Specialist, Talent - Benefits

Uncommon Schools•New York, NY

40d•$78,800 - $92,700•Hybrid

About The Position

The Specialist, Talent - Benefits plays a vital role in delivering a supportive and comprehensive total rewards experience for Uncommon Schools staff members. By ensuring the smooth day-to-day administration of employee benefits programs, this role directly supports the well-being of the educators and staff dedicated to fulfilling our mission. The Specialist serves as the primary point of contact for benefits inquiries, ensuring staff receive accurate, timely, and empathetic guidance throughout their employment journey. This role, working closely with internal teams and external vendors, manages benefits operations, open enrollment, and ongoing compliance. Ultimately, the Specialist helps foster an environment in which staff feel valued and supported, enabling them to focus on driving exceptional student outcomes.

Requirements

3–4 years of relevant experience in benefits administration, human resources, or total rewards.
Strong knowledge of health and welfare benefits administration, retirement plans, and leaves of absence management.
Familiarity with federal, state, and local labor laws and regulations related to employee benefits (e.g., ACA, FMLA, COBRA, ERISA).
Proficiency with HRIS platforms and spreadsheet tools for data tracking, auditing, and reporting.
Strong written and verbal communication skills with a customer-service orientation.

Nice To Haves

Experience using human resources management systems (HRMS) or specialized benefits administration platforms.
Prior experience working in a multi-site or mission-driven organization.
Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) or related HR credential.

Responsibilities

Administer day-to-day operations for health, dental, vision, life, disability, and retirement plans.
Process employee enrollments, terminations, status changes, and qualifying life events in the HR Information System (HRIS).
Conduct regular audits of vendor billing statements to ensure accuracy, resolve discrepancies, and process invoices for payment.
Oversee leaves of absence administration, partnering with staff and third-party vendors to manage FMLA, paid parental leave, and disability claims.
Serve as the main point of contact for staff inquiries regarding benefits coverage, eligibility, claims, and enrollment processes.
Provide clear, empathetic, and timely communication to resolve complex benefits issues and elevate the overall employee experience.
Collaborate with payroll and talent teams to ensure accurate premium deductions, benefits setup, and seamless onboarding/offboarding workflows.
Partner with third-party vendors and brokers to resolve escalated claims issues and maintain high service delivery standards.
Support the planning and execution of the annual open enrollment process, including communications, system configuration, and vendor setup.
Maintain accurate employee benefits records, documentation, and reporting within HR systems to support data integrity.
Identify opportunities to streamline administrative workflows and improve benefits operational efficiencies.
Draft and update benefits communications, guides, and educational materials to help staff make informed decisions.
Ensure benefits programs comply with federal, state, and local regulations, including ERISA, ACA, FMLA, and COBRA.
Prepare data submissions for annual compliance reporting, audits, and mandatory filings.
Monitor regulatory updates to help keep organizational policies and plan documentation current.