HR Specialist - Benefits

Melwood•Upper Marlboro, MD

About The Position

This role is responsible for the day-to-day operations of all employee benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, life, short- and long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, and retirement plans. The HR Specialist will coordinate enrollments, terminations, life event changes, and open enrollment activities, ensuring compliance with plan rules and regulations. They will also serve as the primary point of contact for employee inquiries regarding benefits, administer leave and accommodation requests, process benefits invoicing, and prepare reports. Collaboration with internal departments and external vendors is key to ensuring seamless benefits administration and data integrity. The position also involves supporting audits, compliance reviews, and special projects within Total Rewards and Human Resources.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Minimum of 2–5 years of benefits administration experience in a multi-plan environment.
Working knowledge of federal and state regulations affecting employee benefits, including FMLA, ADA, ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, and Section 125.
Experience working with HRIS platforms and external carrier and vendor portals.
Strong customer service, problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, maintain confidentiality, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

Administer day-to-day operations for all employee benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, life, short- and long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, and retirement plans.
Coordinate enrollments, terminations, life event changes, and open enrollment activities in compliance with plan rules and applicable regulations.
Maintain accurate benefits data in the HRIS and carrier portals, ensuring consistency across payroll, vendors, and internal systems.
Partner with insurance carriers, brokers, retirement vendors, and third-party administrators to resolve eligibility, enrollment, billing, and claims issues.
Serve as the first point of contact for employees and internal customers regarding benefit inquiries, coverage issues, and problem resolution.
Provide clear, timely, and customer-focused guidance to employees by translating complex benefits information into understandable terms.
Investigate and resolve benefits-related issues, ensuring positive employee experiences and timely follow-through.
Support employee education through one-on-one consultations, written materials, and group communications as needed.
Administer Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) requests, including intake, tracking, documentation, coordination with vendors, and compliance with federal and state requirements.
Support the administration of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodation requests, including the interactive process, documentation, and coordination with HR leadership and managers.
Maintain confidential records related to leave and accommodation requests consistent with compliance and documentation standards.
Process and assist with benefits invoicing, reconciling carrier bills against HRIS and payroll data to ensure accuracy and timely payment.
Compile data and prepare reports related to benefits costs, eligibility, utilization, and trends as needed.
Support audits, compliance reviews, and data requests related to ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, Section 125, and other applicable benefits regulations.
Participate in the development and maintenance of standard operating procedures (SOPs), job aids, FAQs, and employee communications related to benefits administration.
Collaborate with HR, Payroll, Finance, and other internal stakeholders to ensure seamless benefits administration and data integrity.
Perform special projects and other duties as assigned to support Total Rewards and Human Resources initiatives.