Benefits Specialist, Administration

Stagetime Inc.; New York (NY); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Metropolitan Opera seeks a Benefits Coordinator, Administration to assist with medical, dental, vision, life, FSA/HSA, 403(b) and pension programs, and to communicate retirement options to employees.

You will support new-hire orientations, enrollments, data integrity in HRIS, and reporting for finance and benefits vendors, while staying compliant with applicable laws. Strong communication and organizational skills are essential in a busy, unionized environment in New York.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of employee benefits and applicable laws.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Maintains confidentiality and exercises good judgement.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Strong analytical, research, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Assist Benefits Manager with new-hire orientations.
• Prepare and hold presentations educating employees about the benefits program.
• Determine eligibility and distribute benefits enrollment materials.
• Ensure accuracy of enrollments in HRIS and provide vendors with eligibility data.
• Enroll employees and maintain vendor data in online systems.
• Perform quality checks of benefits-related data.
• Respond to inquiries on plan provisions and enrollments in a timely manner.
• Maintain spending accounts and employee funding for HSA, FSA, and depreciation accounts.
• Handle 403(b) inquiries, contributions, and catch-up enrollment.
• Process pension estimates and retiree profiles updates.
• Provide reports and support for allocations and invoicing.
• Provide routine and ad hoc reporting to Finance.
• Assist in employee exit processes and COBRA communications.
• Ensure distribution of employee notices.
• Stay updated on benefits laws and regulations.
• Assist in open enrollment processes.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Skills

Benefits knowledge

Communication

Confidentiality

Organization

Microsoft Office

Analytical/problem-solving

Independence & collaboration

Attention to detail

Education

Associate degree or higher in HR or related field

Experience with HRIS systems (Lawson preferred)

Job description

DESCRIPTION:

The Benefits Coordinator, Administration is responsible for assisting with the administration of all benefits and retirement programs, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, FSA, HSA, 403(b) and pension plan. In addition, the Benefits Coordinator, Administration is responsible for assisting and communicating with employeesabout the retirement options and benefits provided to them.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Assists Benefits Manager with new-hire orientations.
• Prepares and holds presentations for employees to educate about the benefits program.
• Determines eligibility and distributes all benefits enrollment materials.
• Ensures the accuracy of all benefits enrollments in the HRIS to provide vendors with accurate eligibility information.
• Enrolls employees and maintains online database information for vendors/partners.
• Performs quality checks of benefits-related data.
• Responds to benefits inquiries from managers and employees on plan provisions, benefits enrollments, status changes and other general inquiries in a prompt and clear manner.
• Maintain spending accounts internal and vendor database for commuter, health, and dependent care programs.
• Maintain employee and employee funding for Health Savings Accounts.
• Responds to staff 403(b) inquiries related to enrollments, plan changes, contribution amounts, and annual catch-up contribution enrollment.
• Responds to requests for pension estimates, processes pension applications, and maintains accuracy of retiree profiles.
• Provides necessary reports and support for allocation/billing charges and invoice payments.
• Provides routine and ad hoc reporting to Finance team.
• Assists in the exit process of employees by conducting exit interviews, calculating final benefits, and processing all COBRA communications and enrollments.
• Ensure distribution of required employee notices.
• Stay up to date with the laws and regulations on employee benefits.
• Assists Benefits Manager with the open enrollment process.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Required Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of employee benefits and applicable laws.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Can maintain confidentiality and exercises good judgement.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Strong analytical, research, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Have an excellent eye for detail.

Education & Experience:

• Associate degree or higher in HR or related field, but experience and/or other training/certification may be substituted for the education.
• 2-3 years’ experience in HR and/or benefits administration.
• Experience with HRIS system, Lawson preferred.
• Experience working with unionized workforce preferred.

Physical Demands:

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at a time.

The Metropolitan Opera is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and existing employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), national origin, citizenship status, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information (including characteristics and testing), military and veteran status, or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal laws.