Benefits Specialist

The Benefits Specialist serves as an internal resource for coordinating employee benefits and leave of absence administration across the company's multi-state organization. This position supports the day-to-day administration of employee benefit programs, leave requests, and workplace accommodations while partnering closely with teammates, practice leadership, HR Partners, Payroll, benefit carriers, and third-party administrators.

The Benefits Specialist is responsible for maintaining accurate records, coordinating timely follow up, resolving administrative issues, and providing clear, consistent communication to support a positive teammate experience.

Success in this role requires strong organization and follow through, sound judgment, excellent communication skills, attention to detail, and a working knowledge of employee benefits, leave administration, and applicable compliance requirements.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Leave of Absence Administration

• Serve as the primary internal point of contact for teammates, practice leadership, and HR partners regarding leave of absence processes, case status, and next steps.

• Coordinate leave case activities from initiation through return-to-work or case closure, partnering with the third-party leave administrator to ensure timely follow-up and accurate documentation.

• Monitor active and pending leave cases, track important deadlines, and follow up on outstanding documentation extensions and anticipated return to work dates.

• Support workplace accommodation requests by coordinating documentation, facilitating communication, and escalating matters requiring additional review.

• Coordinate with HR Partners, Payroll, and other internal stakeholders regarding leave-related employee status changes, benefit deductions, return to work requirements, and other administrative matters.

Benefits Administration

• Support the day-to-day administration of employee benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, retirement, and voluntary benefits.

• Process and review benefit enrollments, qualifying life events, eligibility changes, and terminations to ensure accurate and timely administration.

• Respond to teammate inquiries and coordinate with benefit carriers, vendors, and internal partners to resolve eligibility, enrollment, coverage, and other administrative issues.

• Assist with annual open enrollment activities, benefit communications, employee education, and other benefits related initiatives.

• Support benefit audits, eligibility reconciliations, and routine reporting to ensure accurate records.

Compliance and Administrative support

• Maintain working knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local benefit, leave, and accommodation requirements, including FMLA, ADA, PWFA, and relevant state leave programs.

• Maintain accurate and confidential benefits and leave records within internal tracking tools, HRIS, and applicable vendor systems.

• Identify and escalate complex cases, compliance concerns, and opportunities to improve administrative processes, communications, and workflows.

Required

• 3+ years of experience in employee benefits administration, leave administration, or human resources with significant benefits related responsibilities.

• Strong working knowledge of employee benefit programs including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, retirement, and voluntary benefits.

• Experience administering benefit enrollments, qualifying life events, eligibility changes, and resolving employee benefit inquiries.

• Working knowledge of applicable federal and state benefits and leave regulations, including ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, and ADA.

• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to independently manage multiple priorities and deadlines.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate complex information clearly and professionally.

• Demonstrated critical thinking skills, sound judgment, and the ability to follow issues through to resolution.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, and experience using HRIS or benefits administration systems.

• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion when handling sensitive employee information.

Preferred

• Experience supporting leave of absence administration workplace accommodations and state paid leave programs.

• Experience administering benefits or leave programs across multiple states.

• Experience working with third party administrators, insurance carriers, brokers, or other benefit vendors.

• Familiarity with ADP Workforce Now or a similar HRIS platform.

WE ARE A DRUG-FREE, SMOKE-FREE, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

Company Policy & Federal & State Laws Forbid Discrimination Because of Age, Color, Race, Religion, Sex, Disability, Sexual Orientation or National Origin

The company is a fast-growing private equity backed, Veterinary Service Organization that operates as a majority owner and business partner to many veterinarian practices across the US. Our goal is to make it easier for our practices at every step by providing world-class business solutions like talent acquisition, marketing, human resources, finance, and operations, so that they can focus their energy on providing incredible care for animals. In fact, our Core Values are (quite literally) written with PETS in mind: Passion, Engagement, Trust, and Service.

We want our doctor partners to choose what's best for their practice because they are the experts in medicine, while we customize the support, the co-ownership approach, and business solutions based on their goals. We pride ourselves on maintaining a culture of open communication and collaboration to deliver innovative solutions to advance today’s veterinary environment - without disrupting the medical autonomy and what makes each of our hospitals unique. Because at the end of the day, our central support team exists to serve our practices. So, if you’re excited about using your talents to make an impact on the health and wellness of pets - we’d love to talk with you!