Benefits Specialist

Newforma•Boston, MA

About The Position

The Benefits Specialist owns the day-to-day delivery and ongoing improvement of Newforma's benefits programs, primarily in the US and Canada, while supporting smaller employee populations in the UK, Germany, Singapore and Australia. This hands-on role serves as the company’s go-to resource for benefits, anticipates and resolves issues, and brings clear recommendations. The role administers benefits programs, leads open enrollment and renewals, reviews invoices and reconciles them with enrollment and payroll deductions, and manages relationships with brokers, carriers and plan administrators. It coordinates benefits and HR compliance reporting and audits, administers leaves of absence across multiple jurisdictions, and maintains accurate benefits data in UKG in coordination with payroll. The Benefits Specialist also reviews and helps design benefits and wellbeing programs, responds to employee questions, creates clear benefits communications, and stays current on US and Canadian regulatory changes. Up to 10% travel is required for company and team events.

Requirements

3 to 5+ years of hands-on benefits administration experience covering both US and Canadian plans.
Experience leading open enrollment and plan renewals from start to finish.
Working knowledge of health and welfare plans, retirement plans (401(k) and Canadian group retirement plans), continuation coverage, and US state and Canadian provincial leave requirements.
Experience reconciling benefits invoices and managing broker and vendor relationships.
Experience coordinating compliance reporting and audits, such as 401(k), workers' compensation, EEO-1 and ACA reporting.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain benefits clearly to employees and managers.
Sound judgment about when to resolve an issue independently and when to escalate, with a recommendation in hand.
Experience with an HRIS or benefits administration system and strong Excel skills.
Ability to handle sensitive information with discretion and professionalism.
Ability to travel up to 10% for company and team events.

Nice To Haves

Experience with benefits outside North America, including the UK, Germany, Singapore or Australia.
Experience leading a broker, carrier or plan administrator transition.
Experience at a software company or another fast-moving, growing business.
A benefits certification such as CEBS, GBA or similar.
Bilingual in English and French.
Experience with UKG.

Responsibilities

Administer benefits programs across the US and Canada and partner with local brokers to support employees in the UK, Germany, Singapore and Australia.
Lead annual open enrollment and plan renewals from planning through go-live, ensuring plan setup, rates, system configuration and employee communications are accurate and timely.
Review and reconcile monthly invoices against enrollment and payroll deductions, partnering with Finance and Payroll to identify and correct discrepancies.
Serve as the main point of contact for brokers, carriers and plan administrators; manage service expectations and lead plan or vendor transitions, including setup, data transfer and employee communications.
Coordinate required benefits and HR compliance reporting across the US and Canada, including the annual 401(k) audit, workers' compensation audits, EEO-1 and ACA reporting, Form 5500 filings and required notices such as Medicare Part D.
Administer leaves of absence across US states, Canadian provinces and other countries, coordinating eligibility, benefits continuation, payroll and return to work with employees, managers and vendors.
Process enrollments, life events and terminations, maintaining accurate benefits data in UKG and keeping it in sync with payroll.
Review and help design benefits and wellbeing programs, including wellness, tuition reimbursement and other perks; compare offerings with the market and across countries and make recommendations.
Respond to employee benefits questions and resolve issues fully and with care.
Create plain-language benefits communications, guides and FAQs.
Stay current on US and Canadian benefits regulations and flag changes affecting plans or processes.