Senior Benefits Administrator

Aura Astronomy; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 80,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Aura Astronomy is seeking a Senior Human Resources Generalist to provide strategic HR support. This role requires a Bachelor’s degree and at least 5 years of experience in HR, specifically in benefits administration and employee wellness initiatives.

The ideal candidate will administer self-funded employee health plans and collaborate with leadership on HR solutions to enhance engagement. The annual salary range for this position is $80,000 - $95,000.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of progressive Human Resources experience.
• Experience with self-funded medical plans for employer-sponsored health programs.
• Strong knowledge of federal and state employment laws.
• Experience with HRIS platforms.

Responsibilities

• Administer self-funded medical, dental, vision, and retirement benefit programs.
• Develop and evaluate employee wellness initiatives.
• Provide guidance on HR policies and procedures.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, and offboarding activities.

Skills

Self-funded employee health plans

Employee wellness initiatives

HRIS experience

Communication skills

Problem-solving skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite (Excel)

Job description

The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) is a multi‑mission science operations center for NASA’s flagship observatories. Our world‑class astronomical research center is based on the Johns Hopkins University Homewood campus in Baltimore, Maryland (Click here to learn more about our missions ).This position could support working from home. Candidates must be in our local market to be able to report on‑site when needed.

The Senior Human Resources Generalist plays a critical role in delivering strategic and operational HR support across the Institute. Reporting to HR leadership, this position serves as a trusted advisor to managers and employees while leading key initiatives in benefits administration, employee relations, wellness programming, policy implementation, compliance, and HR operations.

The ideal candidate brings significant experience administering self‑funded employee health plans within a nonprofit or similarly complex organization and has demonstrated success developing and managing employee wellness initiatives that improve engagement and support workforce well‑being.

This role supports an organization of approximately 850 employees and collaborates closely with internal stakeholders and external vendors to ensure exceptional employee experiences and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

Benefits Administration

• Administer and support the organization’s self‑funded medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and retirement benefit programs.
• Serve as the primary HR contact for employee benefit inquiries and complex escalations.
• Partner with third‑party administrators, brokers, and insurance vendors to ensure efficient plan administration and regulatory compliance.
• Assist with annual open enrollment planning, employee education, and communications.
• Analyze utilization trends and recommend improvements that enhance employee experience while supporting cost containment.

Wellness and Employee Well‑Being

• Develop, implement, and evaluate comprehensive employee wellness initiatives aligned with organizational goals.
• Coordinate open enrollment, wellness challenges, preventive care campaigns, and vendor‑sponsored activities.
• Monitor participation metrics and recommend strategies to increase employee engagement and program effectiveness.
• Promote a culture that supports physical, psychological, emotional, and financial well‑being.

Human Resources Operations

• Provide guidance to managers and employees regarding HR policies, procedures, and best practices.
• Support employee relations matters, investigations, performance management, and conflict resolution.
• Assist with recruitment, onboarding, and offboarding activities as needed.
• Ensure accuracy and integrity of employee data within the Human Resources Information System (HRIS). Ultipro experience a plus.
• Maintain compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations, including FMLA, ADA, COBRA, HIPAA, ERISA, and ACA requirements.
• Participate in HR projects focused on process improvement, automation, and continuous enhancement of HR services.

Strategic Partnership

• Partner with leadership to identify workforce trends and recommend HR solutions.
• Assist in policy development and organizational initiatives that strengthen employee engagement and retention.
• Support audits, reporting requirements, and compliance activities.
• Contribute to a collaborative and service‑oriented HR team.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive Human Resources experience, including substantial responsibility for employee benefits administration.
• Demonstrated experience administering self‑funded medical plans for an employer‑sponsored health program.
• Experience designing or managing employee wellness initiatives and engagement programs.
• Strong knowledge of federal and state employment laws and employee benefits regulations.
• Experience working with HRIS platforms and Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, problem‑solving, and organizational skills.
• Ability to handle confidential information with professionalism and discretion.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting a nonprofit, research, higher education, or scientific organization.
• Professional certification such as SHRM‑CP, SHRM‑SCP, PHR, or SPHR.
• Experience with HR analytics and reporting.
• Knowledge of self‑funded health plan financial management and vendor oversight.
• Experience supporting organizations with approximately 500–1,000 employees.

The annual salary range for this title is $80-95K. The posted salary range represents a general guideline; however, STScI considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers, such as internal pay equity, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's experience, education, and skill, and current market conditions.

Candidates should submit cover letter and resume by July 17th to receive full consideration. Reference #: HRC0016044

Individuals needing assistance with the employment process can contact us [e-mail].

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.