Senior Benefits Specialist

University Corporation for Atmospheric Research; United States; Hybrid; USD 91,000 - 114,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance

Generous retirement plan contributions

Time Off: PTO, holidays, parentalLeave

Job summary

University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) is seeking a Senior Benefits Specialist to manage retirement plan administration and broader benefits programs for a large workforce. You will guide employees through retirement transitions, administer 403(b)/457(b) plans, coordinate with payroll and vendors, and support annual enrollment and compliance audits.

The role emphasizes independent retirement plan administration, regulatory compliance, and strong attention to detail to ensure

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field; 7+ years of benefits administration experience; experience with independent retirement plan administration and plan audits.
• Hands-on experience with Human Capital Management (HCM) systems.
• In-depth knowledge of 403(b) and 457(b) plan compliance, fiduciary standards, non-discrimination testing, and ERISA rules.
• Strong numerical ability for payroll deduction audits and reconciling billing discrepancies.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to counsel employees on retirement transitions and present to groups.

Responsibilities

• Administer UCAR’s 403(b) and 457(b) plans per governing documents and applicable laws.
• Audit retirement plan eligibility, enrollment, and contributions.
• Coordinate with vendors to ensure compliant plan administration and perform corrections.
• Guide employees through retirement transitions and Roth 2.0 requirements.
• Ensure compliance notices and filings (e.g., Form 5500) are completed and tested.
• Stay current on retirement laws and coordinate plan updates.
• Administer health and welfare benefits (medical, dental, vision, life, FSAs, HSAs, COBRA).
• Review enrollments, life events, coverage changes, and terminations within timelines.
• Respond to inquiries and resolve coverage and service issues with vendors.
• Support annual open enrollment, plan renewals, system testing, and vendor implementations.
• Serve as an admin resource for external retirement plan audits and conduct audits.
• Compile census data, payroll records, and documentation for auditors.
• Apply internal controls and maintain auditable records.
• Protect confidential information and report security breaches.

Skills

Benefits administration

Retirement plan administration

Regulatory compliance

Audit support

HCM systems

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business Administration, or related field

Tools

Workday HCM

Job description

Position Type: Regular Visa Sponsored Job: No Relocation Assistance Eligible: No Hiring Range: 91,340.00 USD - 114,170.00 USD

Application Closes at 11:59 pm Mountain Time on: 2026-11-15

About The Role

UCAR is seeking an experienced Senior Benefits Specialist to help employees navigate important benefits decisions and ensure accurate, compliant administration of our benefits programs. This role has a primary focus on retirement, including guiding employees through the retirement process, administering retirement plans, supporting internal and external audits, and coordinating with payroll and benefit providers. The position also contributes across UCAR’s broader benefits programs as requested, helping ensure that administration aligns with plan documents, organizational policies, and applicable regulatory requirements. Experience independently administering retirement plans and at least one other employee benefits program is required. We are looking for someone who brings hands‑on benefits administration experience supporting a large employee population (typically 1,000 or more employees) and can independently manage complex issues with sound judgment, attention to detail, and care for employees. Strong candidates can identify compliance concerns, research requirements, and collaborate on appropriate solutions. As part of our Total Rewards team, you will partner with knowledgeable colleagues, strengthen processes and internal controls, and support the employees who advance UCAR’s scientific mission.

Responsibilities

• Administer UCAR’s 403(b) and 457(b) plans in accordance with governing plan documents, established procedures, and applicable laws, regulations, and requirements.
• Review, processes, and audit retirement plan eligibility, enrollment, contribution elections, and other plan transactions, as applicable.
• Work closely with UCAR’s vendors to ensure compliant administration of the plans and to complete corrections as needed.
• Guide employees through the retirement transition process, including required timelines, benefit coverage options, and administrative steps.
• Administer the new Secure 2.0 Roth requirements, guiding impacted employees through the Roth requirements and options and auditing contribution limits.
• Ensure compliance requirements are completed, including required benefit notices, filings (e.g., Form 5500), and non-discrimination testing, in coordination with leadership, legal counsel, and external service providers.
• Stay current on changes to retirement laws, regulations, and regulatory guidance; assess implications for UCAR’s retirement plans and coordinate updates to plan administration, procedures, and employee communications.
• Administer assigned health and welfare benefits, which may include medical, dental, vision, life/AD&D, LTD, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), COBRA continuation coverage, and retiree benefit programs.
• Review eligibility and process benefit enrollments, qualifying life events, coverage changes, and terminations accurately within required timelines, as assigned.
• Respond to employee and retiree inquiries promptly, accurately, and professionally, explaining benefit provisions and coordinating the resolution of coverage, claims, and service issues with external vendors.
• Review payroll benefit deductions, vendor invoices, and eligibility records to identify discrepancies and coordinate corrections with Payroll and HR Operations.
• Support annual open enrollment, benefit plan renewals, system testing, vendor implementations, and cross‑functional backup coverage across team programs.
• Serve as a primary administrative resource for external retirement plan audits and lead or support compliance reviews and audits across all benefit programs.
• Compile, validate, and reconcile participant census data, payroll records, and supporting documentation requested by internal and external auditors.
• Support required benefit notices, filings (e.g., Form 5500), and other compliance requirements, as requested.
• Apply established internal controls, including documented approvals, reconciliations, secondary reviews, and appropriate escalation.
• Maintain complete, accurate, confidential, and auditable records.
• Documents administrative decisions, corrections, and supporting rationale.
• Protect confidential information through secure handling, storage, and transmission of records; limit access and disclosure to authorized individuals; and promptly report suspected unauthorized access or disclosure in accordance with UCAR procedures.
• Administer or provide backup support for leave administration.
• Develop clear benefits communications, intranet resources, and standard operating procedures; deliver engaging benefit orientations and presentations.
• Identify opportunities to simplify workflows, improve employee service delivery, reduce administrative errors, and participate in HR system testing and reporting enhancements.
• Monitor project deadlines, coordinate vendor deliverables, and serve as a technical peer resource to HR colleagues on complex benefits questions.

Selected Candidates

Candidates selected for hire will complete background checks and/or federal screenings.

Required Qualifications

• Education & Experience: Bachelor’s degree (preferably in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field); 7 years of progressively responsible employee benefits administration experience (or an equivalent combination of education and experience); Experience must demonstrate independent retirement plan administration, financial reconciliation, complex issue resolution, and plan audit support.
• Systems Experience: Hands‑on experience working with Human Capital Management (HCM) systems.
• Retirement & Regulatory Expertise: In-depth knowledge of 403(b) and 457(b) plan compliance, fiduciary standards, non‑discrimination testing, and statutory regulations governing employee benefit programs (ERISA, Section 125, COBRA, FMLA, ADA, HIPAA).
• Analytical & Financial Auditing: Strong numerical ability to perform complex payroll deduction audits, reconcile billing discrepancies, validate participant census data, and lead audit preparation.
• Communication & Consultation: Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills to clearly and sensitively counsel employees on retirement transitions and deliver engaging group presentations.
• Process Optimization & Problem‑Solving: Proven capability to evaluate administrative workflows, diagnose root causes of data discrepancies, and implement continuous improvement solutions.
• Discretion & Data Integrity: High discretion and rigorous attention to detail when handling sensitive financial records, medical information, and confidential personnel data.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficiency with the Workday HCM system is strongly preferred.
• Experience administering a 403(b) plan is strongly preferred.
• Relevant professional industry certifications (e.g., Certified Employee Benefit Specialist [CEBS] or Certified Benefit Professional [CBP]).

Work Location Expectations

Work Location Expectations: This position is open to candidates seeking in-person or hybrid (combination of 3 days in-person and 2 days of remote) opportunities.

Visa Sponsorship

Visa Sponsorship: UCAR can sponsor H-1B status only for candidates already in the U.S. who hold H-1B status or another status that allows a change to H-1B within the country. We cannot sponsor new H-1B visas that require consular processing abroad.

Compliance and Location

All roles must comply with U.S. export control regulations and work location requirements.

Hybrid Staff Work Arrangement

Hybrid staff work on-site 3 days per week or equivalent, based on their flexible work arrangement.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use: AI tools are permitted, but we strongly encourage candidates to submit primarily original work.

Benefits Overview

UCAR offers a comprehensive benefits package:

• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Short & Long Term Disability Insurance
• Generous retirement plan - UCAR contributes of 10% of eligible pay
• Time Off Plans
• Minimum 20 days of annual PTO
• 10 paid holidays
• 12 weeks of paid parental leave
• FAMLI Leave
• Tuition Assistance Program
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible employer

About Us

At NCAR - the National Center for Atmospheric Research - we study weather, water, climate, air quality, and space weather to help protect lives and livelihoods, grow the economy, and enhance our nation’s security and well‑being. We collaborate with research partners to advance the science that makes predictions better and with end users to develop applications for forecasters, farmers, resource managers, retailers, the military, and many other stakeholders. UCAR - the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research - manages NCAR on behalf of the National Science Foundation. We are a nonprofit consortium of more than 115 colleges and universities with research and training programs in Earth system science. We bring together the academic community and provide the operational management that are both essential to NCAR’s success. UCAR’s community programs, from educational resources to data delivery and other services, extend the reach and impact of NCAR’s world‑class research to the community and society. We seek talented people with diverse backgrounds, training, and skills to join us in our mission of science in service to society.

Want to learn more? Visit ucar.edu.

Equal Opportunity and Accessibility

UCAR is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes all applicants.

We do not discriminate based on race, age, sex, gender identity, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic.

You don’t need to include age-related information, such as birth or graduation dates, in your initial application.

Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act, or local laws.

A reasonable accommodation is a change in the way things are normally done which will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing undue hardship on an employee.