Benefits Administrator

The Benefits Administrator manages employee benefits programs, including health, life, and disability insurances, retirement plans, and wellness initiatives. They ensure compliance with regulations, handle employee inquiries, and work closely with vendors to optimize benefit offerings. The role requires strong regulatory knowledge, analytical skills, and excellent communication abilities to collaborate with vendors and employees. The Benefits Administrator plays a key role in maintaining employee satisfaction and supporting the company's overall compensation strategy.

Principal Accountabilities & Deliverables

• Administer and manage the company's comprehensive benefits programs, including health, life and disability insurance and retirement plans
• Administer benefits, leave of absence (LOA), and workers’ compensation processes
• Administer and audits PTO programs
• Administer 401(k) and responds to 401(k) inquiries from managers and employees relating to enrollments, plan changes, and contribution amounts
• Manage all associated audits and activities to maintain plan compliance
• Administer the tuition programs
• Distribute all benefits enrollment materials and determines eligibility
• Ensure the accuracy of all benefits enrollments in the HRIS to provide vendors with accurate eligibility information
• Coordinate with benefits system admin to ensure accurate and timely enrollments with carriers and processes life status changes
• Assist employees regarding benefits claim issues and plan changes
• Coordinate and execute benefit-related compliance activities
• Perform regular audits of benefits-related data
• Report benefits plan information to upper management
• Complete all tasks related to ACA and coordinates with benefits vendors to ensure eligibility, enrollments, filings, and forms are accurate and timely
• Assist with 5500 preparations and filings
• Provide necessary reports for allocation/billing charges and processing monthly billings
• Provide benefit support and communication to the organization
• Hold meetings to discuss the details of the benefits program with employees and facilitates open enrollment meetings
• Assist with the open enrollment process
• Respond to benefits inquiries on plan provisions, benefits enrollments, status changes, and other general inquiries
• Process and administer all leave-of-absence requests and disability paperwork: medical, personal, disability, and FMLA
• Effectively interprets FMLA and ADA implications as they relate to leaves of absences/disabilities
• Collaborate with stakeholders to facilitate and track leave-of-absences• Other duties as assigned.

Education / Experience
• HS Diploma/GED (required) and seven (7) years experience in HR or Benefits administration - or -
• Associate’s degree in Business, HR, or other related field (preferred), Bachelor's degree in Business, HR, or other related field (highly preferred)
• Minimum of five (5) years’ experience in HR and/or Benefits Administration

• Professional in Human Resource Certification (PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP) (Preferred)
• Specific experience in education, or other highly regulated field, and multi-site, multi-state environments (preferred)
• Strong working knowledge of:
• Federal and state regulations (especially ADAAA, FMLA, and state specific leave/disability regulations),
• Principles and procedures for benefits administration, project management, and HR information systems
• Auditing processes and procedures
• Record keeping, versioning, document retention and other administrative processes and procedures

Skills
• Intermediate level proficiency with productivity software (MS Office), HRIS (UKG), benefit administration systems (PlanSource, etc.) and other enterprise-level software (Adobe DC, SharePoint, etc.)
• In-depth understanding of state and local laws governing leave such as ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, and FMLA to ensure compliance
• Exceptionional listening and conflict resolution skills
• Maintain confidentiality of employee information and handle sensitive data responsibly
• Actively look for ways to assist with employee's needs
• Understand the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making
• Be aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do
• Identify complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions
• Present ideas in a clear and compelling manner, both verbally and in written format
• Drive, and be accountable for, results in a fast-paced environment

• Ability and willingness to test own and other’s work
• Ability to identify and resolve system problems or defects

Work Environment
• Remote, Hybrid (combination of onsite and remote) and onsite worksites are available to support business needs.
• No travel required