Benefits Specialist

SCI Summary: SCI supports people with disabilities, behavioral challenges, medically complex needs, transitioning youth, the elderly, and other populations using Maryland Department of Health’s Targeted Case Management and Supports Planning work models.

Position Summary: The Benefits Specialist provides critical support in the administration of employee benefits programs, including health, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, and retirement plans. This position does require a high level of independent judgement when working with vendors and SCI partners, externally and internally. This role ensures accurate benefits processing, provides responsive support to Team Members, and helps ensure compliance with company policies and regulations. The Specialist plays a key role during Open Enrollment, supports ongoing benefits communications, and partners with HRIS and Payroll teams to ensure data integrity.

SCI Team Member Expectations: All SCI Team Members are expected to: Ensure services provided follow the organization’s mission statement, core operating values and policies and procedures. follow HIPAA, confidentiality and security procedures and principles; collaborate with peers, leadership, and support areas of the organization; actively participate in and contribute to leadership and other staff meetings and trainings; maintains compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations; follow self-direction and person-centered planning procedures and philosophy; and to foster a culture that values diversity.

Essential Duties

Benefits Administration

• Process new hire, life event, and termination-related benefit changes in the UKG HRIS system.
• Maintain accurate employee benefit records, and ensure changes are reflected in payroll deductions.
• Assist with day-to-day vendor communications and issue resolution.
• Monitor benefit eligibility reports and follow up as needed to support dependent verification and compliance.
• Conduct the monthly invoicing reconciliation for all benefit plans
  
  

Team Member Support

• Serve as a point of contact for Team Member questions related to benefit plans, eligibility, and enrollment processes.
• Provide clear and professional guidance on how to access and utilize benefits resources.
• Track and follow up on open benefit tasks (e.g., pending documentation or system errors).
  
  

Open Enrollment & Communications

• Support the annual Open Enrollment process, including system setup testing, materials preparation, Q&A sessions, and reporting.
• Help develop and distribute benefit communications throughout the year.
• Track enrollment progress and assist Team Members with completing their elections.
  
  

Compliance & Reporting

• Assist with benefit audits, including 403(b)), life insurance, and dependent eligibility.
• Maintain confidentiality and secure storage of all benefit-related data.
  
  

Wellbeing & Employee Experience

• Support wellness initiatives by coordinating events, distributing materials, and tracking participation.
• Contribute ideas and feedback to improve Team Member understanding and satisfaction with their benefits.
  
  

Systems Issues

• Works with internal systems departments to ensure correct transfer and accuracy of information
  
  

Supervisory Duties

• N/A
  
  

Education Required

• With a bachelor’s degree: Minimum of 5 years of relevant HR and Benefits experience
• Without a degree: Minimum of 8–10 years of directly related HR and Benefits experience
  
  

Experience Required

• With a bachelor’s degree: Minimum of 5 years of relevant HR and Benefits experience
• Without a degree: Minimum of 8–10 years of directly related HR and Benefits experience
• Proficient in HRIS systems (e.g., UKG, ADP, Workday) and Microsoft Office (especially Excel).
• Experience working with benefit vendors and resolving Team Member issues.
• Working knowledge of benefits regulations such as COBRA, HIPAA, and ACA.
• Proficient in HRIS systems (e.g., UKG, ADP, Workday) and Microsoft Office (especially Excel).
• Strong attention to detail, follow-through, and communication skills.
  
  

Preferred

• Has, or has interest in, pursuing HR related certification.
  
  

SCI Value Related Competencies

• People Come First (Customer Focus): Thinks and acts with people we support in mind when making decisions. Dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external shareholders, uses information and feedback to improve services.
• Building Relationships and Connections: Interpersonal savvy. Relates to all kinds of people. Builds appropriate rapport, uses diplomacy and tact, diffuses high-tension situations comfortably. Establishes and maintains meaningful connections within the community and the organization (internal and external stakeholders)
• Education (Informing Others): Quickly finds common ground to solve problems. Is seen as a cooperative team player. Provides coaching and mentoring to Team Members. Consistent communicator, provides Team Members with the tools they need to perform their jobs in a timely manner. Explores all available options to make the best decision for internal and external holders
• Diversity: Values, appreciates and honors the ways in which cultural differences can create value in organizations. Is service oriented: Demonstrates a commitment to the philosophies for services and the goal of independence for the people we serve. Raises awareness in communities to appreciate the similarities and unique gifts of each person. Interacts with all kinds of Team Members equitably, deals effectively with all races, nationalities, cultures, disabilities, ages, and genders, supports equal and fair treatment and opportunity for all.
• Driving Solutions (Perseverance): Pursues all initiatives with energy, drive, and the goal to succeed.
  
  

Job-Specific Competencies

• Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives
• Communicates Effectively: Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences
• Ensures Accountability: Holding self and others accountable to meet commitments
• Organizational Savvy: Maneuvering comfortably through complex policy, process, and people-related organizational dynamics
• Customer Focus: Building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions
• Resourcefulness: Securing and deploying resources effectively and efficiently
• Optimizes Work Processes: Knowing the most effective and efficient processes to get things done, with a focus on continuous improvement
• Being Resilient: Rebounding from setbacks and adversity when facing difficult situations
  
  

Physical Demands: Generally, presents standard office environment. Must be able to remain in a stationary position >95% of the time. Continually operates a computer, keyboard and mouse, and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, printer, and mobile Smartphone device. Constantly positions self to comfortably maintain computer equipment. May occasionally be required to move about in an office setting or position office equipment weighing between 10-25 pounds. Vision abilities required by this job include close vision. Ability to operate a motor vehicle. The person in this position frequently communicates with other people. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.

IT Roles must be able to position self to maintain computers and equipment, including under desks and in server room(s). Frequently moves equipment weighing up to 50 pounds.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job. This job description is subject to change at any time.