HR Benefits Coordinator

Cayuga Health System•City of Ithaca, NY

5d•$21 - $25•Onsite

About The Position

The Benefits Coordinator serves as a primary point of contact for employees seeking assistance with Health & Welfare benefit questions and enrollment activities. This role focuses on customer service, employee education, and accurate transaction support. The purpose of this role is to ensure employees receive timely, clear, and compassionate assistance throughout their benefits experience, including escalation of complex or sensitive issues through established channels.

Requirements

Associate's or Bachelor's degree in business, human resources, healthcare administration, or a related field with 2+ years of experience; or
Equivalent Experience: 6+ years of benefit administration experience.
Ability to remain in a stationary position for extended periods and operate standard office equipment, including computers and telephones.
Ability to move about the workspace and attend meetings across multiple facilities, both on-site and virtually, as needed to perform essential duties.
Ability to occasionally move or lift materials weighing up to 25 pounds.
Must be able to work in typical office conditions, with occasional exposure to varied temperatures when traveling between sites or departments.
Must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a shared services, HR operations, or benefits support environment

Responsibilities

Serve as a first-line contact for employee inquiries related to benefits eligibility, enrollment, life events, and coverage changes.
Provide clear, accurate explanations of benefit options, plan rules, and enrollment timelines using prepared materials and job aids.
Assist employees in navigating benefit systems and completing required forms or actions.
Route non-routine, regulatory, or complex benefit issues to appropriate Total Rewards team members.
Support new hire onboarding and qualifying life event processing within defined service level expectations
Provide direct employee assistance during Open Enrollment, including answering questions, guiding system navigation, and reinforcing deadlines.
Support communication effort execution by referencing approved materials and instructions.
Assist with tracking participation and escalating employee issues as needed during peak enrollment periods.
Maintain accurate case notes, employee records, and benefit documentation in designated systems.
Ensure data integrity, privacy, and compliance with data protection regulations.
Track recurring employee questions or issues and elevate trends to leader.
Follow service delivery workflows, escalation protocols, and quality standards.
Participate in team training, updates, and process improvements related to benefits customer service delivery.
Promote a positive, respectful, and service-oriented experience aligned with organizational values.
Maintain up to date awareness of HR policies, procedures, and legal regulations.
Support employee engagement initiatives on a system-wide basis and improve employee engagement.