Benefits Specialist

Toyota Boshoku America•Erlanger, KY

13d•Onsite

About The Position

Responsible for the daily administration of all health and welfare programs, and provide ongoing industry related analysis. This role involves developing and administering benefit programs, providing support to field HR representatives, and performing specialized technical tasks such as benchmark evaluation and technical research. The Benefits Specialist will prepare reports, graphs, charts, and statistical analyses for HR, senior, and executive management, and may present proposals to executive management. The position also entails leading and/or supporting the administration and analysis of benefit and retirement programs, analyzing escalated issues, interpreting plan documents, and implementing solutions for eligibility, claims, appeals, and plan transactions. Additionally, the role involves auditing plan costs, managing vendor billing, maintaining historical costs for budgeting, and collaborating with Accounting & Finance. Compliance with legal and regulatory requirements for benefit and retirement plans is crucial. The Benefits Specialist will research and recommend potential design changes, lead or participate in cross-functional project teams, manage day-to-day vendor relationships, conduct new hire benefits orientation, and lead or support the annual enrollment process. The role also includes administering additional benefit programs, assisting with company leave of absence policies, managing programs promoting preventive awareness and healthy lifestyles, supporting new program initiatives, and assisting with HRIS administration. Following safety, quality, confidentiality, and information security policies is also required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field required, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
Greater than six (6) years of relevant experience required.
Minimum of two (2) years of experience in administering benefit programs.
Strong attention to detail.
Strong presentation and delivery skills.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to work with multiple departments and prioritize activities.
Ability to create reports, business correspondence, and procedures.
Ability to exercise exceptional independent judgment and discretion.
Perceptive person, who is capable of relating to individuals at all levels.
Ability to communicate and work well with all levels of the organization.
Ability to take initiative on assigned tasks without significant supervision.
Be able to maintain the confidentiality of any information encountered.
Excellent project skills and ability to coordinate multiple projects and programs.
Ability to compile effective and concise visual reports in charts, graphs, and table format.
Ability to work independently, specifically on assignments which are broad in nature and require originality and ingenuity.
Strong administrative, multitasking, analytical, and organizational skills to be able to coordinate human resource activities and functions.
As unique situations present themselves, the incumbent must be sensitive to Toyota Boshoku America’s (TBA’s) needs, team member goodwill, and the public image.
Strong verbal and written communication skills in English.
Advanced working knowledge and experience with Microsoft Office and other computer-based applications (e.g., MS Excel, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, Outlook, Internet, etc.).
Experience working with HRIS and other business enterprise systems.

Nice To Haves

Designation as Certified Compensation Professional (CCP), Professional in Human Resources (PHR), Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), or Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) preferred.
Corporate and manufacturing setting experience preferred.
HRIS administration and implementation experience preferred.
Thorough understanding and working knowledge of TBA’s organization, automotive plants and processes/principles, company products, trade terminology, manufacturing processes, tooling and equipment, and machine operation is a plus.
Japanese, Spanish, and/or Portuguese would be helpful.
Oracle experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Developing and administering benefit programs and providing support to field HR representatives at plant locations.
Performing specialized technical tasks, such as benchmark evaluation and technical research.
Preparing reports, graphs, charts, and statistical analyses to support ongoing activities and proposals to HR, senior, and executive management.
Leading and/or supporting the administration and conduct ongoing analysis of TBA benefit and retirement programs.
Analyzing escalated issues, interpreting plan documents, and identifying and implementing solutions for eligibility, claims, appeals, plan transactions, etc.
Auditing ongoing plan costs, preparing and managing vendor billing, maintaining historical costs for annual budgeting, and working with A&F to answer routine questions, identify discrepancies, and capture costs associated with company benefit programs.
Complying with all legal and regulatory requirements to maintain benefit and retirement plans favorable status with the federal government (e.g., 5500 filings, annual or semi-annual audits, etc.).
Researching evidence and performing analysis to recommend potential design changes.
Leading or participating in cross-functional project teams (e.g., IT, Accounting and Finance) to support program changes, new programs, and/or vendor relationships.
Managing day to day vendor relationships.
Conducting new hire benefits orientation, maintaining and updating benefits material as needed.
Leading or supporting the TBA annual enrollment process.
Administering additional benefit programs.
Assisting in the administration of company leave of absence policies coordinated with an outsourced and centralized leave administration Third Party Administrator (TPA).
Managing programs or events promoting preventive awareness and healthy lifestyle choices, which ultimately provide favorable impact on company benefit programs.
Leading or providing support as new programs arise.
Supporting HRIS administration and activities.
Following safety, quality, confidentiality, and information security policies and procedures.