Senior Benefits Coordinator

King & Spalding is a leading global law firm with a commitment to excellence, innovation, and the seamless delivery of legal services. We harness innovative technology and exceptional talent to meet the complex needs of our clients in a fast-paced and dynamic legal landscape. 

The Senior Benefits Coordinator will support the day-to-day administration and continuous improvement of the Firm’s health and retirement programs, partnering with HR, Payroll, Finance, and external vendors to deliver an excellent employee experience. This role will help manage plan operations (enrollment, eligibility, life events, and vendor file processes), support compliance and governance activities, and contribute to benefit communications and process documentation. The position is ideal for a detail-oriented benefits professional who can balance high service standards with strong controls and confidentiality.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Health & welfare plan administration: Support eligibility, enrollments, qualifying life events, and dependent verification processes; troubleshoot participant issues and coordinate resolutions with carriers and third-party administrators.

• Retirement plan administration: Support 401(k)/defined contribution and other retirement program processes (e.g., enrollments/deferrals, eligibility, payroll interfaces, and vendor coordination) and assist with annual plan cycle activities.

• HRIS/Workday support: Maintain and validate benefits data in Workday (or other HRIS), including audits of eligibility, deductions, and event processing; support testing, configuration changes, and process improvements.

• Vendor & integration management: Coordinate vendor files and operational touchpoints (enrollment feeds, payroll deduction changes, reconciliation items); track issues through to closure and document outcomes.

• Compliance & governance support: Assist with benefits compliance activities (e.g., required notices, documentation, nondiscrimination testing support, and audit requests) and help maintain defensible process controls and records.

• Payroll and finance partnership: Partner with Payroll on deductions, limits, and retroactive adjustments; assist with monthly/quarterly reconciliations and issue research.

• Employee communications & service: Draft and maintain benefits communications (guides, FAQs, intranet content), respond to escalated inquiries, and deliver clear, consistent guidance with discretion.

• Open enrollment and annual cycle support: Support planning, testing, employee communications, and execution for open enrollment and year-end activities.

• Documentation and continuous improvement: Maintain process documentation, SOPs, and job aids; identify opportunities to streamline workflows and enhance employee experience while maintaining controls.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

• 5+ years of progressive benefits administration experience supporting health and retirement programs.

• Working knowledge of U.S. benefits administration practices (eligibility, enrollment events, COBRA/ACA concepts, retirement plan operations) and strong attention to data integrity and controls.

• Experience partnering with vendors, carriers, and internal stakeholders to resolve complex benefit issues.

• Proficiency with HRIS systems (Workday preferred) and strong Excel skills (e.g., lookups, pivots, data validation).

• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and sound judgment.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain benefits concepts clearly to diverse audiences.

• CEBS or other benefits-related certification preferred.

• Experience with retirement plan vendor management (e.g., recordkeepers, advisors) and operational governance support preferred.

• Experience supporting benefits integrations, testing, or implementations (e.g., Workday benefits configuration, vendor feeds) preferred.

• Prior experience in a law firm or other professional services environment preferred.

• Project management skills and comfort working in a fast-paced, high-service setting.

OTHER:

Occasional travel may be required for vendor meetings, benefits fairs, or team meetings.

The firm offers a generous total compensation package with bonuses and raises awarded in recognition of individual merit-based performance. All full-time Business Services employees may participate in King & Spalding’s comprehensive benefit program including health and wellness plan, life and disability insurance, flexible spending accounts and a health savings account, a 401(k) plan, profit sharing plan, and a substantial Paid Time Off (PTO) program.

Pay Transparency Range:

Chicago, IL - The anticipated full-time annualized salary range is $90,000 - $120,000.

King & Spalding LLP (K&S) is committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all applicants and employees in full compliance with all state, federal, and local laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetic information, age, disability or any other status protected by applicable law. 

We are proud of our remarkably cohesive culture, which now encompasses more than 2,500 lawyers and business professionals worldwide. We seek to attract and develop the very best talent to work with us.