Benefits Specialist Jobs

About The Position

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Seven years of progressively responsible employee benefits administration experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience demonstrating independent retirement plan administration, financial reconciliation, complex issue resolution, and plan audit support.
• Hands-on experience working with Human Capital Management (HCM) systems.
• In-depth knowledge of 403(b) and 457(b) plan compliance, fiduciary standards, nondiscrimination testing, and regulations governing employee benefits, including ERISA, Section 125, COBRA, FMLA, ADA, and HIPAA.
• Strong numerical ability to perform complex payroll deduction audits, reconcile billing discrepancies, validate participant census data, and lead audit preparation.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills to counsel employees sensitively on retirement transitions and deliver group presentations.
• Ability to evaluate workflows, diagnose causes of data discrepancies, and implement continuous improvement solutions.
• High discretion and rigorous attention to detail when handling sensitive financial records, medical information, and confidential personnel data.
• Ability to independently administer retirement plans and at least one other employee benefits program.

Nice To Haves

• Proficiency with the Workday HCM system.
• Experience administering a 403(b) plan.
• Relevant professional industry certification, such as Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) or Certified Benefit Professional (CBP).
• Experience supporting benefits administration for a large employee population, typically 1,000 or more employees.

Responsibilities

• Administer UCAR’s 403(b) and 457(b) plans in accordance with governing plan documents, established procedures, and applicable laws and regulations.
• Review, process, and audit retirement plan eligibility, enrollment, contribution elections, and other plan transactions.
• Work with vendors to ensure compliant plan administration and complete corrections as needed.
• Guide employees through retirement transitions, including timelines, benefit coverage options, and administrative steps.
• Administer Secure 2.0 Roth requirements, guide impacted employees through requirements and options, and audit contribution limits.
• Coordinate required benefit notices, filings such as Form 5500, and nondiscrimination testing with leadership, legal counsel, and external service providers.
• Monitor retirement laws, regulations, and guidance; assess implications and coordinate updates to plan administration, procedures, and employee communications.
• Administer assigned health and welfare benefits, potentially including medical, dental, vision, life/AD&D, LTD, FSAs, HSAs, COBRA, and retiree benefits.
• Review eligibility and process benefit enrollments, qualifying life events, coverage changes, and terminations within required timelines.
• Respond to employee and retiree inquiries and coordinate resolution of coverage, claims, and service issues with external vendors.
• Review payroll benefit deductions, vendor invoices, and eligibility records; identify discrepancies and coordinate corrections with Payroll and HR Operations.
• Support open enrollment, plan renewals, system testing, vendor implementations, and cross-functional backup coverage.
• Serve as a primary administrative resource for external retirement plan audits and lead or support compliance reviews and audits across benefit programs.
• Compile, validate, and reconcile participant census data, payroll records, and documentation requested by auditors.
• Support required benefit notices, filings, and other compliance requirements as requested.
• Apply internal controls, including documented approvals, reconciliations, secondary reviews, and appropriate escalation.
• Maintain complete, accurate, confidential, auditable records and document administrative decisions, corrections, and supporting rationale.
• Protect confidential information through secure handling, storage, and transmission; restrict access and promptly report suspected unauthorized access or disclosure.
• Administer or provide backup support for leave administration.
• Develop benefits communications, intranet resources, and standard operating procedures; deliver benefit orientations and presentations.
• Identify workflow improvements to simplify processes, improve employee service, reduce administrative errors, and participate in HR system testing and reporting enhancements.
• Monitor project deadlines, coordinate vendor deliverables, and serve as a technical peer resource to HR colleagues on complex benefits questions.

Benefits

• Health insurance, including medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Short- and long-term disability insurance.
• UCAR retirement plan contribution of 10% of eligible pay.
• Time off plans, including a minimum of 20 days of annual PTO.
• 10 paid holidays.
• 12 weeks of paid parental leave.
• FAMLI leave.
• Tuition assistance program.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible employer.
• Employee assistance programs.