Benefits Specialist

Liberty University; Lynchburg (VA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Wellness programs

Professional development

Job summary

Liberty University seeks an Employee Benefits Specialist to manage and support its comprehensive benefits programs across health, welfare, retirement, education, and wellness initiatives. You will coordinate with internal stakeholders and external vendors to ensure accurate administration and a high-quality employee experience.

Tier II focuses on hands-on benefits support with escalating issues, while Tier III handles SME-level leadership, vendor management, and strategic open enrollment

Qualifications

• Tier II requires 2+ years of benefits experience and a Bachelor's degree.
• Tier III requires 5–8+ years of progressive benefits experience and leadership experience.
• SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel and Word.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Spanish language ability preferred.

Responsibilities

• Administer and communicate employee benefit programs incl. medical, dental, vision, life, disability, FSAs and retirement.
• Conduct benefits orientations and educate employees on offerings and systems.
• Assist employees with benefit elections, claims, and life events.
• Partner with vendors and carriers to resolve issues.
• Maintain HRIS benefits data and ensure accuracy.
• Verify premium deductions and support reconciliations.
• Support COBRA administration and vendor coordination.
• Assist with compliance, audits, and reporting.
• Support open enrollment planning and execution.
• Develop employee communications and educational materials.

Skills

Communication

Excel

Word

Organizational skills

Time management

Spanish (preferred)

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

The Employee Benefits Specialist serves as an employee advocate,providing guidance and support to employees across the fullbenefits lifecycle—from hire through separation. This roleadministers and supports all University benefit programs, includinghealth and welfare, retirement, education, leave of absence, andwellness initiatives.

This position partners with internal stakeholders and externalvendors to ensure accurate administration, compliance, and a high-quality employee experience. Responsibilities scale fromfoundational support (Tier I) to subject matter expertise andstrategic leadership (Tier III).

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Administer and communicate employee benefit programs includingmedical, dental, vision, life, disability, FSAs, retirement plans,education, leave, and wellness.
2. Conduct benefits orientations and educate employees on offeringsand systems.
3. Assist employees with benefit elections, claims, and lifeevents.
4. Partner with vendors and carriers to resolve issues.
5. Maintain HRIS benefits data and ensure accuracy.
6. Verify premium deductions and support reconciliations.
7. Support COBRA administration and vendor coordination.
8. Assist with compliance, audits, and reporting.
9. Support open enrollment planning and execution.
10. Develop employee communications and educationalmaterials.
11. Adhere to Liberty University policies and mission

TIERED RESPONSIBILITIES

Tier II – Benefits Specialist II

• Independently administer assigned benefit programs.
• Resolve moderately complex issues with employees andvendors.
• Serve as primary contact for benefits inquiries.
• Co-lead open enrollment execution.
• Assist with compliance and audits.
• Mentor entry-level staff.

Tier III – Senior Benefits Specialist

• Serve as SME for multiple benefit programs.
• Lead open enrollment strategy and execution.
• Manage vendor relationships and escalations.
• Lead audits and compliance activities.
• Analyze trends and provide strategic recommendations.
• Lead projects and mentor team members.

QUALIFICATIONS AND CREDENTIALS

Tier II

• 2+ years of benefits experience required; Bachelor’s degreerequired.

Tier III

• 5–8+ years of progressive benefits experience; demonstratedleadership and project experience. Bachelor’s degree required.
• SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) or Senior CertifiedProfessional (SHRM-SCP) credential preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite with focus on Excel andWord
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Ability to speak Spanish preferred

ABILITIES AND COMPETENCIES ESSENTIAL TO THE FUNCTION OF THEJOB

Communication and Comprehension

• Ability to effectively communicate both verbally and in writingto convey clear, well articulated information.
• Ability to understand, speak, and write English in order toconvey messages and correspond in an articulate and professionalmanner.
• Possess public communication skills that allow professionalrepresentation of Liberty University to a variety of business,government and community customers and associates.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Computer and scheduling skills.

Problem Solving

• Intuitively able to reason, analyze information and events, andapply judgment in order to solve problems of both a routine andcomplex nature.

Physical and Sensory Abilities

• Required to travel to local and campus locations.

• May be required to sit to perform deskwork or type on akeyboard.
• Regularly required to hear and speak in order to effectivelycommunicate orally.
• Regularly required to stand, walk, and climb stairs to moveabout the campus.
• Handle materials, reach overhead, kneel or stoop in order toconduct business.
• Regularly lift 10 or fewer pounds.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work Environment

The working environment in which one will typically perform theessential functions of this position is a climate-controlledsetting. It is well lighted and the noise level is moderate.Working environment also includes facilitation of events outdoorsoccasionally.

Driving Requirements

Use of one’s personal vehicle (or LU vehicles) may be required fortravel in the performance of the essential functions of thisposition. Proof of a valid Virginia driver’s license, an acceptableDMV record, and liability insurance is required.

Salary Range:

Tier II - $55,000-$65,000

Tier III- $65,000-$80,000

Time Type

Full time

Location

Onsite

Pay Range

Compensation is determined based on factors such as qualifications,experience, education, skills, and certifications, along withUniversity needs and external market conditions. Market benchmarksmay be used, as appropriate, in combination with internal equity toensure pay is fair and aligned with the broader compensationstructure.

$55,000.00 - $65,000.00

The University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe itis our moral and legal obligation to meet the responsibility offensuring that all management practices regarding employees areconducted in a nondiscriminatory manner. In compliance with TitleVII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and other applicable federal andstate statutes, all recruiting, hiring, training, and promotingforall job classifications will be administered without regard torace, color, ancestry, age, sex, national origin, pregnancy orchildbirth, disability, military veteran status or other applicablestatus protected by law, including state of employment protectedclasses. It is, therefore, our policy and intention to evaluate allemployees and prospective employees strictly according to therequirements of the job. All personnel related activities such ascompensation, benefits, transfers, job classification, assignments,working conditions, educational assistance, terminations, layoffs,and return from layoffs, and all other terms, conditions andprivileges of employment will be administered without regard torace, color, ancestry, age, sex, national origin, pregnancy orchildbirth, disability, military veteran status or other applicablestatus protected by law, including all applicable state ofemployment protected classes. The University is a Christianreligious-affiliated organization; and as such, is not subject toreligious discrimination requirements. The University’s hiringpractices and EEO discrimination practices are in full compliancewith both federal and state law. Federal law creates an exceptionto the “religion” component of the employment discrimination lawsfor religious organizations (including educational institutions),and permits them to give employment practice preference to membersof their own religious beliefs.