Senior Benefits Specialist

JOB DESCRIPTION

Position: Senior Benefits Specialist

Location: Cincinnati, OH

Job Type: Remote (90%), Travel (10%)

Reports to: Director of Benefits and Compensation

Department: North American Operations

Position Purpose: The Senior Benefits Specialist administers and manages employee benefits programs, including health and welfare plans, retirement programs, leave administration, wellness initiatives, and voluntary benefits. This role serves as a key resource for employees and management, ensuring accurate administration, regulatory compliance, and exceptional employee experience.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Demonstrates the values and business principles of Leadec.
• Works safely at all times.
• Benefits Administration

• Administer medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and voluntary benefit plans.
• Manage benefit enrollments, qualifying life events, terminations, and status changes.
• Ensure benefits data is accurate within HRIS and benefits administration systems.
• Coordinate annual open enrollment activities, communications, and employee support.

• Employee Support

• Respond to employee benefit inquiries.
• Educate employees on benefit programs, eligibility rules, and enrollment processes.
• Resolve escalated benefits issues with carriers, vendors, and third-party administrators.

• Vendor Management

• Serve as primary liaison with insurance carriers, brokers, consultants, and benefit vendors.
• Monitor vendor performance and service levels.
• Assist with implementation of new benefit programs and vendor transitions.

• Compliance and Reporting

• Support compliance with ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA, and other applicable regulations.
• Prepare and maintain required employee benefit documentation and notices.
• Assist with audits, nondiscrimination testing, Form 5500 support, and compliance reporting.

• Retirement Programs

• Administer 401(k) and NQDC plans.
• Coordinate eligibility, enrollments, loans, distributions, and employee education.
• Work with recordkeepers and fiduciary partners to resolve issues and support plan governance.

• Data Analysis and Process Improvement

• Analyze benefits utilization, costs, and trends.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, employee experience, and data integrity.
• Participate in benefits strategy and program design discussions.

• Adhering to and supporting all EHS and Quality objectives, in accordance with ISO 14001, 45001 and 9001 respectively.
• All other duties as assigned by Leadec manager.

Competencies:

• Action Orientation
• Managing Tasks
• Open Communication
• Self-Management

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Communication Skills - Ability to communicate with all levels of Leadec and customer employees.
• Language Ability -- Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Advanced knowledge of employee benefits programs and regulations.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Experience with ADP HRIS systems preferred.
• Proficiency in Excel and benefits reporting.
• Excellent communication and customer service skills.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.

Position Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in human resources, Business Administration, Finance, or related field preferred.
• 5-8+ years of benefits administration experience.
• Experience managing health and welfare benefits and retirement programs.
• Strong knowledge of federal and state benefits regulations.
• Experience with Canadian Benefits preferred, but not required
• CEBS (Certified Employee Benefit Specialist)
• CBP (Certified Benefits Professional)
• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR

Physical Requirements: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the key actions of the job:

• Required to talk and/or hear in an office setting (noise level is low). Frequently required to stand and walk on concrete surfaces for 4 -12 hours. Occasionally required to reach with hands and arms; lift; climb or balance; kneel, crawl, stoop, or crouch.
• Vision requirements: close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and focus adjustment.
• Work is performed in an office environment with significant time spent working on a computer or at a desk.