS, PHR, or SHRM-CP) are a plus.
• Minimum of 5 years HR experience and 3 years of experience in employee benefits administration or a related field.
• Familiarity with benefits management software, HRIS systems, and reporting tools.
• Strong understanding of benefits laws and regulations (e.g., ERISA, HIPAA, ACA, FMLA).

Skills

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to explain complex benefits information to employees in a clear and accessible way.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information.
• Organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and HRIS systems (ADP Lyric and HWSE a plus).

General Working Conditions

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to communicate effectively with others, sit, stand, walk, and use hands to handle keyboard, telephone, paper, files, and other equipment and objects. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms. This position requires the ability to review detailed documents and read computer screens. The employee will occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. The work environment requires appropriate interaction with others. The noise level in the work environment is moderate. Occasional travel to different locations may be required.

Common Sail Investment Group has a comprehensive benefit package that includes health, dental, vision, life and accidental insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, critical illness, EAP, 401(k), income protection, and extraordinary work-life benefits.

This classification description is intended to indicate the general kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty that are required of positions given this title and should not be construed as declaring what the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position shall be. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct and control the work of the employees under her/his supervision. The use of a particular expression or illustration describing duties shall not exclude other duties not mentioned that are of a similar kind or level of difficulty.