Benefits Specialist

Position Summary

The Benefit Specialist is responsible for administering and supporting all employee benefit programs, including health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, 401(k), and leave programs such as FMLA, Workers Compensation incidents and other statutory or company-sponsored leaves.  This role services as a primary point of contact for employees and ensures accurate, timely, and compliant processing of benefit and leave-related transactions.

"Has minimum necessary access to Protected Health Information (PHI) and Personally Identifiable Information (PII) by Job Description/Role."

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Administer and manage group health, dental, vision, life, disability, and 401(k), including complex enrollments, life events, and compliance reporting.

• Respond to employee inquiries regarding benefits eligibility, plan provisions, claims and coverage issues.

• Process benefits enrollments, changes, and terminations.

• Act as primary liaison between the organization and benefits vendors or third-party administrators to resolve escalated issues.

• Prepare and maintain documentation related to benefit plans and leave administration in compliance with applicable federal and state regulations.

• Analyze data trends and employee feedback to recommend enhancements or changes to benefit offerings.

• Support benefits renewal processes, including reviewing proposals and negotiating contracts.

• Support with benefits-related audits, including trust benefit audits, monthly employee deduction audits, 401(k) audits,

• Coordinate and manage all leave of absence programs including: FMLA, State-mandated leaves, personal leaves, and company-sponsored leaves policies.

• Oversee and manage Workers’ Compensation claims, coordinating with external claims managers and tracking incidents through resolution. 

• Manage annual Workers’ Compensation Audit with third-party vendor.

• Coordinate and conduct benefits program education sessions throughout the year with employees and managers.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED required.

• 2+ years of experience in benefits administration or a related HR role.

• Strong understanding of federal and state regulations governing benefits, including ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, ACA, and FMLA.

• Excellent communication, problem-solving and organizational skills.

• Proficiency in HRIS and benefits management with the Workday platform.

• Highly organized, self-motivated, and detail orientated.

• High proficiency with Microsoft Excel.

• Ability to absorb new information and processes quickly.

• Effective communication with employees and management of all levels.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources or business administration, or related field preferred.

• Experience with Workday, ADP or other benefits/HRIS platforms.

• Professional certification, such as Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) or PHR/SPHR.

*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 of this job.  Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Working Conditions/Physical Effort

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.

• Normal degree of physical effort in a typical office environment with comfortable, constant temperatures and absence of objectionable elements.

• May be required to work remotely.

Disability Accommodation

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable federal and state law, it is the policy of Zenith American Solutions to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. The policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of employment, including the application process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact the Recruiting Department at [email protected], and we would be happy to assist you.

Zenith American Solutions

Real People. Real Solutions. National Reach. Local Expertise.

We are currently looking for a dedicated, energetic employee with the necessary skills, initiative, and personality, along with the desire to get the most out of their working life, to help us be our best every day.

Zenith American Solutions is the largest independent Third Party Administrator in the United States and currently operates over 44 offices nationwide. The original entity of Zenith American has been in business since 1944. Our company was formed as the result of a merger between Zenith Administrators and American Benefit Plan Administrators in 2011. By combining resources, best practices and scale, the new organization is even stronger and better than before.

We believe the best way to realize our better systems for better service philosophy is to hire the best employees. We're always looking for talented individuals who share our dedication to high-quality work, exceptional service and mutual respect. If you're interested in working in an environment where people - employees and clients - really matter, consider bringing your talents to Zenith American!

We realize the importance a comprehensive benefits program to our employees and their families. As part of our total compensation package, we offer an array of benefits including health, vision, and dental coverage, a retirement savings 401(k) plan with company match, paid time off (PTO), great opportunities for growth, and much, much more!