Summary of position:

The Benefits Specialist works collaboratively to provide a high-quality experience to employees at SMBSC and its subsidiaries. Responsible for providing administration support of group benefit programs while providing exceptional service. Serves as the point-of-contact for employees with benefit related questions or issues.

Essential Functions:

Assist Benefit Manager in the daily activities related to the Benefits Department. Serves as subject matter expert and first point of contact for people leaders and/or employees inquiring about benefits. Ensure a seamless and exemplary benefits enrollment experience for all employees enrolling in company benefit plans. Provide new employees with an explanation of benefits and instruct them on enrollment and fulfillment procedures. Audit benefit reports to ensure accuracy, completion, and relevance. Responsible for monthly benefit billing reconciliation Resolve employee issues with insurance providers and other benefits administrators. Respond promptly and courteously to inquiries from multiple sources. Enroll, modify and terminate employees from benefit spreadsheets, benefit plan web sites, and payroll system. Assists employees regarding questions related to medical leaves (provides instructions on how to apply for various eligible leaves). Responsible for annual open enrollment and other communications throughout the company. Responsible for maintaining employee benefit files, SPDs and other plan documents according to record retention requirements and established guidelines. Assist in creating and distributing monthly communication to staff regarding employee wellness, benefits, and other general HR-related information. Researches and stays current with changes in benefits and related legislation. Workers Compensation reporting and management of return-to-work program. Makes recommendations for process improvement and accurate workflow and creates and updates process documentation. Perform other duties as assigned.

 Core Competencies and Skill Requirements:

 Broad understanding of general human resource practices

Knowledge of principles and procedures for compensation and benefits and personnel information systems Ability to evaluate information to determine compliance using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether policies, procedures and programs comply with laws, regulations and standards Ability to keep up-to-date with changes to regulations and standards and ability to apply the new knowledge at SMBSC Demonstrated critical thinking skills Ability to use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems Excellent customer service skills Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services by translating and explaining what information means and how it can be used Ability to provide guidance to groups and individuals on benefit-related topics Strong Microsoft Office skills Ability to sort and manipulate data, create formulas, and construct spreadsheets to track employee information Strong conflict management and resolution skills Ability to maintain a high level of interpersonal skills to handle sensitive and confidential situations Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw conclusions Excellent written and oral communication skills Ability to develop constructive and cooperative working relationships with internal and external audiences and maintain these relationships over time to advance the overall public image of SMBSC Ability to have a high attention to detail Ability to communicate with employees, prospective employees, partners and others to answer questions and distribute information Commitment to safety Ability to work in a responsible, safe manner by adhering to SMBSC’s safety protocol

Required Education and Experience:

Minimum 2 years of experience working with benefits plans including health and welfare insurance and retirement plans

Preferred Experience:

Utilizing UKG Pro to set up and manage benefit plans.

Other:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.  Duties, responsibilities and activities may change any time with or without notice.