Specialist, Associate Relations & Solutions

Nationwide; North Carolina; Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 149,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/dental/vision

Life insurance

Short and long-term disability

Paid time off

Nine holidays

401(k) with company match

Pension plan

Business casual attire

Job summary

Nationwide is seeking an experienced Specialist, Associate Relations & Solutions to support associates, leaders, and HR partners. The role focuses on benefits administration, payroll inquiries, and HR systems, handling cases with discretion and care.

You will resolve inquiries, document processes, and collaborate with internal teams and external partners to ensure high-quality associate experiences.

Qualifications

• Five or more years in customer care, benefits administration, HR, or related field.
• Proven knowledge of benefit plans, policies, and employment laws.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to handle confidential information and prioritize work.
• In-depth use of HR software and case management systems.

Responsibilities

• Receives and handles inbound inquiries from associates, leaders, and HR partners.
• Acts as subject matter expert on benefits, payroll, HR systems, and policies.
• Maintains and updates case records with accurate details.
• Escalates complex matters to senior staff and communicates next steps.
• Guides others on HR system processes and issue resolution.
• Maintains confidentiality and professional demeanor in all interactions.
• Supports projects and contributes to knowledge base updates.
• Collaborates with internal and external partners to resolve matters.

Skills

Customer care

Benefits administration

Human Resources

Associate relations

Communication skills

Confidentiality

HR software

Education

Undergraduate studies in business/HR

Tools

HRIS

Payroll systems

Case management software

Job description

If you’re passionate about becoming a Nationwide associate and believe you have the potential to be something great, let’s talk. At Nationwide®, “on your side” goes beyond just words. Our customers are at the center of everything we do and we’re looking for associates who are passionate about delivering extraordinary care.

This is a hybrid work opportunity.

Job Description Summary

Do you thrive in a fast-paced environment where your work directly impacts the satisfaction and engagement of associates? We work collaboratively, across organizational lines, with all levels of leaders and employees. If you are a natural problem-solver, have excellent customer service skills and can own and resolve issues, we want to know more about you!

As a Specialist, you’ll provide extraordinary care as you address complex inquiries from associates, leaders, and human resources business partners as well as former associates, retirees, contractors, and vendors. You’ll perform all duties with a high level of care, discretion, professionalism, and confidentiality.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

• Receives inbound calls, emails, cases, consults as needed with the associate or customer while showing empathy, understanding, and demonstrating confidence.

• Consults and serves as subject matter expert on more complex and escalated cases, inquiries, complaints, or concerns on a variety of benefits, payroll, time reporting, human resource systems, policies, practices, and processes.

• Update the case management record including when the inquiry requires further research or is redirected to other partners. Ensure all relevant facts, details, and information are captured and clearly documented.

• Identifies more complex matters or escalations and assign cases to more expert staff for in-depth research and resolution. Clearly communicate expectations and next steps with person making inquiry and appropriate partners.

• Provides guidance on HR system processes and procedures as well as troubleshoots issues that may emerge within the HR system for associates and leaders.

• Handles cases, questions, and inquiries in a confidential and professional manner while demonstrating empathy.

• Maintains current knowledge of and adheres to internal policies and practices, benefit summary plan descriptions and employment laws. Collaborates with internal legal departments and/or external government or regulatory entities to support resolving inquiries.

• Actively participates in projects, focusing on specialty areas and assists with questions from peers and training team members.

• Research, drafts, updates, edits, reviews, and submits documents for an internal repository and information to the HR knowledge base.

• Identifies and refers misdirected matters to the appropriate internal resources that may include self-service, other HR departments, or other experts across Nationwide.

• Identifies critical or potential crisis situations and immediately redirect incident to appropriate partner for the necessary care or resolution.

• Creates or recommends improvements to processes, procedures, tools, systems, and controls to increase the quality and optimization of associate solutions and resources.

• Maintains collaborative relationships with vendors and external partners to support associate matter resolution.

May perform other responsibilities as assigned.

Reporting Relationships:

Reports to a Director or Manager in Associate Relations & Solutions. This is an individual contributor role.

Typical Skills and Experiences:

Education:

Undergraduate studies in areas such as business administration, human resources management, finance or related areas preferred.

License/Certification/Designation:

Certification in HR or benefits (e.g., CEBS, CBP, FMLI, PHR, SHRM-CP) desirable.

Experience:

Typically, five or more years demonstrated experience in customer care, benefits administration or planning, human resources, associate relations, or related business experience.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skills:

Proven knowledge of benefit plans, policies, procedures, customer care practices and procedures. Proven knowledge of human resources policies and state/federal employment laws. Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to identify and evaluate inquiries, problems, critical or potential crisis situations, and take appropriate action; and ability to maintain confidentially of sensitive information. Able to effectively operate human resources software. Proven ability to set work priorities, and to evaluate and recommend solutions to basic associate relations issues. Mathematical skills for benefits calculations, account reconciliation’s, and pay calculations.

Other criteria, including leadership skills, competencies and experiences may take precedence.

Staffing exceptions to the above must be approved by the hiring manager’s leader and HR Business Partner.

Values:

Regularly and consistently demonstrates Nationwide Values.

Job Conditions:

Overtime Eligibility:

Not Eligible (Exempt)

Working Conditions:

Normal office environment.

ADA:

The above statements cover what are generally believed to be principal and essential functions of this job. Specific circumstances may allow or require some people assigned to the job to perform a somewhat different combination of duties.

Benefits

We have an array of benefits to fit your needs, including: medical/dental/vision, life insurance, short and long term disability coverage,paid time off with newly hired associates receiving a minimum of 18 days paid time off each full calendar year pro-rated quarterly based on hire date, nine paid holidays, 8 hours of Lifetime paid time off, 8 hours of Unity Day paid time off, 401(k) with company match, company-paid pension plan, business casual attire, and more. To learn more about the benefits we offer, click here.

Nationwide is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone feels challenged, appreciated, respected and engaged. Nationwide prohibits discrimination and harassment and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to any characteristic (or classification) protected by applicable law.

The national salary range for Specialist, Associate Relations & Solutions : $79,500.00-$148,500.00

The expected starting salary range for Specialist, Associate Relations & Solutions : $79,500.00 - $119,500.00