Job DescriptionPosition Summary The Senior Benefits Specialist supports the day-to-day administration and continuous improvement of employee health, welfare, and retirement benefit programs. This role combines hands-on benefits administration, employee support, data management, compliance, and vendor coordination with opportunities to improve processes and support benefits-related projects.
The ideal candidate will have strong benefits administration experience, proficiency in Workday or a similar HRIS benefits administration platform, excellent attention to detail, and a customer-focused approach. Experience with self-funded health plans is preferred but not required.
Position Details- Benefits Administration & Employee Support
- Administer health, welfare, and retirement benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and 401(k) plans.
- Perform benefits-related data entry and system maintenance, ensuring employee and dependent information is accurate and processed timely.
- Serve as a primary resource for employee benefits questions, providing responsive and knowledgeable customer service.
- Assist employees with enrollments, qualifying life events, benefit changes, and other benefits-related needs.
- Research and resolve benefit discrepancies, eligibility issues, and employee concerns, partnering with carriers and third-party administrators as needed.
- Support leave of absence and other benefits administration activities as needed.
- Assist with annual open enrollment, including system preparation, employee communications, enrollment support, and post-enrollment audits.
HRIS, Data & Process Improvement
- Utilize Workday or a similar HRIS benefits administration system to process, maintain, and audit benefits data.
- Support benefits-related system implementations, integrations, testing, upgrades, and ongoing enhancements.
- Perform regular audits and reconciliations to identify and resolve data discrepancies.
- Partner with HR, Payroll, Finance, Accounting, and IT to ensure accurate benefits data and system functionality.
- Identify opportunities to reduce manual processes, improve workflows, and increase the efficiency and scalability of benefits administration.
- Assist with the development and maintenance of benefits procedures, documentation, and standard operating processes.
Compliance & Vendor Management
- Support compliance with applicable federal and state benefit regulations, including ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, and COBRA.
- Maintain relationships with brokers, carriers, and third-party administrators to support effective service delivery and issue resolution.
- Assist with benefits plan audits, required reporting, and compliance activities.
- Support benchmarking and evaluation of benefit programs to ensure offerings remain competitive and aligned with organizational needs.
- Experience with self-funded health plans, claims analysis, stop-loss coverage, or related financial considerations is preferred but not required.
Communications & Project Support
- Support the development and distribution of employee benefits communications, presentations, guides, and educational materials.
- Participate in informational sessions and open enrollment meetings to help employees understand available benefit programs.
- Support benefits-related projects, including system enhancements, process improvements, mergers and acquisitions, and other organizational initiatives.
- Provide reporting and analysis related to benefits enrollment, utilization, costs, and other program metrics as needed.
- Collaborate across HR and business teams to support evolving benefits and employee needs.
Qualifications- 5+ years of benefits administration experience preferred.
- Strong proficiency with Workday or a similar HRIS benefits administration platform required.
- Experience administering health, welfare, and retirement benefit programs.
- Working knowledge of applicable benefits regulations, including ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, and COBRA.
- Experience with self-funded health plans is preferred but not required.
- Strong attention to detail with the ability to perform high-volume data entry accurately and efficiently.
- Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to research discrepancies and identify solutions.
- Excellent customer service and communication skills, with the ability to explain complex benefits information clearly to employees.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
- Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with HR, Payroll, Finance, Accounting, IT, and external vendors.
- Proactive mindset with the ability to identify opportunities for process improvement and increased efficiency.
- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Finance, or a related field, or equivalent relevant work experience.
- CEBS or CBP certification preferred but not required.
- Construction or engineering industry experience is a plus.
Physical Capabilities
- Ability to perform standard office duties, including prolonged periods of sitting and computer-based work.
- Ability to occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
- Ability to travel periodically based on business needs.
Benefits As a 100% employee-owned company, we offer a comprehensive benefits package for you and your family:
- 401(k) plan with 50% company match (no cap) and immediate 100% vesting
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance (100% paid for employee)
- Annual bonus program based upon performance, achievement, and company profitability
- Term life, AD&D insurance, and voluntary life insurance
- Disability income protection insurance
- Pre-tax flexible spending plans (health and dependent care)
- Paid parental leave
- Paid holidays, vacation, and personal time
- Training/professional development opportunities and company-paid memberships for professional associations and licenses
- Wellness benefits
Pay: Final pay is determined by the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, and alignment with market data. For California this ranges from $90,000.00- $120,000.00 plus annual incentive, benefits, and retirement program as outlined above.
Contingent Employment: All employment offers are contingent upon successful drug tests, background checks, and professional reference checks. Roles that include driving as an essential job duty will be required to have a successful Motor Vehicle Record check (MVR). We are not able to offer sponsorship of employment at this time.
External Agency Announcement: Its Southland Industries' policy not to accept candidate submissions from recruiting agencies without an active and authorized work order. Candidate ownership can only be established after a bona fide work order is issued by a member of the Southland Industries Talent Acquisition team and the candidate is appropriately submitted through our Applicant Tracking System (ATS).
