Benefits Specialist

Job Description

SUMMARY OF JOB PURPOSE:

Cor Partners is seeking a Benefits Specialist who is passionate about delivering exceptional support to our team members while contributing to the foundational growth of a shared-services benefits team. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a dynamic environment, is detail-oriented, and is eager to grow their expertise in benefits administration.

The Benefits Specialist will manage leave of absence cases, support benefits initiatives (including open enrollment), and take on a variety of administrative responsibilities related to all of our benefits programs (including medical, dental, vision, life and disability, voluntary benefits, time off, wellness, and our 401K plan) as we establish and improve workflows for team members, managers, and the People & Culture team.

PRIMARY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

Benefits Program Management

• Administer benefit programs, including day-to-day operations, compliance, data analysis, and team member communications.
• Manage the shared benefits email inbox, prioritizing, responding, and resolving inquiries from team members, vendors, and agencies. Develop standardized responses for common requests.
• Plan and coordinate benefit communication materials for processes like annual enrollment, benefit updates, enhancements, and legal compliance.
• Provide new team members with educational materials to enhance understanding and appreciation of benefit offerings.
• Collaborate with Talent Acquisition and People & Culture Business Partners to ensure candidates, new hires, and newly benefit-eligible team members receive timely and accurate benefits and enrollment information during onboarding.
• Maintain up-to-date benefits information in HRIS.
• Provide compassionate guidance and resources to team members navigating significant life changes such as medical emergencies, family caregiving, bereavement, and other unique situations. Ensure benefits options are clearly communicated and facilitate seamless access to support services during these critical times.

Leave of Absence and Accommodation Support

• Serve as the primary point of contact for leave administration, including disability, paid leave, FMLA, and Workers Comp cases, ensuring consistency, compliance, and resolution of issues.
• Manage the interactive process for ADA accommodation requests, collaborating with vendors, managers, and team members to identify appropriate solutions.
• Oversee Workers Comp incidents, OSHA reporting, and coordination between leave and return-to-work processes.
• Maintain accurate records of leave cases, accommodation requests, and associated processes to ensure data integrity and compliance. Generate regular metrics and reports to identify trends, support decision-making, and provide insights to leadership.

Compliance and Administrative Excellence

• Ensure benefits programs meet all regulatory requirements, including ACA, ERISA, FMLA, ADA, COBRA, and HIPAA.
• Monitor and manage compliance activities such as regulatory filings, reporting, notices, and audits.
• Complete benefits billing reconciliation on a monthly and per-payroll basis and provide required reporting to Finance.
• Manage and resolve issues related to incomplete or missing benefit enrollments, including processing Evidence of Insurability (EOI), life events, and dependent verifications.
• Assist with benefits administration for international team members, including Canada, the UK, and other overseas plans.

Vendor and Stakeholder Collaboration

• Develop and maintain strong, productive, and collaborative relationships with benefit plan carriers, vendors, and internal teams.
• Proactively identify process improvement opportunities, collaborating with HRIS to automate workflows and completing user testing.
• Keep leadership informed of key developments, potential challenges, and important updates.
• Upholds the values of Cor Partners and the culture espoused by our foundation.
• Performs related work as apparent or assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience.
• Minimum of 3 years' experience in Benefits, Leave of Absence, or HR Generalist roles.
• Strong knowledge of benefits-related regulations, including FMLA, ADA, COBRA, ERISA, HIPAA, and ACA.
• Proven ability to analyze data and make decisions with a detail-oriented approach to problem-solving.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Excel (including pivot tables, vlookups, etc.), Word, and PowerPoint.
• Experience working with HRIS or Benefits Administration systems (Workday is strongly preferred).
• Strong customer service orientation with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects while maintaining confidentiality and utmost discretion.
• A proactive mindset with a desire to grow into new areas of benefits expertise.

WORKING CONDITIONS & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• This role may occasionally require lifting and carrying items weighing up to 10 lbs.
• Frequent activities include sitting, using hands to handle objects, and engaging in verbal communication or active listening.
• Regular wrist and hand movements are required.
• Occasional activities include standing, walking, and reaching with hands and arms.
• Specific vision abilities needed for this role include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
• The position requires flexibility to accommodate occasional meetings in multiple time zones and work-related travel, typically 1-2 times per year.
• This position is remote eligible.