Benefits Specialist

Central Catholic; Lawrence (MA); On-site; USD 32,000 - 36,000; Part time

Job summary

Central Catholic High School in Lawrence, MA seeks a part-time Benefits Specialist to manage benefits programs, payroll data integrity, and open enrollment. You will educate staff, coordinate with vendors, and ensure regulatory compliance across health, welfare, and retirement plans.

Reporting to the Director of People Operations, you will handle COBRA, plan changes, and billing reconciliations while providing high-touch service to faculty and staff throughout the employment lifecycle.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of 3 to 5 years of hands-on experience in payroll and benefits administration.
• Working knowledge of employee benefits regulations and compliance requirements.
• Experience administering self-insured benefit programs.
• Advanced proficiency with HRIS and payroll systems. Preferably ADP.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Workspace.
• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive employee information.
• Excellent customer service, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience working within an independent school, Secondary education institution, or nonprofit organization.
• Familiarity with education-sector employee benefit programs.
• Professional certifications such as SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or related credentials are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day administration of employee benefits programs including medical, dental, life insurance, FSAs, DCA, COBRA, Voluntary Life and 403(b) retirement plans.
• Process benefits enrollments, terminations, dependent additions, address changes, and eligibility updates.
• Maintain and manage electronic enrollment files and carrier data exchanges.
• Administer COBRA notifications and ongoing participant communications.
• Coordinate claims processing activities and resolve benefit-related discrepancies.
• Conduct benefits orientations for newly hired employees.
• Lead and administer the annual Open Enrollment process, including vendor coordination and system configuration.
• Serve as the backup for payroll-related inquiries including tax withholding updates and benefits deductions.
• Ensure accurate data entry and maintenance of employee information within HRIS and payroll systems.
• Maintain data integrity across all payroll and benefits platforms.
• Maintain accurate benefits records, documentation, and procedures.
• Reconcile monthly benefits invoices against active payroll rosters.
• Support financial operations related to benefits administration.
• Research and resolve billing discrepancies with vendors and carriers.
• Monitor participant accounts to ensure accurate premium and contribution reporting.
• Serve as primary contact for employee benefits questions and issue resolution.
• Act as liaison with insurance carriers, brokers, retirement providers, and benefits partners.
• Assist with special projects and other HR duties.

Skills

Payroll administration

Benefits administration

HRIS proficiency

ADP

Microsoft Office

Google Workspace

Customer service

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, or a related field

Tools

ADP

HRIS systems

Job description

Welcome to Central Catholic High School.

So much more than a college preparatory high school, Central Catholic is a connected community, a transformative opportunity, a beautiful legacy, and a forever family.

It’s where students and teachers alike love coming to school, and where success is what we achieve together.

The Benefits Specialist serves as the primary technical subject matter expert responsible for the accurate, compliant, and timely administration of all employee benefits programs and payroll-related functions.

Reporting directly to the Director of People Operations, this role ensures data integrity across payroll and HRIS systems, retirement plan administration, employee insurance programs, tax withholdings, and benefits compliance processes.

This position provides high-touch customer service and benefits education to faculty and staff while supporting the administration of health and welfare plans, retirement programs, employee communications, and regulatory compliance.

The Benefits Specialist plays a critical role in ensuring employees receive exceptional service and support throughout the entire employment lifecycle.

This is a part-time position: 21 hours per week; seven hours a day, three days a week.

Pay Range: $23.00- $26.00 (Compensation is based on education and experience)

• Manage the day-to-day administration of employee benefits programs, including medical, dental, life insurance, flexible spending accounts (FSAs), Dependent Care Accounts (DCA), COBRA, Voluntary Life and 403(b) retirement plans.
• Process benefits enrollments, terminations, dependent additions, address changes, and eligibility updates.
• Maintain and manage electronic enrollment files and carrier data exchanges.
• Administer COBRA notifications and ongoing participant communications.
• Coordinate claims processing activities and resolve benefit-related discrepancies.
• Conduct benefits orientations for newly hired employees.
• Lead and administer the annual Open Enrollment process, including vendor coordination, system configuration, employee communications, and enrollment support.
• Serve as the backup for payroll-related inquiries including, tax withholding updates, retirement plan changes, and benefits deductions.
• Ensure accurate and timely data entry and maintenance of employee information within HRIS and payroll systems.
• Maintain data integrity across all payroll and benefits platforms.
• Maintain accurate benefits records, documentation, and administrative procedures.
• Reconcile monthly benefits invoices against active payroll rosters to ensure accurate billing and employee deductions.
• Support financial operations related to benefits administration, including billing, reconciliations, invoicing, and account audits.
• Research and resolve billing discrepancies with vendors and carriers.
• Monitor participant accounts to ensure accurate premium and contribution reporting.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for employee benefits questions, concerns, and issue resolution.
• Act as the primary liaison with insurance carriers, brokers, retirement providers, and benefits partners.
• Assist with special projects and perform other administrative duties in support of Human Resources objectives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of 3 to 5 years of hands-on experience in payroll and benefits administration.
• Working knowledge of employee benefits regulations and compliance requirements.
• Experience administering self-insured benefit programs.
• Advanced proficiency with HRIS and payroll systems. Preferably ADP.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Workspace.
• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive employee information.
• Excellent customer service, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience working within an independent school, Secondary education institution, or nonprofit organization.
• Familiarity with education-sector employee benefit programs.
• Professional certifications such as SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or related credentials are a plus.

Compensation

The pay range for this position is $23.00 to $26.00 per hour. (Compensation is based on education and experience)

Central Catholic High School is committed to offering salaries and benefits that are highly competitive with those of similar Catholic secondary schools. Compensation will be commensurate with the level of education and experience.

Equal Opportunity Employer

In its employment practices, Central Catholic High School will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, unfavorable military discharge, marital status, mental or physical handicap unrelated to the ability to perform duties of the position. This policy shall be interpreted in a manner which is consistent with the religious mission of Central Catholic High School and the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.

Welcome to Central Catholic High School.

So much more than a college preparatory high school, Central Catholic is a connected community, a transformative opportunity, a beautiful legacy, and a forever family.

It’s where students and teachers alike love coming to school, and where success is what we achieve together.

About Central Catholic High School

A College Preparatory High School of Excellence in the Marist Tradition

Founded by the Marist Brothers in the heart of Lawrence, Massachusetts in 1935, Central Catholic High School enrolls approximately1,200 students from over 60 communities. Students come from diverse backgrounds to form a caring community of faith, learning, and service. They advance to college in overwhelming numbers (100% admitted each year) and move on to successful careers and positions of leadership in government, business, industry, academia, and professions.

Central Catholic High School is fully accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.