BENEFITS SPECIALIST

Community Mainstreaming Associates•Westbury, NY

3h•$55,000 - $60,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Benefits Specialist is responsible for administering and managing all employee benefits programs and leave of absence processes. This includes health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, retirement plans, and wellness initiatives, as well as federal, state, and employer-sponsored leaves such as FMLA, Paid Family Leave (PFL), Workers' Compensation, and Disability. This role ensures compliance with applicable laws and policies and provides excellent service to employees throughout their benefits and leave experiences.

Requirements

Associate or bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration, or related field is preferred
2+ years of experience in benefits and/or leave of absence administration.
Familiarity with FMLA, PFL, ADA, Workers’ Compensation, and disability programs.
Knowledge of relevant employment laws and benefits regulations.
Experience with HRIS and benefits systems (ADP).
Strong communication, problem-solving, and customer service skills.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and manage sensitive information.
Smartphone required.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary point of contact for employee questions regarding eligibility, coverage and provision for our health, dental, vision, life, disability insurance, and retirement benefits.
Coordinate benefits enrollment for new hires and process changes due to qualifying life events.
Facilitate annual open enrollment, including preparation of materials, vendor coordination, and employee education.
Maintain accurate benefit records in HRIS and benefit systems; ensure timely updates.
Responsible for all billing and reconciliation of benefit invoices and resolve billing discrepancies with carriers and finance.
Ensure compliance with ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, ACA, and other benefits-related regulations.
Distribute mandatory notices and benefit plan documents.
Support wellness programs, education campaigns, and benefit-related employee communications.
Manage all aspects of employee leaves of absence, including FMLA, Paid Family Leave (PFL), Workers' Compensation, Short-Term Disability (STD), and Long-Term Disability (LTD).
Communicate leave eligibility, required documentation, and timelines to employees.
Coordinate with third-party administrators, insurance carriers, and internal departments (e.g., payroll) to ensure timely processing of leave claims and pay.
Track leave usage and maintain accurate records of employee status and return-to-work dates.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local leave laws and organizational policies.
Provide support and guidance to managers on employee leave processes and coverage planning.

Benefits

Medical Benefits: Generous employer contribution; eligibility begins the first day of the month following 60 days of employment.
Dental Benefits: Employer-paid.
Vision Plan
Accident Insurance
Critical Illness Insurance
Pet Insurance
Identity Theft & Fraud Protection
Legal Services
403(B) Retirement Plan: Organization match of up to 5%.
Life Insurance: Employer sponsored
Tuition Assistance
Section 125 Flexible Spending Program
Additional Voluntary Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability Benefits
Up to 80 hours of vacation during the first calendar year of employment. Employees accrue an additional 8 vacation hours each subsequent calendar year, up to a maximum of 120 hours.
Up to 40 hours of personal time per calendar year.
10 paid holidays.
As a non-profit organization, we offer employees the opportunity to qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.