Senior HR Generalist - Benefits & Operations

United Educators•Bethesda, MD

6h•$90,000 - $120,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior HR Generalist – Benefits & Operations is a senior individual contributor providing broad People & Culture support across United Educators, with particular expertise and ownership in employee benefits and wellbeing programs. The role is the primary internal resource for employee benefits, including health and welfare plans, retirement programs, leave administration, wellness initiatives, compliance, and vendor relationships. It partners with employees, leaders, and internal and external partners to administer programs effectively and provide a positive employee experience. The position also supports employee relations, performance management, compensation, compliance, policy administration, P&C operations, and other organizational initiatives. It requires sound judgment, discretion, strong problem-solving skills, independent management of responsibilities, and collaboration across the organization. The role requires adherence to United Educators' cybersecurity policies and industry best practices, incorporating security-conscious practices into daily work and completing required security training. The position is based in a hybrid work environment. The requirements specify working in the Bethesda, Maryland office three days per week; the benefits section describes a typical schedule of two to three office days per week following initial training.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in human resources, business administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
Typically requires seven years of progressive HR experience, with significant hands-on responsibility for employee benefits and leave administration.
Ability to work in the Bethesda, Maryland office three days per week.
Demonstrated experience administering health and welfare benefits and retirement programs.
Working knowledge of benefits-related requirements, including ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, and applicable leave requirements.
Experience supporting employee relations and broader P&C generalist responsibilities.
Experience working with benefits brokers, carriers, payroll providers, and other P&C vendors.
Strong analytical skills and attention to detail and accuracy.
Ability to handle confidential and sensitive employee information with sound judgment and discretion.
Strong organizational and project-management skills, including the ability to independently manage multiple priorities and recurring deadlines.
Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to work effectively with employees and leaders at all levels.
Demonstrated problem-solving skills, including identifying issues, determining root causes, and recommending practical solutions.
Proficiency with HRIS, benefits, payroll, and Microsoft Office applications.
Ability to work effectively in an evolving environment and take ownership with limited day-to-day direction.

Nice To Haves

Working knowledge of payroll processes and experience coordinating payroll-related employee, compensation, and benefits information.
PHR, SHRM-CP, CEBS, or another relevant HR or benefits certification.

Responsibilities

Administer employee benefits programs, including medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, disability, flexible spending accounts, retirement plans, paid time off, and voluntary benefits.
Serve as the primary employee contact for benefits questions, provide timely and accurate guidance, and resolve complex benefit issues.
Lead annual open enrollment planning and administration, including system coordination, employee communications, education, enrollment, and plan-change implementation.
Manage benefits enrollments, qualifying life events, terminations, and other changes, coordinating accurate information and file feeds with carriers and vendors.
Coordinate leave administration and the interaction among employee leave, benefits, disability programs, and payroll.
Support retirement-plan administration, including contributions, employee inquiries, compliance activities, testing, audits, and coordination with external providers.
Partner with P&C leadership, brokers, consultants, and vendors on benefit renewals, plan design, cost analysis, utilization trends, and recommendations.
Support compliance with benefits requirements, including ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, ERISA, and other federal and state requirements.
Coordinate wellness initiatives and develop employee communications and educational materials about benefit programs.
Communicate new hires, terminations, salary changes, bonuses, benefit deductions, and other payroll-affecting employee changes accurately and on time.
Reconcile benefit elections and deductions against payroll and carrier information and resolve discrepancies.
Support year-end compensation and payroll activities, payroll and benefits audits, and related documentation and reporting.
Guide employees and managers on workplace matters, policies, practices, and employee relations concerns.
Support and, as appropriate, lead employee relations matters, investigations, corrective actions, and documentation in partnership with P&C leadership.
Help managers apply P&C policies and practices consistently; identify emerging employee issues and escalate sensitive or higher-risk matters as appropriate.
Maintain appropriate, confidential documentation related to employee matters.
Support annual compensation processes, including merit increases, promotions, salary changes, and incentive payments.
Conduct position benchmarking and compensation analysis and support compensation surveys and pay equity reviews.
Support the performance management cycle through communications, process tracking, and manager guidance; partner with P&C leadership on performance matters and manager calibration.
Provide general support for career development, talent planning, and succession activities as needed.
Maintain working knowledge of employment and benefits laws and support updates to policies, the employee handbook, procedures, notices, and filings.
Support internal and external audits involving benefits, payroll, retirement plans, and other P&C matters.
Maintain accurate records and coordinate employee information across P&C, benefits, payroll, and related systems.
Identify opportunities to improve processes, controls, employee service, and operational efficiency.
Manage assigned P&C vendors and relationships, support budget monitoring as appropriate, and participate in broader P&C projects and initiatives.
Follow cybersecurity policies and industry best practices, protect company and member data, and complete required security training.

Benefits

Medical coverage with prescription and telehealth benefits.
HSA with employer contribution.
Dental and vision coverage.
Employer-paid basic life insurance.
Short- and long-term disability coverage.
401(k) with an immediate 3% employer safe harbor contribution.
After one year, eligibility for an additional 7% employer profit-sharing contribution and a 25% match on the first 5% of employee contributions.
Employer retirement contributions are immediately vested.
24 days of annual PTO during the first two years, increasing to 30 days beginning in the third year.
11 paid holidays, including a floating holiday.
Eligibility for a performance-based bonus.
Hybrid work environment, typically two to three days in the office per week following initial training.
Employee events and monthly lunches.
Opportunities to participate in Employee Resource Groups, the Social Committee, and IDEA.