Benefits Specialist

Alliance Animal Health•Village of Rye Brook, NY

About The Position

The Benefits Specialist is an internal resource responsible for coordinating employee benefits and leave-of-absence administration across Alliance Animal Health's multi-state organization. The role supports the day-to-day administration of benefit programs, leave requests, and workplace accommodations, working closely with teammates, practice leadership, HR Partners, Payroll, benefit carriers, and third-party administrators. The position maintains accurate records, coordinates timely follow-up, resolves administrative issues, and communicates clearly and consistently to support a positive teammate experience. Success requires strong organization and follow-through, sound judgment, excellent communication, attention to detail, and working knowledge of employee benefits, leave administration, and applicable compliance requirements.

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 employee benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, retirement, and voluntary benefits.
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, attention to detail, and 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 point of contact for teammates, practice leadership, and HR Partners on leave processes, case status, and next steps.
Coordinate leave cases from initiation through return to work or closure, partnering 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 further review.
Coordinate with HR Partners, Payroll, and other stakeholders on leave-related employee 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.
Respond to teammate inquiries and coordinate with carriers, vendors, and internal partners to resolve eligibility, enrollment, coverage, and other administrative issues.
Assist with annual open enrollment, benefits communications, employee education, and related initiatives.
Support benefit audits, eligibility reconciliations, and routine reporting.
Maintain working knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local benefit, leave, and accommodation requirements, including FMLA, ADA, PWFA, and relevant state leave programs.
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 identify opportunities to improve administrative processes, communications, and workflows.