HR Benefits Specialist

KODIAK Construction Recruiting & Staffing; Odessa (TX); On-site; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

KODIAK Construction Recruiting & Staffing seeks a Benefits Administration Specialist to manage day-to-day client benefit programs including health, dental, vision, life, disability, FSA/HSA, and retirement plans. You’ll work with clients, employees, and vendors to ensure accurate enrollments, deductions, and reporting with a focus on compliance and superior service.

The role requires 3–5 years of benefits administration experience, strong communication, and analytical skills.

Qualifications

• 3 to 5 years of benefits or employee benefit administration experience required.
• Bachelor’s degree recommended.
• Excellent communication and organization skills are required.
• Proven ability to work effectively in a team environment.
• Capable of effective planning and priority setting.
• Ability to manage several complex projects simultaneously under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Strong analytical skills and a thorough knowledge of benefits administration.
• Knowledge of benefit contract language.
• Proficient reading, writing, grammar, and mathematics skills.
• Proficient with Word, Excel, and internal databases.

Responsibilities

• Administer and coordinate medical, dental, vision, life, disability, retirement, FSA, HSA/HRA, and other plans.
• Be the point of contact for clients, employees, and outside vendors.
• Coordinate with outside agencies on implementation, open enrollment, and reports.
• Research and resolve discrepancies in benefit plans.
• Ensure plans run smoothly and accurate payroll deductions.
• Set up and maintain client plans, enrollments, and deductions.
• Assist employees with elections, deductions, plan docs, new hire benefits, renewals.
• Review and reconcile plan data; assist with reporting and audits.
• Manage carrier, vendor, and agency relationships.
• Provide timely customer service to internal and external customers.
• Process new-hire/terminations/changes to vendors in a timely manner.
• Work with client and vendors to update plans and ensure accurate feeds.
• Coordinate plan setup, deductions, and compliance with IS/HR/Payroll/Tax.
• Gather employee data and oversee monthly billings and pricing adjustments.
• Ensure compliance with federal/state requirements for qualified plans.
• Collaborate with other departments to keep the client satisfied.

Skills

Benefits administration

Customer service

Team collaboration

Planning & prioritization

Analytical skills

Communication

Confidential information

Excel

Word

Internal databases

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Excel

Word

Internal databases

Job description

(Some travel may be required to our offices and project sites to help with open enrollment; Need intermediate to advanced Excel skills, Bilingual a plus)

Position Summary:

The Benefits Administration Specialist is responsible for administering the day-to-day operations of client benefit programs (group health, dental, vision, life, short-term and long-term disability, flexible spending plan, HSA/HRA, 401(k) plan). Provide excellent customer service and quality benefit administration. Provide analytical and technical support in the delivery of the benefit programs.

Essential Job Functions:

• Responsible for the administration and coordination of multiple medical, dental, vision, life, disability, retirement, FSA, HSA/HRA, ancillary, and supplemental plans;
• Point of contact for client, employees, and outside vendors on all benefit related inquiries;
• Coordinate with outside agencies regarding implementation, open enrollment, updated plan information, requested reports;
• Research and resolve discrepancies regarding client and employee benefit plans;
• Work effectively to make sure the plans run smoothly;
• Set up and maintain client plans, electronic benefits enrollment, and employee deductions to ensure accuracy for payroll processing;
• Assist clients and employees with questions regarding employee elections, deductions, plan docs, new hire benefits, annual renewal, and other benefit plan related items;
• Review and reconcile plan data to ensure accuracy, assist clients with reporting requirements and plan audits;
• Manage carrier, vendor, and outside agency relationships;
• Provide professional and timely customer service support to internal and external customers;
• Process all new-hires, terminations, and employee changes to vendors in a timely manner;
• Work closely with client and vendors to update plans as needed to ensure accurate carrier feeds;
• Coordinate benefit plan setup, employee deductions and compliance reporting issues with Information Systems, Human Resources, Payroll and Tax Compliance;
• Gather employee data and oversee the processing of monthly billings and reconciliation, make necessary adjustments to ensure accurate pricing/billing;
• Ensure compliance with all federal and state legal requirements for qualified plans including plan documents, summary plan descriptions, policy manuals, testing, audits, and government filings;
• Work/communicate with other departments to keep the client satisfied.

Knowledge Skills & Abilities:

• 3 to 5 years’ related benefits or employee benefit administration experience required;
• Bachelor’s degree recommended;
• Excellent communication and organization skills are required;
• Proven ability to work effectively in a team environment with associates;
• Capable of effective planning and priority setting;
• Ability to manage several complex projects simultaneously while working under pressure to meet deadlines;
• Strong analytical skills and a thorough knowledge of benefits administration;
• Knowledge of benefit contract language;
• Proficient reading, writing, grammar, and mathematics skills;
• Computer proficiency and technical aptitude with ability to utilize Word, Excel, internal databases;
• Proficient interpersonal relations and communicative skills;
• Ability to maintain confidential information;