Benefits + Leave Specialist

Job Description:

Position Summary :

The Benefits + Leave Specialist is responsible for the day-to-day administration of employee benefits, wellness, disability, and leave programs. The incumbent serves as the primary point of contact for employee benefit and leave related inquiries and provides timely, high-quality customer service to employees, regulatory compliance, operational excellence and data integrity. The Benefits + Leave Specialist processes benefit changes, administers leave of absence programs, maintains accurate records, and supports other benefit and wellness-related initiatives. The incumbent partners with employees, leaders, vendors, payroll, and Human Resources to deliver an exceptional employee experience while supporting organizational compliance and benefit program effectiveness.

Primary Responsibilities & Duties:

Benefits Administration & Employee Support

Serve as the primary contact for employee benefits, leave of absence, disability, and workers’ compensation questions and requests

Educate employees regarding eligibility, enrollment, qualifying life events, and benefit programs

Process benefit enrollments, terminations, COBRA coordination, status changes, and qualifying life events within HRIS and vendor systems

Administer programs in accordance with ERISA, HIPAA, ACA, COBRA, FMLA, and other applicable federal and state laws

Maintain current knowledge of benefit laws, leave of absence regulations, and industry best practices

Partner with benefit carriers and third-party administrators to resolve escalated employee issues and ensure service level expectations are met

Troubleshoot issues and escalate complex benefit, leave, and accommodation issues to the Manager, Benefits

Prepare and analyze routine benefit and leave utilization reports

Monitor benefit trends, leave activity, and program participation to support decision-making and compliance efforts

Leave & Disability Administration

Administer leave of absence cases (FMLA, ADA, state-specific leave, personal leave, disability, etc.), ensuring compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations

Provide guidance to employees regarding leaves of absence and disability entitlements

Maintain data integrity to ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations and track return-to-work timelines

Maintain accurate leave, and employee data within HRIS and vendor systems

Process reasonable accommodation requests in compliance with ADA standards

Coordinate with employees, leaders, leave carrier, Human Resources, and Payroll to ensure leaves of absence and disability claims are processed accurately and timely

Conduct periodic reviews of leave administration practices to promote consistency, accuracy, and compliance

Establish and maintain standardized leave administration processes, templates, forms, and best practices

Benefit Communications & Initiatives

Draft and support employee communications related to benefits and wellness programs, including open enrollment content

Update benefits information on company intranet as needed

Support implementation of new programs and process improvements from planning through rollout, including communications and employee education

Support open enrollment preparation, testing, employee communications, and employee assistance

Participate in compliance audits

Plan and support implementation of employee well-being initiatives

Billing & Invoice Reconciliation

Responsible for reconciling benefit-related invoices with enrollment records

Route invoices for processing and payment

Track vendor invoices and payments to ensure timely remittance

Proactively identify and resolve billing discrepancies, partnering directly with vendors and Finance to correct errors undefined

Knowledge / Skills:

• •Solid knowledge of benefits-related regulations, including HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA, and state leave laws
• •Ability to explain complex benefit and leave rules in plain language and excellent customer service skills
• •Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
• •Strong attention to detail, reconciling records and invoices accurately
• •Ability to self-manage and prioritize responsibilities
• •Ability to manage sensitive information with discretion and strict confidentiality
• •Experience with HRIS or benefits administration systems (Workday experience preferred)
• •Highly resourceful collaborator, with the ability to also be effective independently

Minimum Requirements:

• •Associate’s degree in Human Resources, Business, or related field, or equivalent work experience
• •2+ years’ benefits administration or progressive Human Resources experience
• •Proficient with Microsoft Office, including Excel and PowerPoint skills
• •Solid knowledge of pertinent federal and state Human Resources regulations and compliance requirements affecting employee benefits programs, including the ACA, ERISA, COBRA, FMLA, ADA, workers’ compensation, Medicare/Social Security, and DOL requirements

Everwise is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.