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Benefits Specialist

Arnot Health System
Ithaca, NY Full Time
POSTED ON 4/2/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 4/1/2031

Centralus Health Mission

Our mission is to deliver high-quality care, empower our teams to success and improve the wellbeing of the communities we serve.

Job Summary

The Benefit Specialist oversees the daily administration, compliance, and operational accuracy of Centralus Health's Health & Welfare benefit programs. This includes medical, dental, vision, FSA/HSA, life and AD&D, voluntary benefits, COBRA, and the Employee Disaster Relief Program. The role requires strong technical knowledge of benefit regulations, attention to detail, and a commitment to delivering timely, accurate, and employee-focused service across the system.

Job Functions

  • Health & Welfare Administration: Oversee daily administration of medical, dental, vision, FSA/HSA, life/AD&D, voluntary benefits, and COBRA programs, ensuring timely, accurate processing of enrollments, changes, and terminations across all plans. (*)
  • Compliance & Regulatory Management: Ensure full adherence to ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, IRS, and state regulations through consistent auditing, documentation control, mandated notices, and coordination with third-party administrators. (*)
  • Employee Communication & Education: Deliver benefit orientations, employee education sessions, and year-round support while developing clear communication materials that strengthen employee understanding of available programs. (*)
  • Program Coordination & Special Projects: Support Open Enrollment, benefit system updates, mandated enrollments, and broader HR initiatives as assigned. (*)
  • Reporting & Documentation: Maintain comprehensive documentation, dashboards, and performance metrics that demonstrate compliance readiness and organizational accountability.

Important Note: (*) indicates an essential function of the job as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Essential functions are the core duties that are fundamental to the position and must be performed, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Success Factors

  • Benefits Expertise & Precision: You demonstrate deep technical knowledge of Health & Welfare plans and apply it with accuracy and consistency, ensuring flawless administration and reliable employee support.
  • Regulatory Discipline: You navigate ERISA, HIPAA, ACA, COBRA, and state compliance requirements with confidence, translating regulatory obligations into clear actions that safeguard organizational compliance.
  • Employee-Centered Service: You provide responsive, empathetic, and solutions-focused support, ensuring employees feel informed, valued, and well-guided throughout their benefits experience.
  • Operational Excellence: You manage high-volume, detail-sensitive processes with discipline and efficiency, identifying errors early, resolving issues quickly, and maintaining strong data integrity across systems.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: You build strong relationships with vendors, HR partners, finance teams, and operational leaders, ensuring seamless coordination and consistent communication across all benefit programs.
  • Values-Driven Leadership: You model ethical judgment, consistency, and care-fostering a culture where compliance, quality, and compassion work hand in hand.

Education / Experience Qualifications

Required:

  • Bachelor's degree in business, human resources, healthcare administration, or a related field with 2 years of experience; or
  • Equivalent Experience: 6 years of benefit administration experience.

Preferred:

  • SHRM-CP certification or equivalent.

Physical Requirements

  • Ability to remain in a stationary position for extended periods and operate standard office equipment, including computers and telephones.
  • Ability to move about the workspace and attend meetings across multiple facilities, both on-site and virtually, as needed to perform essential duties.
  • Ability to occasionally move or lift materials weighing up to 25 pounds.
  • Must be able to work in typical office conditions, with occasional exposure to varied temperatures when traveling between sites or departments.
  • Must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

Salary : $65,000 - $80,000

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