Benefits Specialist

Surge Staffing; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Surge Staffing in Columbus, Ohio is seeking a Benefits Specialist to manage day-to-day benefits administration, focusing on self-insured health and welfare programs, and to partner with employees, vendors, and internal teams.

The ideal candidate has 3+ years in benefits administration, experience with self-insured plans, compliance know-how (COBRA, ACA), strong data and Excel skills, and outstanding communication in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of benefits administration experience.
• Direct experience with self-insured medical or welfare plans preferred.
• Knowledge of eligibility, claims, COBRA, ACA and related compliance.

Responsibilities

• Administer day-to-day employee benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, FSA, HSA.
• Support self-insured health and welfare plan administration, claims, eligibility, and inquiries.
• Coordinate with vendors, carriers, brokers, and internal teams to ensure accurate benefits administration.
• Manage enrollments, qualifying life events, changes, and terminations.
• Ensure accurate eligibility and deductions in HRIS and payroll systems.
• Assist employees with benefit questions, claims issues, and plan navigation.
• Monitor compliance with ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, ACA and related regulations.
• Reconcile benefit invoices, payroll deductions, eligibility files and vendor records.
• Support annual open enrollment and vendor coordination.
• Maintain confidential employee records and benefits documentation.
• Analyze data for discrepancies and process improvement opportunities.
• Assist with audits, reporting, renewals, and other benefits projects.
• Provide exceptional customer service while handling sensitive information.

Skills

Benefits administration

HRIS

Payroll systems

Data reconciliation

Attention to detail

Tools

HRIS systems

Payroll software

Job description

We're Hiring: Benefits Specialist | Columbus, Ohio

I'm currently recruiting for a Benefits Specialist opportunity with a growing organization in the Columbus area.

This is a full-time position for an experienced benefits professional with strong knowledge of employee benefits administration, particularly within a self-insured environment. The ideal candidate will be detail-oriented, highly organized, and comfortable managing sensitive employee information while partnering with employees, vendors, and internal stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

• Administer day-to-day employee benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, FSA, HSA, and related plans.
• Support administration of self-insured health and welfare plans, including claims, eligibility, and plan-related inquiries.
• Partner with third-party administrators, insurance carriers, brokers, and benefits vendors to resolve issues and ensure accurate administration.
• Manage employee benefit enrollments, qualifying life events, changes, and terminations.
• Ensure accurate benefits eligibility and deductions within HRIS and payroll systems.
• Assist employees with benefit questions, claims issues, coverage concerns, and plan navigation.
• Monitor benefit plan compliance and support requirements related to ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, ACA, and applicable federal and state regulations.
• Reconcile benefit invoices, payroll deductions, eligibility files, and vendor records.
• Support annual open enrollment, including communications, employee education, system updates, and vendor coordination.
• Maintain accurate benefits documentation and confidential employee records.
• Analyze benefits data and identify discrepancies, trends, and opportunities for process improvement.
• Assist with audits, reporting, renewals, and other benefits-related projects.
• Provide exceptional customer service while handling sensitive and confidential information.

The ideal candidate will have:

• 3+ years of experience in employee benefits administration or a related HR function.
• Direct experience supporting self-insured medical or health and welfare plans strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of benefits eligibility, claims administration, enrollments, COBRA, ACA, and related compliance requirements.
• Experience working with HRIS, payroll, benefits administration systems, or vendor platforms.
• Strong Excel and data reconciliation skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work effectively with employees, vendors, and internal teams.
• High level of confidentiality, professionalism, and discretion.

What We're Looking For:

We're looking for a Benefits Specialist who can take ownership of day-to-day benefits administration while also serving as a trusted resource for employees and leadership. Experience in a self-insured environment is especially valuable, along with the ability to work through complex claims, eligibility, reconciliation, and compliance matters.

This is a great opportunity for a benefits professional looking to join an organization where they can make an immediate impact and contribute to improving benefits processes and employee experience.

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