Senior Benefits Specialist – Health & Welfare Compliance

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory•Laurel, MD

About The Position

Do you love health and welfare compliance? Are you searching for important work in human resources with a focus on benefits? If so, we're looking for someone like you to join our team at APL. We are seeking a Senior Benefits Specialist who serves as the subject matter expert on health and welfare plan compliance and administration. This role ensures the organization’s benefit programs remain compliant with federal and state regulations while supporting day-to-day plan operations, vendor management, and employee experience. The incumbent partners closely with HR, Legal, Payroll, and external vendors to maintain the integrity and effectiveness of the company’s benefits programs. As a Senior Benefits Specialist - Health & Welfare Compliance...

Requirements

Possess a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field (or equivalent experience)
Have 5+ years of progressive benefits experience, with emphasis on health and welfare plan compliance and administration
Possess strong knowledge of applicable federal and state benefit regulations
Have experience managing relationships with carriers, brokers, and third-party administrators
Have high attention to detail and strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills
Hold U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status, as required to access APL facilities and networks, subject to applicable laws

Nice To Haves

Are proficient with HRIS/benefits systems and Microsoft Office Suite (especially Excel).
Hold CEBS, CBP, or related certification preferred.

Responsibilities

Ensure compliance with ERISA, HIPAA, ACA, COBRA, Section 125, FMLA, State Leaves, and other federal/state regulations affecting group health and welfare plans.
Prepare, review, and maintain compliance documentation including Summary Plan Descriptions (SPDs), Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBCs), 5500 filings, and required employee notices.
Support nondiscrimination testing, ACA reporting, and audit preparation.
Monitor regulatory changes and partner with legal counsel to interpret and implement new requirements.
Oversee vendor and plan compliance with Business Associate Agreements and data privacy standards.
Provide support to day to day administration of health, dental, vision, life, disability and wellness programs.
Serve as an escalation point for complex employee benefit inquiries and issue resolution.
Collaborate with brokers, carriers, and third-party administrators to ensure accurate eligibility, billing, and claims management.
Participate in annual open enrollment activities, including system setup, employee communications, and vendor coordination.
Audit benefit enrollment data and payroll deductions for accuracy and timeliness.