Benefits Specialist

Shurtape Technologies • Hickory, NC

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Benefits Specialist serves as the primary administrator and subject matter expert for the Company’s health and welfare benefit programs, ensuring the accurate, compliant, and efficient administration of employee and retiree benefits. This role independently manages day-to-day benefit operations, including health, welfare, disability, leave, COBRA, flexible spending, and retiree programs. The Benefits Specialist serves as a trusted resource for employees, leaders, vendors, and third-party administrators, partnering cross-functionally to deliver exceptional service, maintain data integrity, ensure regulatory compliance, drive continuous process improvement, and safeguard highly confidential employee, medical, and compensation-related information.

Requirements

• Advanced knowledge of employee benefit plan administration, including health and welfare, disability, leave management, COBRA, and retirement-related benefits.
• Demonstrated knowledge of applicable federal and state regulations, including HIPAA, ERISA, COBRA, FMLA, ADA, ACA, Section 125 plans, Medicare, Social Security, and DOL requirements.
• Strong customer service, consultation, and relationship management skills with the ability to effectively communicate complex benefit information to employees at all levels.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities independently while maintaining exceptional attention to detail, accuracy, and confidentiality.
• Strong analytical, auditing, problem-solving, and decision-making skills with the ability to identify trends, resolve discrepancies, and recommend improvements.
• Experience managing vendor and third-party administrator relationships and service delivery.
• Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel for data analysis.
• Experience with HRIS and benefits administration systems; Paycom experience preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field preferred; equivalent combination of education and experience considered.
• 5+ years of progressively responsible experience in employee benefits administration, leave management, or total rewards.

Nice To Haves

• SHRM-CP, PHR, CEBS, or related professional certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Administer and serve as the primary subject matter expert for all health and welfare benefit programs, including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), COBRA, leave of absence programs, and retiree benefits.
• Manage all aspects of benefit eligibility, enrollments, life events, beneficiary changes, terminations, claims administration, and questions while ensuring accuracy and compliance.
• Oversee administration of FMLA, Short-Term Disability (STD), Long-Term Disability (LTD), and other leave programs, including employee guidance, issue resolution, vendor coordination, reporting, and payroll partnership.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for employees, managers, vendors, and third-party administrators, providing exceptional customer service and resolving complex benefits issues.
• Maintain and manage vendor relationships, ensuring accurate data exchanges, timely issue resolution, service delivery, and compliance with plan provisions.
• Review, audit, and reconcile eligibility files, payroll deductions, COBRA administration, dependent verification, and carrier records to ensure data integrity and accuracy.
• Investigate and resolve benefit discrepancies, escalated employee concerns, and administrative issues, making recommendations and implementing corrective actions as needed.
• Develop, maintain, and communicate benefit procedures, educational materials, and employee communications to enhance understanding and utilization of benefit programs.
• Support annual Open Enrollment activities, including system configuration, testing, communications, employee education, auditing, and vendor coordination.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations governing employee benefits, maintaining required documentation, reporting, and audit readiness.
• Support wellness, health management, and employee engagement initiatives while identifying opportunities to improve benefit administration processes and employee experience.
• Handle confidential employee, medical, and organizational information with the highest degree of discretion and professionalism.

Benefits

• A company that truly values your contributions
• A place where you can grow, make an impact, and be part of something meaningful
• A focus on excellence and continuous improvement, ensuring we deliver top-quality, reliable solutions to our customers
• An environment where employees are encouraged to bring their best ideas forward and adopt a growth mindset

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree