Benefits Specialist

Are you an excellent communicator with a passion for customer service? Are you skilled at handling confidential information with the utmost discretion? Are you driven by details and conscious of compliance? If so, then we’d like you to join our dedicated team as a Benefits Specialist. About the Role: You will: Serve as a first level contact for benefit related inquiries, professionally and accurately responding to written and oral inquiries from teammates, retirees, and family members regarding the areas of employee benefits, enrollment, benefit programs, COBRA, and retirement plans. Accurately document detailed information regarding benefit related interactions. Coach teammates, retirees, and families on how to use self-service technology and make referrals to outside vendors or other resources as appropriate. Act as point of escalation to subject matter experts for unresolved problems. Process Qualifying Life Event requests for teammates and coordinate with the Payroll team to ensure all proper insurance premiums are adjusted as necessary. Work with our third-party COBRA administrator to facilitate benefits coverage and termination within carrier portals, and periodically audit enrollments. Accurately process National Medical Support Notices, including notifications and enrollments. Assist with updating and maintaining required system and training documentation for internal and external usage.  Assist the Leave of Absence Specialist with the administration of Hajoca’s Leave of Absence program, including long-term disability claims and other state disability/family leave claims. Stay up to date on state specific laws regarding benefits and leave of absence. Monitor processes for compliance with applicable rules and regulations.  Assist in administering the company’s retirement and pension plans and facilitate notifications to retirees regarding benefits. Successfully complete Benefits project work as assigned. Successfully complete required safety and compliance training programs as assigned. Perform other reasonably related duties as assigned by immediate supervisor and other management as required. About You: 2 or more years of experience in benefits administration or human resources. Professional certification such as CEBS (Certified Employee Benefits Specialist) or SHRM-CP preferred. Our ideal candidate will also: Have knowledge and understanding of common payroll, benefits, and recruiting practices. Effectively use Microsoft Office software to communicate via email and to review reports and documents. Demonstrate outstanding customer service and interpersonal communication skills. Possess strong written and verbal communication skills. Possess a high level of accuracy and attention to detail. Be able to handle sensitive information with confidentiality. Be able to build and maintain a positive working relationship with teammates and co-workers. Be able to research, analyze data, and solve problems. Have excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively across all levels of the business. Be able to exercise professional judgment and assume responsibility for decisions which have impact on people and quality of service. Deal with interpersonal conflict and set-back in a mature, problem-solving, solutions-oriented manner. Have excellent organizational skills and be able to prioritize work projects and multi-task. Read, write, speak, and understand English. Be able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Be able to learn and operate the computer related systems used in the People Operations department.