Benefits and Leave Specialist

Eckerd College

St. Petersburg, FL, USA

Published: 6/14/2022

Full Time

Job Description

Eckerd College is currently hiring for the position of Benefits and Leave Specialist to join our human resources team at our waterfront property along the Boca Ciega Bay in St. Petersburg, Florida in our relationship-focused community. We are searching for a service-oriented individual who supports our faculty and staff by delivering accurate, compliant, and clearly communicated benefits and leave programs.

The Benefits and Leave Specialist manages the full lifecycle of employee benefits and leave programs, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, retirement, voluntary benefits, and all statutory and institutional leave programs. The role oversees plan design, annual renewals, vendor performance, cost analysis, and compliance; serves as the primary contact for carriers and vendors; and resolves complex eligibility, enrollment, payroll, billing, and claims issues.

The position requires knowledge of all pertinent federal and state regulations affecting employee benefits programs, including ACA, COBRA, FMLA, ADA, ERISA, and workers' compensation. The incumbent also possesses the ability to analyze and evaluate vendor performance, cost trends, compliance risks, and billing discrepancies as well as demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Excel.

Benefits Overview

Eckerd College offers a competitive benefits package, including the following:

100 percent tuition remission for employees, spouses, and dependents; access to Tuition Exchange network
HMO and HDHP medical insurance options; employer contribution to HSA for those on the high deductible plan that start date of hire.
PPO dental and vision insurance networks; employer-provided life, short-term disability, and long-term disability plans that start date of hire.
Generous employer contribution to employee’s retirement plan upon eligibility.

Key Responsibilities

Administer employee benefit programs including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, retirement plans, and voluntary benefits; oversee plan design and annual renewals, evaluate vendor performance and cost trends, and make recommendations on plan changes to ensure competitiveness, compliance, and service delivery improvements.
Administer and oversee all leave programs, including FMLA, ADA accommodations, workers’ compensation, military leave, and other institutional leaves, exercising independent judgment to determine eligibility, designate leave types, approve or deny requests, coordinate required documentation, and ensure compliance with federal, state, and institutional policy while balancing operational needs.
Serve as the primary point of contact for carriers and vendors, resolve complex eligibility and claims issues, and ensure accurate enrollment, payroll integration, and ongoing administration.
Coordinate open enrollment activities by managing system updates for elections, eligibility, and payroll integration, and executing clear employee communications on benefit options, plan changes, and key deadlines.
Reconcile benefits invoices and resolve discrepancies with vendors and payroll, including approving corrections, requesting refunds or credits, and escalating systemic issues. Analyze root causes of billing errors and implement process improvements to strengthen internal controls and reduce future discrepancies.
Identify compliance risks and trends, determine corrective actions, and initiate audits or process improvements to ensure institutional adherence to applicable laws and best practices.
Develop, implement, and revise benefits and leave policies and procedures, ensuring consistency, risk mitigation, and alignment with institutional strategy.
Analyze and interpret federal, state, and local regulations affecting benefits and leave, and make recommendations for policy changes or program design to senior HR leadership.
Oversee all employee communications and education related to benefits and leave programs, including responding to inquiries and creating informational materials

Physical Requirements/Working Conditions

Frequently required to remain stationary and perform work on a computer or mobile device.
Frequently required to communicate with others in person or via email, video conferencing, chat applications, social media, and/or telephone.
After-hours work required (evenings, weekends) during peak times.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources or a related field and three (3) years of relevant experience. The equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted in lieu of a degree.
SHRM-CP or PHR certification preferred but not required.

How to Apply

All interested candidates must apply online at http://eckerd.exacthire.com. Follow the instructions to complete the online application.

Employment will require a successful background check.

Eckerd College is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.