Benefits Specialist

Job Description

The Benefits Specialist reports to the Benefits Manager and plays a vital role in supporting the administration of the university’s comprehensive fringe benefits program and responsive employee services. This position supports the administration, communication, and delivery of employee benefit programs, including wellness initiatives, onboarding and offboarding activities, retirement services, employee recognition programs, and related services. The Benefits Specialist serves as a primary point of contact for employee benefit inquiries and contributes to benefits communication, processing, compliance, payroll coordination, vendor coordination, and employee engagement initiatives across the organization. While individual team members may have primary areas of focus, all Benefits Specialists are expected to be cross-trained and support the full scope of benefits operations to ensure continuity, efficiency, and employee satisfaction.

Key Responsibilities Include

EMPLOYEE SUPPORT & COMMUNICATION

• Benefits Specialists support multiple functional areas within benefits and employee services.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for employee benefit-related inquiries, referrals, and concerns via the main benefits phone line.
• Provide assistance and guidance to employees on various benefit-related matters.
• Perform notary services for employees as needed.
• Maintain and update benefits-related webpage content and resources.
• Prepare and distribute HR communications, including newsletters and announcements.
• Support learning and development activities by tracking and reporting training completion and serving as Learning Management System (LMS) Administrator.
  
  

Benefits Administration & Processing

• Assist with planning and execution of annual Open Enrollment.
• Conduct regular audits and quality checks of benefits-related data to ensure accuracy between vendors and internal systems.
• Process insurance enrollments, including new hires, qualifying life events, and benefit cancellations.
• Maintain and update benefits data through entries, updates, and approvals in all applicable systems.
• Transmit and upload required reports and census files to benefit carriers.
• Review vendor invoices for accuracy and submit payments in a timely manner.
• Process sick leave transfers and other benefits-related transactions in accordance with policy and procedures.
  
  

ONBOARDING & OFFBOARDING

• Prepare materials and presentations for new hire orientation and onboarding sessions.
• Coordinate and send communications to new employees prior to orientation.
• Present benefits and onboarding information to new employees.
• Coordinate onboarding and offboarding processes, including communication with employees, managers, and departments.
• Provide terminating employees with offboarding materials and benefits information.
• Execute insurance cancellations and administer COBRA processes,
  
  

including audits, notices, and compliance requirements.

• Maintain onboarding and offboarding records and reconcile reports to ensure accuracy.
• Assist employees with retirement applications and provide benefits counseling related to retirement procedures and options.
• Process retirement applications and maintain retiree records and databases.
• Administer retiree billing and reconciliation processes (e.g., PEEHIP).
• Process unemployment claims and perform break-in-service calculations as needed.
  
  

WELLNESS PROGRAM AND EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION

• Administer the employee wellness program in partnership with the wellness program vendor.
• Plan, coordinate, communicate, execute and promote wellness events and initiatives including wellness fairs, challenges, lunch-and-learns, educational programs, and employee wellness events.
• Assist with employee recognition programs, including service awards and employee recognition events.
• Prepare and distribute wellness and engagement communications.
• Submit and maintain eligibility and incentive data files with the wellness vendor.
  
  

PAYROLL SUPPORT

• Provide payroll support for data entry processing, all benefit-related data, and verifying accuracy for bi-weekly payroll cycles.
• Download, review, and process benefit files for payroll integration.
• Process benefit deduction entries, updates, and cancellations as needed.
  
  

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field, 1-3 years of related experience (or an equivalent combination of education and years of experience)
• Must have exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities with a high degree of accuracy.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Workspace is essential.
• Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  
  

Desired Qualifications

• Strong familiarity with Ellucian Banner HRIS/ERP systems
• Working knowledge of relevant benefits laws and regulations, and proven experience delivering excellent customer service.
  
  

Auto req ID

469841BR

Minimum Education Required

Bachelors

Job_Category

Administrative and Support Services

City*

Huntsville

State*

Alabama

Job Code

Education Educational and Training Services

Affiliate Sponsor

The University of Alabama

Salary Range

$45,000-$60,000