Benefits Administrator

UR Thompson Health•Canandaigua, NY

8d•$70,000 - $85,000

About The Position

At Thompson Health, our strength comes from a culture where leaders genuinely invest in every associate’s success and well-being. As our next Benefits Administrator, you’ll not only manage the full lifecycle of 25+ benefit programs for 2,300 associates—you’ll do so within an environment built on trust, engagement, and a shared commitment to caring for our people. Schedule: Full time, day hours. Pay Range: $70,000 - $85,000 (based on experience) Company Culture: Thompson Health has a culture of empowerment. At Thompson, interdisciplinary teams come together to improve care, your suggestions are welcomed and your ideas are part of the solution. Three of our executives have an RN background so we understand the importance of the patient experience! Place yourself in an environment where your growth is supported, your contributions valued and your successes celebrated. Focus on CARES values: Commitment, Action, Respect, Excellence, and Service Focus on Employee Wellness: Biometric screenings, Wellness programs, Access to onsite gym, Zen Room, Community Shared Agriculture program Staff Recognition platforms: Shining Stars, CARESCount website

Requirements

Bachelors degree in Human Resources or related field (or equivalent experience paired with continued education).
Minimum 3+ years of benefits administration experience, preferably in a high volume or healthcare environment.
Strong HRIS experience (UKG preferred), including reporting and system configuration, and Microsoft Office (Excel, Outlook, Powerpoint, and Word).
Excellent working knowledge of benefits laws to include ACA, ADA, COBRA, DOL, ERISA, FLSA, FMLA, HIPAA, OFCCP, NYS disability and worker’s compensation and general human resource labor laws.
Proven ability to interpret benefit plans, HR policies, and regulatory requirements.
Exceptional customer service skills and interpersonal communication.
High attention to accuracy and confidentiality.
Exhibits ability to function effectively with minimal supervision in a high-volume setting.

Responsibilities

Administer 25+ benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, life/AD&D, voluntary benefits, HSA/FSA, EAP, wellness programs, retirement plans (403(b), pension), leave programs, and executive benefit offerings.
Provide one‑on‑one benefit consultations for new hires, active associates, pre‑retirees, retirees, and associates on leave.
Process and monitor daily enrollment/changes, qualifying life events, terminations, and dependent eligibility.
Administer COBRA, HIPAA, ACA compliance requirements, and eligibility audits.
Maintain benefit records, process invoices, reconcile premiums, and resolve discrepancies.
Serve as a point of contact for all benefit vendors; ensure accuracy of electronic feeds and file transmissions.
Conduct annual benefits fair, support open enrollment, and coordinate mid‑year wellness initiatives.
Support associates with navigating claims, corrections, or escalations with carriers.
Participates in benefit surveys
Analyzes existing benefit policies using benchmark data to research current trends and proposes changes to maintain a competitive package.
Evaluates services, coverage and options available through vendors to determine the design which best meets the needs of Thompson.
Process terminations, benefit closures, PTO/sick payouts, badge updates, and COBRA notifications.
Review payroll edits, repayments, and deduction accuracy.
Support HR peers with policy interpretation, complex case reviews, and problem resolution.
Administer active and frozen retirement programs, including TIAA, BPAS, and frozen Lincoln accounts.
Manage quarterly and annual processes (e.g., employer match, plan audits, Form 5500 filings).
Process TIAA loan, hardship, and distribution requests; support participants with education requests.
Coordinate pension calculations with Mercer, manage distribution packets, and ensure timely payout processing through U.S. Bank.
Conduct pre‑retirement and post‑retirement consultations, including distribution timing, benefit continuation, and eligibility.
Manage all leave programs in partnership with Lincoln Financial Group.
File claims, monitor leave timelines, communicate with associates and managers, and ensure proper application of PTO/sick time usage.
Review and reconcile UKG leave reports against carrier data.
Consult with managers and associates on extended leaves, return‑to‑work processes, employment decisions at the 26‑week mark, and potential transitions to LTD.
Ensure benefit and deduction codes are accurately configured and functioning in UKG.
Maintain system accuracy for hires, transfers, terminations, dependent changes, and eligibility.
Generate, analyze, and distribute benefit reports to leadership, payroll, finance, and vendors.
Partner with HRIS on system enhancements, feed updates, error corrections, and annual configuration reviews.
Conduct weekly benefits orientation for new hires.
Draft and maintain clear benefit materials, employee guides, intranet content, and enrollment instructions.
Prepare and disseminate timely communication regarding benefit changes, eligibility updates, and wellness opportunities.
Serve as a benefits consultant, promoting education, proactive outreach, and responsive service.
Ensure compliance with ACA, ADA, ERISA, DOL, IRS, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA, NYS Disability, and other benefit‑related regulations.
Prepare annual Form 5500 filings and support in‑person audits for 403(b) and pension plans.
Coordinate required annual mailings (e.g., 1095‑C, SPDs, SBCs, notices).
Maintain documentation and adhere to record retention schedules; coordinate Shred‑it disposal and storage as required.
Support internal and external audits (IRS, DOL, carrier audits).