Sr. Benefits Specialist (Health & Welfare)

Job Summary:

The Senior Benefits Specialist – Health & Welfare is responsible for the effective administration, compliance, and optimization of employee health and welfare benefit programs. This role serves as a subject matter expert, ensuring programs align with regulatory requirements and organizational objectives. Key responsibilities include managing vendor relationships, resolving complex employee benefit issues, supporting HR teams with guidance and training, and leading initiatives such as open enrollment. The specialist also plays a critical role in maintaining data integrity in the human capital system, enhancing employee communications, and driving continuous improvement across benefit offerings.

Job Responsibilities:

Benefits Administration

• Administer health and welfare programs, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Health Savings Accounts and COBRA, ensuring compliance with plan guidelines and legal requirements while managing day-to-day vendor interactions and resolving escalated employee benefit issues.
• Provide training and act as a liaison to HR teams concerning benefits policies and compliance; handle troubleshooting and integration file feed issues between Workday and third-party systems.
• Develop and maintain benefit communication materials, such as SBCs and SPDs.
• Coordinate with internal departments like Payroll and Clinics to support benefit initiatives and communications.
• Ensure accurate processing of benefit enrollments, changes, and terminations while maintaining data integrity across HRIS and vendor platforms.
• Respond to complex employee and HR inquiries related to benefits.
• Support annual open enrollment activities, including communications and leads system testing.
• Active participant in vendor annual renewals and RFP process of all H&W benefit plans.
• Develop and maintain SOPs for Health and Welfare workstream

Compliance & Legal

• Monitor and implement changes based on federal, state, and local regulations (e.g., ACA, ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA).
• Prepare and distribute legally required notices and filings.
• Coordinate plan amendments and ensure documentation is up to date.
• Support internal and external benefit plan audits and compliance reviews.

Employee Support

• Act as the primary contact for employee health and welfare benefit inquiries.

• Resolve complex issues in collaboration with vendors and internal stakeholders and promptly respond to employees.
• Develop and deliver employee education materials and benefit workshops.
• Partner with other members of Benefits and HRIS teams to resolve issues regarding eligibility and enrollment in the HRIS platform.

Vendor Management

• Partner with external vendors to ensure service quality and resolve escalated issues.

• Participate in vendor selection, renewals, and performance reviews.
• Audit vendor data feeds and billing for accuracy.

Project Leadership

• Support the planning and execution of open enrollment, including testing, communications, and troubleshooting, while also aiding in the implementation of new benefit programs or changes.
• Analyze utilization data, create reports to identify trends, recommend program enhancements, and develop action plans for improvement.
• Research the market for benefits best practices; perform benchmarking analyses and evaluate emerging market trends.

Experience

• 5+ years of experience in benefits administration, with a focus on health and welfare.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong knowledge of benefits regulations and compliance.
• Proficiency in HRIS systems and Microsoft Excel.
• Excellent communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and projects independently.
• Ability to stand, lift and carry packages weighing up to 50lbs
• Ability to stand, walk, and perform repetitive tasks for extended periods.
• Ability to work non-stand shifts when needed per business requirements (e.g. holidays. weekends, extended shifts).
• Ability to travel up to 10%.

Supervisor Responsibilities

• This role is an individual contributor.  

Education

• Bachelor's degree in human resources, Business, or related field.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to typical risks of injury in an office environment. 
• Duties include a typical office setting including extensive computer work, sitting or standing.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Must adhere to the company’s Code of Conduct and all other policies.

Safety Requirements:

• Follow all departmental and company safety policies and programs.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Wayne-Sanderson does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, gender (sex), sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, citizenship status, a person’s veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law or executive order.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.