Benefits Specialist, Principal​/ Benefits Specialist, Senior​/Benefits Specialist

Job Description Benefits Specialist/Senior Benefits Specialist/Principal Benefits Specialist Join OCTA’s Human Resources team and play an important role in delivering comprehensive benefits programs that support our employees and their families. The Benefits Specialist job family administers and supports a broad range of employee benefits, including health and supplemental benefits, retirement programs, deferred compensation, and related employee education and communications.

Depending on the level, this position will also research and analyze benefit programs, lead key initiatives such as annual open enrollment, oversee vendor and third-party administrator performance, evaluate program effectiveness, and recommend and implement benefit program improvements.

This position may be filled at the Benefits Specialist, Senior Benefits Specialist, or Principal Benefits Specialist level. The level will be determined based on the successful candidate’s qualifications and experience. Salary grade and range will correspond to the applicable level. The starting salary will be within the applicable range based on qualifications.

Benefits Specialist - This is a non-exempt position in Salary Grade 185:
Min $40.06 - Mid $47.59
- Max $55.11 hourly. The starting salary will be within this range based on qualifications.

Benefits Specialist, Senior
- This is an exempt position in Salary Grade 200:
Min $96,449.60 – Mid $ – Max $ per year. The starting salary will be within this range based on qualifications.

Benefits Specialist, Principal
- This is an exempt position in Salary Grade 210:
Min $ – Mid $ – Max $ per year. The starting salary will be within this range based on qualifications.

This posting will remain open until a candidate is selected.

What You’ll Do Administer employee benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, retirement, and deferred compensation programs

Serve as a resource to employees and management regarding benefit plans, eligibility, enrollment, coverage, policies, and procedures

Support retirement and deferred compensation programs, including 457(b) and 401(a) plans, and provide benefit information to retiring or separating employees

Coordinate and/or lead the annual open enrollment process, including project planning, employee communications, enrollment activities, and implementation

Research and resolve benefit issues involving eligibility, qualifying life events, coverage, claims, appeals, and plan provisions

Develop clear and engaging employee communications and educational materials that help employees understand and maximize their benefits

Monitor benefit providers, third-party administrators, medical providers, and insurance carriers for performance, compliance, and service delivery

Reconcile enrollments, invoices, benefit spending, budgets, contracts, and purchase orders

Support ACA reporting and administration and apply applicable benefits regulations, including COBRA, Section 125, ACA, FMLA, CFRA, HIPAA, and retirement/deferred compensation requirements

Develop and maintain benefits policies, procedures, administrative processes, reports, and analytical tools

Analyze benefits data, industry trends, employee feedback, and program performance to identify opportunities for improvement

Support benefit contracts, Board actions, proposals, negotiations, and vendor coordination

Collaborate with HR team members, employees, management, vendors, and other partners to successfully implement competitive benefit programs

What We’re Looking For Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Human Resources, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience

Professional experience administering employee benefit programs

Knowledge of health and welfare benefits, retirement programs, and deferred compensation plans

Ability to research, interpret, and apply benefit plan provisions, policies, and regulatory requirements

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to work with benefits data and financial information

Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to explain complex benefit information clearly

Strong…