Associate Benefits Specialist

About the Role

The Associate Benefits Specialist supports the day-to-day administration of health and welfare benefit programs, including the 401(k) plan, under the guidance of more senior team members. This entry-level role assists with new hire onboarding, annual open enrollment, and routine benefits inquiries, while building foundational knowledge of benefits administration in a shared services environment. Strong attention to detail, a customer-service mindset, and the ability to follow established procedures are essential.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist with day-to-day administration of health & welfare benefit programs under direct supervision.
• Enter and verify associate benefits data in internal and external benefits systems.
• Support new hire enrollments, qualifying life event changes, and termination processing.
• Respond to routine associate benefits inquiries, escalating complex issues to senior team members.
• Assist with maintaining and updating employee benefit files and record-keeping systems.
• Support open enrollment logistics, communications, and data entry.
• Help audit and reconcile vendor invoices under the direction of the Benefits Specialist or Manager.
• Assist with intake and initial processing of leave of absence requests.
• Support tracking of FMLA, STD, LTD, and state leave case timelines and documentation.
• Respond to routine associate questions regarding leave processes, escalating complex cases to senior analyst.
• Perform other administrative benefits duties as assigned.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, or related field preferred; equivalent experience considered.
• 0-2 years of experience in HR, benefits, or a related administrative function.
• Exposure to HRIS or benefits administration systems.
• Coursework or certificate in Human Resources a plus.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and other multi-carrier systems.
• Adaptable and willing to learn and leverage emerging AI technologies.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Resourceful: Applies Company policies and procedures to routine tasks.
• Quality: Delivers best effort yielding precise results. Work is evaluated by Management for errors.
• Decision-Making: Follows standard practices and procedures.
• Communication: Builds stable working relationships internally with effective communication.
• Teamwork: Generally receives detailed instructions on daily work and builds relationships with team members.
• Technical: Applies basic technical skills and tools required for the role. Follows established standards, procedures, and documentation.
• Adaptability: Ability to embrace change and shift focus when unexpected work arises.
• Time Management: Ability to use discernment to prioritize tasks and decide what to focus on to maximize impact.
• Customer Service: Ability to actively seek to understand the needs of others and provide a positive experience that addresses their needs, questions, and concerns.

Working Conditions

• Up to 5-10% travel may be required, primarily for leadership and Family of Companies engagement.
• This position operates in a typical hybrid or office environment.
• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit for extended periods; frequently required to use hand equipment; and regularly required to talk and hear to communicate with colleagues in person, by phone, and by video conference. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk.
• The Associate may occasionally lift and/or move up to 10–15 pounds.