Benefits Specialist

Job Purpose: Supports OUC’s benefits, leave of absence, and retirement programs by responding to employee and retiree inquiries in a timely and accurate manner, ensuring positive communication and assistance. Manages the administration of medical, dental, vision, and other health benefits, including data tracking and reporting. Serves as the primary point of contact for all leave of absence cases (sick time, FMLA, STD, LTD), USERRA, and accommodation requests, ensuring seamless processing and compliance." Primary Functions: Collaborate with leadership, clients (Business Unit leaders, employees) and appropriate employee experience team members to administer benefits, retirement and leave programs in accordance with the OUC policies and procedures and applicable federal and state laws. Support benefits daily operations, processes, and procedures, in partnership with any third-party outsourcing vendors. Serve as the first tier of resources to employee and retiree requests for assistance or information on benefits, leave of absence and retirement programs. Respond to benefits inquiries on plan provisions and manage all processes including eligibility verification related to benefits enrollments, qualifying status changes, dependent eligibility, leave and disability coverage. Handle retirement program enrollments, terminations, changes, beneficiaries, disability, accident and death claims, rollovers, distributions, loans, hardships and compliance testing. Assist in reviewing routine claims and auditing employee contributions and related payroll deductions; Prepare reports and support audits related to claims, leave requests, STD/LTD processes managed by third-party vendors. Perform moderately complex financial reconciliations, routine retirement and benefits calculations/allocations, and process retirements. Generate and provide reports, data, documentation and other administrative and logistical support on an ongoing basis for all benefits, retirement and leave programs; Manage employee benefit files and ensure records are up to date for all employees. Review and process all benefits, leave of absence and retirement forms and support documentation ensuring accuracy and compliance with HR policies, as well as following appropriate privacy and record disposition procedures. Partner with the benefits and wellness teams to provide front-facing support for annual benefits open enrollment process and benefits orientations for new hires. Partner with benefits leadership, HRIS and IT on ACA Reporting and year-round local, state, and federal compliance matters for health plans, including 5500 filings, Non-Discrimination testing and all other compliance related filings. Partner with risk management on Worker’s Compensation processes, including navigating employee injuries and return to work processes as it relates to leave and benefits. Serve in a cross functional team to support large initiatives in Benefits, Wellness, or other related HR programs. Document standard operating procedures. Collaborate with internal teams (Payroll, IT, HRIS, etc.) and external vendors to conduct process improvement audits, identify ways to streamline operations, improve the use of technology, reduce redundancies and improve quality, accuracy, and timeliness of information processing. Stay informed on changes to laws, regulations and policies regarding benefits administration, leave of absence, disability and retirement programs. Perform other duties as assigned.