Benefits Specialist

Location: Santa Ana, CA

Salary Range: $70,000 - $95,000 annually 

Reports To: Corporate Benefits Manager

The Benefits Specialist is responsible for the day-to-day administration, coordination, and communication of employee benefits programs across all KPC Health facilities. This role ensures compliance with federal and state regulations, supports employees with benefit-related inquiries, and assists with annual open enrollment, vendor management, and benefits reporting. In addition, the Benefits Specialist will provide support with facilities-related projects and coordination to help ensure smooth operations at the corporate level.

 Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field preferred; equivalent experience considered. 
• Minimum of 3 years’ of experience in benefits administration, preferably within healthcare or a multi-site organization. 
• Strong knowledge of federal and California state employment and benefits laws. 
• Proficiency with HRIS, benefits portals, and Microsoft Office Suite. 
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities. 
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with a customer service mindset. 
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion. 
• Benefits certification (CEBS, CBP, PHR or SPHR) a plus. 

• Maintains employee personnel files to ensure legal compliance.
• Explains benefit plans, costs, and procedures to employees in individual discussions; advises employees of benefit options.
• Distributes information on and explains benefits programs such as retirement, health, life, disability, and COBRA notification to employees and dependents.
• Assists employees with enrollment and termination of benefits; verifies and completes benefits enrollment forms; calculates amount of employees’ paycheck deductions for benefits, submits to payroll, and resolves discrepancies; enters benefits-related data into ADP HRIS system; ensures accuracy of data entered.
• Investigates and resolves questions regarding delivery and payment for services by contacting health care professionals, and other service providers, benefit plan providers, and employees.
• Initiates the medical and option forms and or affidavits; arranges for their completion and submission within time limits.
• Verifies the calculation of the monthly premium statements for all group insurance policies, ensures prompt timely payment. Maintains statistical data relative to premiums, claims, and costs. Resolves administrative problems with the carrier representatives.
• Produces report of benefits enrollment, benefit deductions and plan participation; reviews reports from plan providers to verify accuracy and resolve differences.
• Coordinates special events including employee recognition programs .
• Assures that existing and new benefit programs are adaptable to standard computer and reporting systems; provides benefits information and statistical and census data for actuaries, insurance carriers, and management.
• Handles benefit inquiries and complaints to ensure quick, equitable, courteous resolution; maintains contact in person, and by phone or mail, with benefits plans, employees, and beneficiaries to facilitate proper and complete utilization of benefits for all employees.
• Coordinates all aspects of Leave of Absence program (LOA); maintains LOA log, provides all required forms and disclosures; determines and designates FMLA; notifies employees and managers of 12 week expiration dates; ensures all applicable employees are offered the interactive process; meets with employees and managers to evaluate any requested accommodations; advises termination of employees to managers when appropriate.
• Participates in professional activities to keep abreast of technical and legal developments in the benefits and compensation field.
• Acts as receptionist when called upon in receiving applicants, employees and visitors to the human resources; answers telephones, routes callers, takes messages and provides routine information to callers; provides assistance in the day-to-day administration of department.
• Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.