Benefits Specialist Jobs

Brookhaven National Laboratory (www.bnl.gov) delivers discovery science and transformative technology to power and secure the nation’s future. Brookhaven Lab is a multidisciplinary laboratory with seven Nobel Prize-winning discoveries, 37 R&D 100 Awards, and more than 70 years of pioneering research. The Lab is primarily supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Science. Brookhaven Science Associates (BSA) operates and manages the Laboratory for DOE. BSA is a partnership between Battelle and The Research Foundation for the State University of New York on behalf of Stony Brook University. BSA salutes our veterans and active military members with careers that leverage the skills and unique experience they gained while serving our country. Our organization fully supports service members transitioning from active duty to civilian life and pledge’s our commitment to actively hire veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. Military personnel who have been formally trained or have relevant experience obtained while in service may meet educational requirements and are encouraged to apply for job opportunities at BSA.

This position aids in the advancement of the Laboratory's mission to be among the world's few preeminent science laboratories through the administration of a comprehensive benefit program that helps attract and retain a diverse, qualified, healthy, and highly motivated workforce focused on achieving critical outcomes.

The BSA Benefits office has an open full-time position for a Benefits Specialist with advanced knowledge and experience administering a variety of employee and retiree plans as well as retirement savings plans. The Benefits Specialist is a key and crucial member of the Benefits office who will administer health & welfare plans, 401(k) and 401(a) retirement plans, and communicate effectively with all stakeholders, has superior interpersonal and problem-solving skills as well as advanced knowledge of federal and state regulations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Experience administering the 401(k) retirement plan, non-discrimination testing, the annual audit, forfeiture and revenue credits, filing of 5500s and applicable laws and regulations
• Ensure the accuracy of benefits enrollments in the HRIS, and provide vendors with accurate eligibility information
• Track the costs of the benefit programs, including carrier invoice reconciliation and participant contributions
• Provide detailed communications and explanations of complex benefit programs and applicable laws to managers, employees, retirees and long-term disability recipients; assist with new hire orientation, counsel employees on transitioning to retirement, including Medicare
• Administer multiple benefit plans including medical, dental, vision care, flexible spending, health savings and health reimbursement accounts, life and AD&D, long term disability, 401k and retirement plan in compliance with federal and state regulations
• Maintain the Benefits Office website
• Provide support to internal stakeholders and outside vendors. Serve as a reliable resource and respond to inquiries from managers, employees, retirees and long term disability recipients on plan provisions, benefits enrollments, claims, status changes and other inquiries related to benefit programs and HR policies and procedures such as COBRA and Medicare
• Support benefits events and activities, such as coordination of annual open enrollment, plan renewals, review and distribution of benefits-related materials
• Assist with development, implementation and integration of new or changing benefits plans, processes and vendors
• Investigate and resolve benefits issues, including enrollment, claims, contributions, etc., for participants and vendors
• Apply knowledge and experience to identify, analyze and obtain information pertinent to successfully resolve complex problems, formulate creative solutions, and provide recommendations for process improvements

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Possess a high level of personal integrity with an emphasis on confidentiality and discretion
• Ability to provide exceptional customer service through active listening, patience, and respond with resolutions or actionable next steps
• Extensive knowledge of insurance laws to ensure compliance
• Minimum four (4) years related work experience showing progressively more complex responsibilities in a substantive and relevant professional Human Resources position; additional education in fields specifically related to the experience requirements listed above may offset qualifying experience
• Independently manage, prioritize, and complete projects that have competing priorities in a fast paced-high volume environment meeting required deadlines
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Must be highly proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
• Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources, Business or related field or equivalent experience, generally on the basis of 2:1 (experience:college) years
• Strong knowledge in Human Resources/Financial Management systems

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Previous experience working in a welfare benefits environment (i.e. benefits administration for an employer or claims administration at an insurance company or provider’s office)
• Experience using Workday or equivalent for benefits administration