Benefits Specialist

Westat•Bethesda, MD

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

Westat is seeking a Benefits Specialist to support the daily operations of our group benefits programs—including medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, travel accident, flexible spending accounts—as well as our retirement benefits offerings. This role provides hands-on program administration, delivers exceptional customer service, and supports ongoing improvement of benefit processes, analytics, and systems.

Requirements

Typically requires a bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
3+ years of benefits administration experience, including health insurance.

Nice To Haves

Strong knowledge of federal and state benefits regulations.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel (pivot tables) and PowerPoint.
Experience with HRIS platforms (Workday strongly preferred).
Experience with system integrations and process automation.
Knowledge of Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOP) is a plus.
PHR/CP certification preferred.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Proven ability to collaborate effectively with teams, managers, and clients.
Excellent organizational skills and time management.
High attention to detail.

Responsibilities

Administer day-to-day benefits operations and respond to employee inquiries.
Conduct New Hire Orientation sessions and provide benefits education.
Support Open Enrollment activities, including creating presentations, preparing materials, and coordinating communications.
Partner with HRIS and Benefits teams to lead Workday benefits configurations, testing, and development of new automations.
Assist in completing benefit surveys and Open Enrollment surveys.
Collaborate with Payroll to ensure accurate benefit deductions.
Process benefit invoices and coordinate non-discrimination testing with third party vendors.
Support ACA compliance activities, including Form 1095-Cs and federal/state filings.
Assist with wellness program initiatives.
Identify opportunities to streamline, automate, and enhance benefit processes.
Contribute to additional projects as assigned.