Senior Benefits Specialist

Overview

The Senior Benefits Specialist supports the design, administration, and continuous improvement of employee benefits programs, with an emphasis on program cost analysis, compliance, and vendor management
. This role requires experience with self-insured program administration and the ability to contribute to benefits financial planning, while maintaining responsibility for day-to-day operations and employee engagement. The Specialist partners with Finance and HR leadership to ensure programs remain competitive, cost-effective, and compliant.

Program Administration & Support

• Assist in the administration of health, welfare, and retirement programs, including 401(k) and self-insured health plans.
• Support financial modeling and cost analysis of benefits programs, including trend reviews and benchmarking.
• Collaborate with Finance and brokers to evaluate self-insured program performance, stop-loss coverage, and claims experience.
• Ensure compliance with federal and state regulations including ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, and COBRA.

Vendor & Employee Support

• Maintain strong relationships with brokers, carriers, and third-party administrators to ensure quality service delivery.
• Assist with open enrollment planning, communications, and employee education initiatives.
• Serve as a resource for employee inquiries, helping resolve complex issues or escalations.
• Contribute to developing benefits communications, including presentations, guides, and employee tools.

Reporting & Collaboration

• Provide reporting and analysis on benefits utilization and cost trends to HR and Finance leadership.
• Support benefits integration activities during mergers or acquisitions.
• Work closely with HR, Accounting, and Finance teams to align benefits data with business needs.
• Participate in cross-functional projects related to total rewards, wellness, and employee engagement.

• Working knowledge of self-insured health plans and related financial aspects.
• Strong understanding of retirement and health insurance programs.
• Solid grasp of federal and state benefits compliance requirements.
• Ability to analyze benefits data, identify trends, and provide actionable recommendations.
• Effective communication skills to translate complex information for employees.
• Strong organizational skills with ability to manage multiple priorities.

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Finance, or related field required.
• 5–7 years of experience in benefits administration, with some exposure to self-insured programs and financial planning.
• Professional certification (CEBS, CBP) preferred but not required.
• Experience in construction, engineering, or related industries is a plus.

PEOPLE FIRST: BUILDING TALENT BY DESIGN

At Southland we aspire to build a workforce that’s as diverse as the people who occupy the buildings we design, build and maintain. Building talent by design is our intentional approach to creating a truly safe, collaborative, and inclusive work environment that fosters growth, empowers professional achievement, and where people are treated with respect at all levels.

If you’re someone with a true passion for our industry, a life-long learner, with high accountability and a drive for results we’re looking for you! At Southland, we hire problem solvers that are focused on providing customer value through continuous improvement and will take ownership to create the best experiences that will have an impact wider than their own job. We thrive on creating a strong company and culture where you’ll feel engaged, challenged, and valued.

If you’re ready for the next big step in your career and want a career full of fun and excitement and to be a part of a fast-paced growing company, then JOIN our team and become a part of an organization that values PEOPLE
, SAFETY, INNOVATION, COLLABORATION, INTEGRITY, ACCOUNTABILITY & SUSTAINABILITY.

As an employee-owned company, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes excellent benefits for you and your family:

• 401(k) Plan with 50% Company Match (no cap) and immediate 100% vesting
• Annual incentive program based upon performance, profitability,…