Total Rewards Specialist

Service Coordination Careers•Owings Mills, MD

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Total Rewards Specialist supports Team Member Operations (TMO) by serving as the primary analyst for benefits administration, HRIS processes, reporting, and total rewards systems. This role combines deep expertise in benefits operations with strong UKG and HRIS capabilities to ensure Team Members experience accurate, efficient, and people-first support. The Total Rewards Specialist is responsible for administering benefit programs, supporting HRIS configuration and troubleshooting, managing vendor interfaces, producing data and analytics, and driving process improvement initiatives. This role serves as the key liaison between TMO, Payroll, IT, vendors, and shared HRIS resources to ensure the organization’s people systems and total rewards programs operate effectively and compliantly. This role directly supports TMO’s mission to deliver equitable compensation, competitive benefits, reliable People systems, and compliant processes through responsive service and data-driven solutions.

Requirements

Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in benefits administration, HRIS, or total rewards
Minimum of 2 years of hands-on experience with UKG Pro, UKG BI, or similar HRIS platforms
Experience managing benefit plan setup, vendor interfaces, and payroll deductions
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret data and identify trends
Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, pivot tables, formulas, and data reconciliation
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and maintain confidentiality
Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively to Team Members, leaders, and vendors

Nice To Haves

Experience in a nonprofit, healthcare, or human services environment
Experience with self-funded health plans and benefits cost containment strategies
Experience supporting UKG Managed Services and UKG integrations
Knowledge of CareFirst Administrators, Guardian, Optum, PlanSource, Voya, and PSA Insurance
Experience with benefits analytics, claims reporting, and open enrollment strategy
Professional certifications such as: CEBS, CBP, HRIP, PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP
Experience supporting mergers, acquisitions, or large-scale HRIS implementations

Responsibilities

Administer and support all health and welfare benefit programs, including medical, prescription, dental, vision, life, disability, accident, HSA, FSA, COBRA, wellness, and retirement programs
Serve as primary point of contact for benefit-related Team Member inquiries and escalations
Coordinate and process qualifying life events, new hire enrollments, terminations, retirements, and annual open enrollment changes
Maintain accurate benefit plan setup, deductions, and eligibility rules within UKG
Partner with vendors and brokers to resolve issues, including: CareFirst Administrators, Guardian, Optum, PlanSource, Voya, PSA Insurance, UKG Managed Services
Reconcile carrier invoices, payroll deductions, enrollment files, HSA/FSA funding, COBRA activity, and retirement deductions
Support annual benefits renewal, open enrollment planning, communication testing, and post-enrollment audits
Assist with the transition of wellness initiatives following the sunset of Burnalong and support future wellness program administration
Serve as Team Member Operations’ primary UKG Pro and UKG BI subject matter expert
Configure and maintain benefit plans, deduction codes, workflows, eligibility rules, notifications, security roles, and reporting structures within UKG
Manage and troubleshoot inbound and outbound file feeds between UKG and external vendors
Identify, investigate, and resolve data discrepancies, integration failures, payroll errors, and system issues
Create and maintain process documentation, testing scripts, desk procedures, and standard operating procedures
Develop and maintain recurring reports and dashboards using UKG BI, Excel, and other reporting tools
Analyze trends related to: Benefits enrollment, Claims and utilization, Per employee per month (PEPM) costs, Turnover and workforce demographics, Open enrollment participation, Vendor performance and service levels
Support reporting and analytics for: Total Rewards Committee, Claims Review Tiger Team, Leadership Team and Board presentations, Annual benefits renewal and plan modeling
Assist with claims cost containment initiatives by tracking high-cost claimants, utilization patterns, case management outcomes, specialty pharmacy trends, and out-of-network activity
Prepare data and analyses to support decision making regarding plan design, contribution strategies, and future-state benefits programs
Support compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, including: ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, ERISA, Section 125, FMLA, 403(b) requirements, SECURE 2.0 provisions
Assist with preparation and coordination of annual compliance activities including: ACA reporting, 5500 filings, Nondiscrimination testing, Audit requests, Benefits and payroll reconciliations
Maintain accurate records and documentation to support audits, regulatory inquiries, and internal reviews
Evaluate and improve benefits and HRIS processes to increase efficiency, accuracy, and Team Member experience
Identify opportunities to automate manual processes and improve data integrity
Recommend solutions that align with TMO’s values: People Come First, We Drive Solutions, We Build Connections, We Educate
Develop user guides, FAQs, and training materials for Team Members, leaders, and People & Culture staff
Support special projects related to compensation, wellness, recognition, HRIS enhancements, mergers, acquisitions, or organizational changes