Benefits + Leave Specialist

Everwise Credit Union•South Bend, IN

About The Position

The Benefits + Leave Specialist is responsible for the day-to-day administration of employee benefits, wellness, disability, and leave programs. The incumbent serves as the primary point of contact for employee benefit and leave related inquiries and provides timely, high-quality customer service to employees, regulatory compliance, operational excellence and data integrity. The Benefits + Leave Specialist processes benefit changes, administers leave of absence programs, maintains accurate records, and supports other benefit and wellness-related initiatives. The incumbent partners with employees, leaders, vendors, payroll, and Human Resources to deliver an exceptional employee experience while supporting organizational compliance and benefit program effectiveness.

Requirements

Solid knowledge of benefits-related regulations, including HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA, and state leave laws
Ability to explain complex benefit and leave rules in plain language and excellent customer service skills
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
Strong attention to detail, reconciling records and invoices accurately
Ability to self-manage and prioritize responsibilities
Ability to manage sensitive information with discretion and strict confidentiality
Experience with HRIS or benefits administration systems (Workday experience preferred)
Highly resourceful collaborator, with the ability to also be effective independently
Associate’s degree in Human Resources, Business, or related field, or equivalent work experience
2+ years’ benefits administration or progressive Human Resources experience
Proficient with Microsoft Office, including Excel and PowerPoint skills
Solid knowledge of pertinent federal and state Human Resources regulations and compliance requirements affecting employee benefits programs, including the ACA, ERISA, COBRA, FMLA, ADA, workers’ compensation, Medicare/Social Security, and DOL requirements

Nice To Haves

Workday experience preferred

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary contact for employee benefits, leave of absence, disability, and workers’ compensation questions and requests
Educate employees regarding eligibility, enrollment, qualifying life events, and benefit programs
Process benefit enrollments, terminations, COBRA coordination, status changes, and qualifying life events within HRIS and vendor systems
Administer programs in accordance with ERISA, HIPAA, ACA, COBRA, FMLA, and other applicable federal and state laws
Maintain current knowledge of benefit laws, leave of absence regulations, and industry best practices
Partner with benefit carriers and third-party administrators to resolve escalated employee issues and ensure service level expectations are met
Troubleshoot issues and escalate complex benefit, leave, and accommodation issues to the Manager, Benefits
Prepare and analyze routine benefit and leave utilization reports
Monitor benefit trends, leave activity, and program participation to support decision-making and compliance efforts
Administer leave of absence cases (FMLA, ADA, state-specific leave, personal leave, disability, etc.), ensuring compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations
Provide guidance to employees regarding leaves of absence and disability entitlements
Maintain data integrity to ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations and track return-to-work timelines
Maintain accurate leave, and employee data within HRIS and vendor systems
Process reasonable accommodation requests in compliance with ADA standards
Coordinate with employees, leaders, leave carrier, Human Resources, and Payroll to ensure leaves of absence and disability claims are processed accurately and timely
Conduct periodic reviews of leave administration practices to promote consistency, accuracy, and compliance
Establish and maintain standardized leave administration processes, templates, forms, and best practices
Draft and support employee communications related to benefits and wellness programs, including open enrollment content
Update benefits information on company intranet as needed
Support implementation of new programs and process improvements from planning through rollout, including communications and employee education
Support open enrollment preparation, testing, employee communications, and employee assistance
Participate in compliance audits
Plan and support implementation of employee well-being initiatives
Responsible for reconciling benefit-related invoices with enrollment records
Route invoices for processing and payment
Track vendor invoices and payments to ensure timely remittance
Proactively identify and resolve billing discrepancies, partnering directly with vendors and Finance to correct errors