Senior Benefits Specialist

Visiting Nurse Association Health Group; Tinton Falls (NJ); On-site; USD 65,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

VNA Health Group is seeking a Senior Benefits Specialist to act as a subject matter expert in employee benefits administration. You will support the Benefits Manager, handle health and retirement plans, and guide employees through inquiries with strict compliance to ERISA, COBRA, ACA, and HIPAA.

You will also perform HRIS data audits and help manage the annual Open Enrollment process, ensuring accurate enrollments, terminations, and data integrity across benefit systems.

Qualifications

• HR experience with benefits is required or strongly preferred.
• Experience supporting ERISA, COBRA, ACA, HIPAA is a plus.
• Ability to explain benefits concepts clearly to employees.

Responsibilities

• Serve as SME for employee benefits administration.
• Process benefit enrollments and terminations accurately.
• Guide employees through benefit and retirement inquiries.
• Ensure compliance across ERISA, COBRA, ACA, and HIPAA.
• Lead components of Open Enrollment and audit HRIS data.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Multitasking

Detail oriented

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

Paycor HRIS

Microsoft Excel (advanced)

OneDrive

Job description

VNA Health Group has an exciting opportunity for a Senior Benefits Specialist to support the organization by serving as a subject matter expert in employee benefits administration. This role provides advanced support to the Benefits Manager and all stakeholders in managing all aspects of the organization’s benefit programs, including health and welfare plans, retirement plans, and leave administration. Responsibilities include processing benefit enrollments and terminations, guiding employees through benefit and retirement inquiries, ensuring compliance with ERISA, COBRA, ACA, and HIPAA, and leading key components of the annual Open Enrollment process. The Senior Benefits Specialist also performs routine HRIS data audits to maintain accuracy and integrity across all benefit-related systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the organization’s mission by demonstrating professionalism, collaboration, and service excellence in all interactions.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for employees on benefit‑related inquiries, with strong expertise in health and retirement plans.
• Administer organizational retirement plans, including employee education, eligibility tracking, contribution changes, vendor coordination, and compliance activities.
• Process disability, workers' compensation, and tuition reimbursement claims accurately and within required timeframes.
• Partner with the Benefits team to manage benefit enrollments, terminations, qualifying life events, and new‑hire orientations.
• Assist with Leave of Absence administration, ensuring appropriate documentation, communication, and regulatory compliance.
• Conduct routine HRIS audits, reporting, and data validation to maintain accuracy and integrity across all benefit systems.
• Support annual Open Enrollment activities, including system configuration, employee communications, and issue resolution.
• Ensure compliance with ERISA, COBRA, ACA, and HIPAA regulations.
• Adhere to organizational policies related to attendance, conduct, confidentiality, and professional standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred; equivalent combination of education and HR experience considered.
• Minimum of 3–5 years of Human Resources experience, with at least 2 years focused on benefits administration.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office, including advanced Excel skills; experience with OneDrive.
• Experience with Paycor or comparable HRIS platforms preferred.
• Exceptional customer service, interpersonal, and problem‑solving skills.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities, work independently, and handle confidential information appropriately.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to explain complex benefits concepts clearly and effectively.

In compliance with New Jersey's Pay Transparency Act, the total compensation range for this position USD $65,000 to USD $110,000. When determining an offer, VNA Health Group considers factors such as the scope and responsibilities of the role, the candidate's work experience, education/training, relevant skills, internal pay equity, and market and organizational conditions. The total compensation range reflects the total package, including base salary, overtime, bonuses, add-on incentives, special clinical compensation, retirement plans, and all other benefits. For more details about our benefits, please visit our Careers page.

EEOC

VNA Health Group provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.