Benefits Specialist – Manager

Jobtailor; Topeka (KS); On-site; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor in Topeka, KS seeks an experienced Human Resources professional to lead onboarding and benefits administration, including complex enrollment and open enrollment cycles. You will coordinate with IT, supervisors, and HR staff, manage SHARP records and benefit portals, and guide employees through leaves, retirement, and transitions.

The role requires deep knowledge of Kansas benefits, FMLA, FLSA, and REL rules, plus strong communication and organizational skills to support payroll,

Qualifications

• Five years of human resources experience, preferably in a benefits-focused role
• A degree in business administration, human resources, public administration, or related field may be substituted for two years of the required experience
• Strong understanding of employee benefits, leave programs, and retirement systems
• Proficiency with the State of Kansas benefits package and SHARP
• Knowledge of FLSA, FMLA, ADA, and Kansas Administrative Regulations
• Ability to apply and explain policies, regulations, and procedures
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills
• Ability to empathize and support employees with professionalism and care
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and respectful workplace practices
• Strong organizational abilities and attention to detail
• Proficiency in Microsoft Access, Word, Excel, and other Office products
• Effective oral and written communication skills
• Ability to reconcile figures accurately and resolve discrepancies
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Commitment to exceptional customer service
• PHR or SHRM certification is a plus

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate the onboarding process for new employees
• Schedule first-day activities with supervisors, IT, and HR staff
• Create or update new employee records in SHARP and benefit enrollment portals
• Administer the State of Kansas employee benefits package, including health, life, dental, vision, FSAs/HSAs, and retirement programs
• Serve as liaison between employees and the State Employee Health Plan
• Provide guidance on eligibility, life events, continuation of coverage, and benefit changes
• Coordinate benefit enrollment for new and current employees
• Lead the annual open enrollment process, including planning, communications, informational sessions, tracking, and issue resolution
• Notify employees of changes affecting their benefits
• Guide staff through retirement and resignation processes
• Assist with retirement benefits, continuation of insurance, deferred compensation, leave payouts, and offboarding requirements
• Coordinate offboarding with supervisors and IT
• Assist in administering FMLA, including notifications, form review, approvals/denials, and leave tracking
• Administer the Shared Leave Program, including reviewing applications and tracking approved leave usage
• Identify potential workplace accommodation needs and communicate them to the Human Resources Officer
• Provide guidance regarding HR processes, policies, and conflict resolution
• Assist with applicant tracking, interview scheduling, candidate communications, and interview panels
• Ensure understanding and adherence to Equal Employment Opportunity requirements
• Provide backup support for payroll, time and leave processing, contract staff payments, database records, personnel files, organizational charts, and phone lists
• Complete special assignments and projects supporting HR operations and customer service

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Organizational abilities

Empathy

Customer service

Attention to detail

Policy interpretation

Education

Bachelor's degree in business administration, human resources, public administration, or related field

PHR Certification

SHRM Certification

Tools

SHARP

Microsoft Access

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Benefit Enrollment Portals

Job description

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate the onboarding process for new employees
• Schedule first-day activities with supervisors, IT, and HR staff
• Create or update new employee records in SHARP and benefit enrollment portals
• Administer the State of Kansas employee benefits package, including health, life, dental, vision, FSAs/HSAs, and retirement programs
• Serve as liaison between employees and the State Employee Health Plan
• Provide guidance on eligibility, life events, continuation of coverage, and benefit changes
• Coordinate benefit enrollment for new and current employees
• Lead the annual open enrollment process, including planning, communications, informational sessions, tracking, and issue resolution
• Notify employees of changes affecting their benefits
• Guide staff through retirement and resignation processes
• Assist with retirement benefits, continuation of insurance, deferred compensation, leave payouts, and offboarding requirements
• Coordinate offboarding with supervisors and IT
• Assist in administering FMLA, including notifications, form review, approvals/denials, and leave tracking
• Administer the Shared Leave Program, including reviewing applications and tracking approved leave usage
• Identify potential workplace accommodation needs and communicate them to the Human Resources Officer
• Provide guidance regarding HR processes, policies, and conflict resolution
• Assist with applicant tracking, interview scheduling, candidate communications, and interview panels
• Ensure understanding and adherence to Equal Employment Opportunity requirements
• Provide backup support for payroll, time and leave processing, contract staff payments, database records, personnel files, organizational charts, and phone lists
• Complete special assignments and projects supporting HR operations and customer service

Requirements

• Five years of human resources experience, preferably in a benefits-focused role
• A degree in business administration, human resources, public administration, or related field may be substituted for two years of the required experience
• Strong understanding of employee benefits, leave programs, and retirement systems
• Proficiency with the State of Kansas benefits package and SHARP
• Knowledge of FLSA, FMLA, ADA, and Kansas Administrative Regulations
• Ability to apply and explain policies, regulations, and procedures
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills
• Ability to empathize and support employees with professionalism and care
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and respectful workplace practices
• Strong organizational abilities and attention to detail
• Proficiency in Microsoft Access, Word, Excel, and other Office products
• Effective oral and written communication skills
• Ability to reconcile figures accurately and resolve discrepancies
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Commitment to exceptional customer service
• PHR or SHRM certification is a plus

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in employee benefits administration, including health, life, dental, and retirement programs, while ensuring compliance with relevant regulations such as FMLA and ADA. Strong organizational and interpersonal skills are essential for effectively managing onboarding, offboarding, and employee relations.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Employee Benefits Administration
• FMLA Knowledge
• SHARP Proficiency
• Interpersonal Skills
• Organizational Abilities

Hard Skills

• Employee Benefits
• Leave Programs
• Retirement Systems
• FMLA Administration
• Data Reconciliation
• Policy Application
• Microsoft Access
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Excel
• Applicant Tracking

Soft Skills

• Interpersonal Skills
• Relationship Building
• Empathy
• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service

Certifications & Qualifications

• PHR Certification
• SHRM Certification

Industry Keywords

• Equal Employment Opportunity
• Kansas Administrative Regulations
• FLSA
• ADA
• Diversity and Inclusion

Tools & Technologies

• SHARP
• Benefit Enrollment Portals
• State Employee Health Plan
• Database Records
• Organizational Charts