Benefits Specialist, Asia Pacific

Job Description

We are looking for a Benefits Specialist, Asia Pacific to join our regional HR Shared Services team based in Kuala Lumpur, supporting end‑to‑end benefits administration across multiple APAC markets.

You will work closely with internal HR partners, payroll and HR systems teams, as well as external vendors such as insurers, brokers, and third‑party administrators (TPAs).You will need to ensure that programmes are administered accurately, compliantly, and with a strong focus on employee experience.

This is a hands‑on role ideal for a benefits professional who enjoys operational ownership, regional exposure, and continuous improvement in a structured shared services environment.

What You Will Do

Benefits Administration & Employee Support

• Administer employee benefits programmes, including medical insurance, life and disability insurance, wellness programmes, allowances, retirement‑related benefits and other market-specific benefit offerings as applicable

• Manage benefits enrollment for new hires and dependents, beneficiary updates, and employee life‑cycle changes in line with local regulations and company policies.

• Handle employee enquiries related to benefits coverage, enrollment, and claims, providing timely and employee‑centric support.

• Support onboarding activities and prepare clear employee communications related to benefits processes and timelines.

• Assist in organising health and wellness activities to support employee wellbeing initiatives.

Vendor & Operations Management

• Coordinate with insurers, brokers, TPAs, and other benefits vendors to monitor service delivery, resolve issues, and ensure agreed service levels are met.

• Work closely with HR Operations, Payroll, Compensation & Benefits, and HR Systems teams to ensure accurate data flow and smooth end‑to‑end processes.

• Perform regular benefits audits, reconciliations, and operational checks to maintain data accuracy and strong internal controls.

Compliance, Governance & Documentation

• Ensure benefits administration and claims processing comply with internal policies, procedures, and applicable regulatory requirements.

• Support audits and reporting requirements related to benefits and medical management.

• Develop and maintain process documentation, workflows, and standard operating procedures to support consistency and audit readiness.

• Handle employee data with a high level of confidentiality, professionalism, and integrity.

Regional Projects & Continuous Improvement

• Support regional benefits initiatives such as system implementations, vendor transitions, centralization, and process improvement efforts.

• Participate in project activities including data validation, user acceptance testing (UAT), cutover support, and post‑go‑live stabilization.

• Identify recurring operational issues and recommend practical improvements to enhance service quality, efficiency, and employee experience.

• Provide support for additional HR Operations or benefits‑related projects as required.

  

What We Are Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Psychology, or a related discipline.

• 3–5 years of experience in employee benefits administration, ideally within a multinational or shared services environment.

• Good understanding of benefits operations, insurance administration, and compliance requirements.

• Experience working with benefits vendors such as insurers, brokers, or TPAs.

• Exposure to HRIS, payroll, or benefits systems; experience with UAT and reconciliations is an advantage.

• Intermediate Excel skills, including VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP and PivotTables.

• Good command of written and spoken English; Bahasa Malaysia or additional languages are an advantage.

• Hybrid working arrangement with a mix of work from home and office days.

Key Skills & Attributes

• Strong service mindset with a focus on employee experience.

• High attention to detail, accuracy, and follow‑through.

• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with regional and local stakeholders.

• Able to work independently in a fast‑paced, regional environment.

#LI-DNI

Required Skills:

Adaptability, Adaptability, Benefit Enrollments, Brokerage Trading, Business Administration, Confidentiality, Data Analysis, Employee Data Management, Employee Development, HR Analytics, HR Shared Services, HR Systems Implementation, Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS), Human Resource Tools, Insurance Administration, Neuropsychology, Operational Acceptance Testing (OAT), Payroll Tax Compliance, Process Improvements, Project Management, Service Improvement, Shared Services, Social Psychology, User Acceptance Testing (UAT), Vendor Management {+ 1 more}

Preferred Skills:

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Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company.  No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails. 

Employee Status:

Regular

Relocation:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Job Posting End Date:

06/30/2026

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.