Benefits Specialist

Alliance Animal Health•Rye Brook, NY

About The Position

The Benefits Specialist coordinates employee benefits and leave-of-absence administration across Alliance Animal Health’s multi-state organization. The role supports day-to-day benefit programs, leave requests, and workplace accommodations, partnering with teammates, practice leadership, HR Partners, Payroll, benefit carriers, and third-party administrators. The Specialist maintains accurate records, follows up promptly, resolves administrative issues, and communicates clearly to support a positive teammate experience. Responsibilities include coordinating leave cases from initiation through return to work or closure; monitoring deadlines and outstanding documentation; supporting accommodation requests; processing benefit enrollments and eligibility changes; answering benefit questions; assisting with open enrollment, audits, and reporting; and maintaining confidential records in HRIS and vendor systems. The role also requires working knowledge of applicable benefit, leave, and accommodation requirements, escalating complex cases and identifying opportunities to improve processes and communications.

Requirements

At least 3 years of experience in employee benefits administration, leave administration, or human resources with significant benefits-related responsibilities.
Strong working knowledge of medical, dental, vision, life, disability, retirement, and voluntary benefit programs.
Experience administering benefit enrollments, qualifying life events, and eligibility changes, and resolving employee benefit inquiries.
Working knowledge of applicable federal and state benefits and leave regulations, including ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, and ADA.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to independently manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex information clearly and professionally.
Critical thinking skills, sound judgment, and the ability to follow issues through to resolution.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, and experience using HRIS or benefits administration systems.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion when handling sensitive employee information.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting leave-of-absence administration, workplace accommodations, and state paid leave programs.
Experience administering benefits or leave programs across multiple states.
Experience working with third-party administrators, insurance carriers, brokers, or other benefit vendors.
Familiarity with ADP Workforce Now or a similar HRIS platform.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary internal contact for teammates, practice leadership, and HR partners on leave processes, case status, and next steps.
Coordinate leave case activities from initiation through return to work or closure, working with the third-party leave administrator to ensure timely follow-up and accurate documentation.
Monitor active and pending leave cases, track deadlines, and follow up on outstanding documentation, extensions, and anticipated return-to-work dates.
Support workplace accommodation requests by coordinating documentation, facilitating communication, and escalating matters requiring additional review.
Coordinate with HR Partners, Payroll, and other stakeholders on leave-related status changes, benefit deductions, return-to-work requirements, and administrative matters.
Support day-to-day administration of medical, dental, vision, life, disability, retirement, and voluntary benefit programs.
Process and review benefit enrollments, qualifying life events, eligibility changes, and terminations accurately and promptly.
Respond to teammate benefit inquiries and coordinate with carriers, vendors, and internal partners to resolve administrative issues.
Assist with annual open enrollment, benefit communications, employee education, and other benefits initiatives.
Support benefit audits, eligibility reconciliations, and routine reporting.
Maintain working knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local benefit, leave, and accommodation requirements.
Maintain accurate and confidential benefits and leave records in internal tracking tools, HRIS, and vendor systems.
Identify and escalate complex cases and compliance concerns, and recommend improvements to administrative processes, communications, and workflows.