Senior Benefits Specialist

Description: The Sr. Benefits Specialist leads benefit administration for all JPS employees and acts as the Subject Matter Expert (SME). This position is responsible for leading the processing, maintaining and administering of all of the benefit plans to include, but not limited to medical, pharmacy, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, short and long-term disability, basic life, accidental death dismemberment (AD D) plans, Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act (COBRA) and supplemental/voluntary products. Typical Duties: Serves as primary benefits contact to executive leadership to provide advice, direction and guidance on broadly defined benefit matters. Guides and coaches benefit team on benefit needs and responsibilities. Serves as point of escalation for complex benefit issues. Recommends, implements, supports and oversees compliance for new and existing employee benefits programs, including but not limited to plan selection, annual renewal process. Maintains up-to-date benefit program plan documents and summary plan descriptions. Oversees compliance with respect to all benefit programs. This includes, but is not limited to, Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), Affordable Care Act (ACA), Internal Revenue Code, Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and COVID-19 new regulations. Provides exceptional customer service support to employees and vendors regarding benefits questions and concerns and responds to requests in an efficient, friendly and timely manner. Partners with the Payroll team on any issues relating to benefits and compensation that require partnership to improve or resolve issues. Administers employee benefit programs in compliance with carrier contracts (i.e., enrolling new employees, explaining benefit options, organizing benefit fairs, mediating benefits eligibility and payment issues, open enrollment) for the purpose of providing maximum coverage to employees within contract specifications. Advises employees on eligible election changes and processes as a result of Qualifying Life Events; notifies vendors of coverage changes. Evaluates and compares existing company benefit plans with those of other employers by participating in surveys and analyzing other plans and sources of information. Ensures all required paperwork, record-keeping and documentation are detailed, complete and accurate. Participates in meetings, workshops and seminars for the purpose of conveying and/or gathering information required to perform functions. Contributes to the development of or improvement of established procedures, assists with resolving operational issues or other benefits related problems to root cause and shares knowledge with benefits team. Administers (COBRA) processing through liaison with external vendor, ensuring notifications are completed according to regulatory timelines to include maintaining records of enrollment and terminations. Assists employees, beneficiaries and/or insurance providers with the purpose of verifying eligibility, conveying information and processing claims; acts as a facilitator between the employee, health and welfare, and voluntary program vendors. Coordinates and provides support for benefits activities (i.e., benefits fairs, new employee orientation, open enrollment) to include any required set-up and testing of benefit plan changes and updates as a result of open enrollment. Performs all other job related duties as assigned.