Benefit & Retirement Specialist

Express•Columbus, OH

About The Position

As our Benefits & Retirement Specialist, you will serve as the dedicated steward of our benefits, retirement, and wellness programs. Whether you are already experienced across all benefit types or a strong Health & Welfare specialist eager to expand into retirement plan administration, this role is ideal for a benefits professional who thrives on operational excellence, enjoys the precision of complex plan administration, and is looking to make an impact. Working with a high degree of autonomy, you will take full ownership of our day-to-day administrative lifecycle, ensuring compliance, responsive vendor support, and a stellar experience for our associates.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources (or equivalent years of practical experience in lieu of a degree).
3+ years of hands-on experience in benefits administration.
Working knowledge of ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, and the operational mechanics of health and welfare plans.
Exceptional attention to detail, accuracy, and strong time-management and prioritization skills.
Superior judgment when handling highly sensitive, confidential employee data.
Demonstrated ability to independently troubleshoot friction points, reconcile data discrepancies, and resolve employee or vendor inquiries with sound judgment and minimal oversight.

Nice To Haves

Direct experience with retirement plans (e.g., 401(k)) is a plus, but we are fully open to training a strong benefits specialist ready to expand their skill set.

Responsibilities

Coordinate the day-to-day administration of health, welfare, and retirement plans, upholding operational standards through structured processes and accurate recordkeeping.
Serve as a primary point of contact for benefits and leave of absence inquiries through email and our Salesforce queue, delivering responsive, high-touch support to associates, leaders, and HR colleagues.
Serve as the primary administrative point of contact for external vendors and third-party administrators, supporting the Benefits Lead with vendor management initiatives and daily inquiry resolution.
Oversee monthly premium billing processes and fee payments across all group plans, partnering closely with Finance and Payroll to ensure clean, audit-ready plan reporting.
Manage the generation, integrity, and delivery of scheduled and ad-hoc data reporting; organize and review data sets to ensure thorough, compliant plan audits.
Document and regularly refine internal administrative procedures, identifying opportunities to streamline workflows, improve accuracy, and maintain seamless operational continuity.