Benefits Specialist

PeopleAdmin, Inc.; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 36,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition remission data entry

Insurance data feeds processing

Benefit invoices reconciliation

Payroll deduction processing

Job summary

Chapman University is seeking a Benefits Specialist to oversee the administration of employee benefits, including enrollment, eligibility, tuition remission, and retirement processing. The role reports to the Senior Benefits Manager and requires meticulous attention to detail and a strong customer-service orientation.

This in-person position emphasizes collaboration across departments, with a focus on accurate recordkeeping, compliance with IRS and plan rules, and timely processing of

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)).
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, ability to multitask and work independently or in a team.
• Empathetic, professional communication with sound judgment; maintains confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Process new-hire enrollments, terminations, benefit elections and qualifying life events.
• Verify eligibility for employees and dependents according to plan rules.
• Audit benefit enrollments for accuracy and resolve discrepancies.
• Process retirement plan enrollments, changes, loans, and distributions; coordinate with plan vendor.
• Monitor contributions and vesting; reconcile with plan recordkeeper.

Skills

Empathy & service

Attention to detail

Communication

Customer focus

Education

Associate degree or equivalent

Tools

HRIS (PeopleSoft/Workday/ADP)

Job description

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

At Chapman University, we believe collaboration thrives through in-person engagement. This position is fully on campus, and employees work alongside colleagues, faculty, students, and staff each day to support our vibrant university community.
Chapman University is an equal opportunity employer that provides equal employment opportunities to all individuals, regardless of their protected characteristics. All qualified applicants and employees are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.
Applicants for Staff and Administrator positions must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.
The offer of employment is contingent upon satisfactory completion and outcomes of a criminal background screening and returning to the Office of Human Resources a signed original acceptance of the Chapman University Agreement to Arbitrate.

Position Information

Position Title

Position Title Benefits Specialist

Position Type

Position Type Regular

Job Number

Job Number SA94424

Full or Part Time

Full or Part Time full-time 40 hours weekly

Fair Labor Standard Act Classification Non-Exempt

Anticipated Pay Range

Anticipated Pay Range $26.44 - $31.00

Pay Range Information

Chapman University is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this position. This range takes into account a variety of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. Salary offers are determined based on the final candidate’s qualifications and experience, as well as internal equity and other internal factors. The anticipated pay range is not a promise of a particular wage.

Position Summary Information

Job Description Summary

The Benefits Specialist is a hands-on, detail-driven role responsible for the accurate, timely administration of Chapman University’s employee benefits programs - spanning enrollment, eligibility, tuition remission, and retirement processing.
Reporting to the Senior Benefits Manager, this role requires precision, sound judgment, and a strong customer-service orientation, as the Specialist is often an employee’s first point of contact for benefits questions and transactions.
Serve as a primary resource for employees with benefits and retirement plan questions, providing guidance on enrollment, plan policies, eligibility, and contributions.
Chapman University’s mission is centered on serving our students and strengthening our campus community. Chapman believes there is significant value in an in-person workforce. Being present fosters collaboration, strengthens relationships across departments, enables us to better serve our co-workers and contributes to the student experience. It is an important part of the culture that makes Chapman a special place to work and learn.

Responsibilities

• Process new-hire enrollments, terminations, benefit election changes, and qualifying life events (marriage, birth, divorce, loss of coverage), verifying supporting documentation for compliance.
• Verify eligibility for employees and dependents in accordance with plan rules and applicable regulations.
• Audit benefit enrollments for accuracy, proactively identifying and resolving discrepancies.
• Process retirement plan enrollments, changes, loans, hardship withdrawals, and distribution requests, coordinating with the plan vendor and ensuring compliance with plan documents and IRS regulations.
• Monitor employee contributions, employer match calculations, and vesting schedules for accuracy; reconcile contribution files and payments with the plan recordkeeper on a regular basis.
• Support annual compliance activities, including nondiscrimination testing, 5500 audit preparation, and required employee notices.

Ancillary Benefits

• Perform tuition remission data entry and processing in accordance with university policy.
• Support processing biweekly and monthly insurance carrier data feeds, ensuring accuracy and timely transmission.
• Verify, audit, and reconcile benefit invoices and process payments on schedule.
• Prepare and process payroll deduction forms, partnering with Payroll to ensure accuracy and timely corrections.

Employee Support & Records

• Conduct proactive outreach to employees on leave of absence regarding benefit premiums and payment arrangements.
• Maintain accurate, well-organized, audit-ready benefit records and documentation.
• Partner with brokers and carriers to resolve employee issues and discrepancies.
• Respond to employee inquiries in accordance with university standard operating procedures and compliance with federal and state regulations escalating complex issues as needed.

Required 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.

Desired Qualifications

• Prior experience with HRIS or benefits administration systems (e.g., PeopleSoft, Workday, ADP , or similar) preferred.
• Comfortable managing competing priorities and shifting business needs with composure.
• Knowledge of ACA , COBRA , ERISA , HIPAA , and FMLA preferred; motivated candidates without full regulatory knowledge will be supported through training.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (especially Excel); able to quickly learn and adapt to HRIS and benefits systems.

Special Instructions to Applicants

At Chapman University, we believe collaboration thrives through in-person engagement. This position is fully on campus, and employees work alongside colleagues, faculty, students, and staff each day to support our vibrant university community.
Chapman University is an equal opportunity employer that provides equal employment opportunities to all individuals, regardless of their protected characteristics. All qualified applicants and employees are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.
Applicants for Staff and Administrator positions must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.
The offer of employment is contingent upon satisfactory completion and outcomes of a criminal background screening and returning to the Office of Human Resources a signed original acceptance of the Chapman University Agreement to Arbitrate.

Minimum Number of References

Minimum Number of References 2

Maximum Number of References

Maximum Number of References 3

Pre-screening Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Required Documents

• Resume

Optional Documents

• Cover Letter
• 3 References Listed on One Page

MAIN CAMPUS

One University Drive
Orange, CA 92866
[phone]

RINKER HEALTH SCIENCE CAMPUS

9401 Jeronimo Road
Irvine, CA 92618

© 2019 CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY

The offer of employment is contingent upon satisfactory completion and outcomes of a criminal background screening, and returning to the Office of Human Resources a signed original acceptance of the Chapman University Agreement to Arbitrate.