Benefits Specialist

AppleOne Employment Services; City of Rochester (NY); Hybrid; USD 32,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

AppleOne Employment Services in Rochester, NY seeks a Benefits Specialist to administer healthcare, retirement, and Section 125 plans, support open enrollment, and ensure compliance. You will partner with vendors and internal teams to deliver accurate benefits services.

The role requires 5 years HR benefits experience, a Bachelor’s preferred (or 5+ years of relevant work). Proficiency with HRIS, Oracle, and preferably bswift, plus strong communication and data reporting skills.

Qualifications

• 5 years of HR experience with direct experience in a Benefits Administrator or similar role.
• Bachelor's degree preferred, or 5+ years of relevant experience in lieu of a degree.
• Strong knowledge of Health and Welfare benefits and Section 125 plans.
• Familiarity with benefits compliance requirements and related regulations.
• Proficiency with HRIS platforms, Microsoft Office, Oracle, and preferably bswift.

Responsibilities

• Administer employee benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, pharmacy, Section 125 plans, retirement plans, and related offerings.
• Respond to employee and manager benefits inquiries, troubleshoot issues, and coordinate with internal teams and external vendors to ensure timely resolution.
• Support annual open enrollment activities, including system readiness, employee communications, vendor coordination, and issue tracking.
• Manage benefit vendor relationships and participate in planning meetings, system enhancements, implementations, and problem resolution.
• Perform daily benefits administration tasks, including file feeds, enrollment updates, new hire and leave-related changes, beneficiary updates, reporting, and Qualified Medical Support Orders.
• Review and audit vendor invoices, payment submissions, plan documents, and operational workflows to support accuracy, compliance, and continuous improvement.

Skills

HR experience

Vendor coordination

Customer service

Data reporting

Education

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

HRIS

Microsoft Office

Oracle

bswift

Job description

We are seeking a Benefits Specialist for an opportunity in Rochester, NY. This role is ideal for an experienced HR benefits professional who enjoys supporting employees, improving benefits processes, partnering with vendors, and ensuring benefit programs are administered accurately and compliantly. The Benefits Specialist will support healthcare, retirement, Section 125, qualified life event, and related employee benefit programs in a professional services environment.

Responsibilities

• Administer employee benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, pharmacy, Section 125 plans, qualified life events, retirement plans, and related offerings.
• Respond to employee and manager benefits inquiries, troubleshoot issues, and coordinate with internal teams and external vendors to ensure timely resolution.
• Support annual open enrollment activities, including system readiness, employee communications, vendor coordination, and issue tracking.
• Manage benefit vendor relationships and participate in planning meetings, system enhancements, implementations, and problem resolution.
• Perform daily benefits administration tasks, including file feeds, enrollment updates, new hire and leave-related changes, beneficiary updates, reporting, and Qualified Medical Support Orders.
• Review and audit vendor invoices, payment submissions, plan documents, and operational workflows to support accuracy, compliance, and continuous improvement.

Compensation and Benefits

• Pay rate: $23 to $24.50 per hour.
• Location: Rochester, NY.

Required Qualifications and Skills

• Support day-to-day administration of employee healthcare, retirement, Section 125, and related benefit programs.
• Assist with annual benefits open enrollment, vendor coordination, system updates, and employee communications.
• Resolve benefits-related questions and issues through strong customer service and collaboration with internal departments and benefit providers.
• Maintain accurate benefits data, reporting, file feeds, enrollment changes, invoice audits, and compliance-related documentation.
• 5 years of human resources experience with direct experience in a Benefits Administrator or similar benefits administration role.
• Bachelor's degree preferred, or consideration may be given to candidates with 5 or more years of relevant experience in lieu of a degree.
• Strong knowledge of Health and Welfare benefits and Section 125 plans.
• Familiarity with benefits compliance requirements and related regulations.
• Proficiency with HRIS platforms, Microsoft Office, Oracle, and preferably bswift.
• Strong communication, customer service, organizational, analytical, and time management skills.
• High attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple priorities accurately and professionally.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting open enrollment processes in a high-volume HR or benefits environment.
• Experience working with benefit vendors, brokers, consultants, payroll teams, and legal or compliance partners.
• Familiarity with benefits system updates, file feed transfers, vendor invoice audits, and process improvement initiatives.
• Experience in a professional services, accounting, auditing, or corporate HR environment.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disabled / Protected Veterans

The Know Your Rights poster is available here: https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12.pdf

The pay transparency policy is available here: https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ofccp/pdf/pay-transp_%20English_formattedESQA508c.pdf

For temporary assignments lasting 13 weeks or longer, AppleOne is pleased to offer major medical, dental, vision, 401k and any statutory sick pay where required.

We are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact your staffing representative who will reach out to our HR team.

AppleOne participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations as required by law. Learn more about the E-Verify program. https://e-verify.uscis.gov/web/media/resourcesContents/E-Verify_Participation_Poster_ES.pdf

We also consider for employment qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements, including, if applicable, the City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. Pursuant to applicable state and municipal Fair Chance Laws and Ordinances, we will consider for employment-qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, including, if applicable, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. For Los Angeles, CA applicants: Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.