Sr Benefits Specialist

HH Health System•Huntsville, AL

About The Position

Serves as a member of the Human Resources team, providing information and service to employees, managers, and external customers. Leads benefits projects, including implementing new benefits, making benefit changes, onboarding new carriers or partners, and bringing new employee groups onto benefits and into Lawson. Supports administration of the Huntsville Hospital benefits program, including new employee orientation, employee education, benefit changes, employee recognition programs, and benefit communications. Advises employees on eligibility and provisions for health, dental, vision, 401(k), 457(b), group life insurance, and short- and long-term disability plans. The role also includes new-hire and miscellaneous benefits data entry and providing telephone and front-desk backup support. The specialist leads system-wide Open Enrollment and designs and delivers employee benefits education and communications. The role collaborates with internal and system-wide teams, consultants, carriers, and vendors to support compliant, effective benefit plans and practices. Responsibilities may include managing daily administration of retirement plans, FSA, HSA, and COBRA; ensuring timely and accurate plan funding; improving administrative processes; supporting audits and compliance; and managing projects involving new employee groups, benefits programs, and employee communications.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college; comparable education and experience will be considered.
At least two years of Human Resources experience working with or administering employee benefit plans.
Excellent public speaking skills and comfort speaking in front of groups.
Ability to multitask, manage projects, collaborate with internal and System teams, and maintain strong attention to detail.

Nice To Haves

Degree preferably in Human Resources, Business Management, or Marketing/Public Relations.
Experience in Marketing/Public Relations, public speaking, business writing, or event planning.

Responsibilities

Lead annual benefits Open Enrollment across the HH EMS System, coordinating the guide, schedule, reviews, updates, resources, and system-wide efforts.
Collaborate with internal and system-wide teams and consultants to ensure benefit plans and practices are legally compliant, well communicated, and understood by employees.
Design and implement benefits education and communications, including writing and teaching in-person classes, developing targeted videos, conducting pop-up sessions, and evaluating communication methods.
Work with Corporate University and/or external resources to launch classes addressing employee needs.
Plan and lead periodic System Benefits meetings, coordinate resources and knowledge sharing, visit affiliated hospitals to understand their needs, and build collaborative relationships across sites.
Manage benefits-team projects when new employee groups are added to benefits and Lawson; lead transition meetings, coordinate with HRIS, support payroll testing and go-live, and train groups on benefits, Lawson entry, and vendor data processes.
Identify administrative issues and opportunities in benefit plans, analyze them, and develop and implement solutions.
Administer assigned benefit programs, potentially including retirement plans, FSA, HSA, and COBRA, working with vendors on data integrity, participant education, plan design, administration, and changes.
Ensure timely and accurate funding of HH Health System and HH EMS retirement plans and HSA for regular payroll cycles and quarterly employer contributions; resolve funding issues related to payroll changes.
Implement needed programs, such as onboarding groups to FMLA Source, rolling out Total Rewards Statements, and improving communication of employee discounts.
Work with the HR management team to evaluate and recommend cybersecurity preparations that support continuity of departmental services during a cyberattack.
Research options for additional System employee benefits, discuss alternatives with System teams, and recommend changes.
Identify and implement audit procedures for benefits processes, including Open Enrollment.
Develop relationships with consultants, carriers, and benefit vendors.
Monitor current and upcoming projects to support effective progress and completion.
Perform daily administrative work as needed, including benefits data entry, researching and answering employee questions, coordinating updates, processing education reimbursement, assisting with ACA compliance and compensation data, and coordinating issues with HRIS.
Provide information and service to employees, managers, and external customers; support orientations, benefit changes, recognition programs, benefit communications, telephone coverage, and front-desk backup.
Manage multiple tasks and projects and collaborate with internal and System teams with strong attention to detail.