Benefits & Leave Specialist

The Benefits & Leave Specialist role is responsible for directly impacting the LifeCenter Northwest (LifeCenter) employee experience and compliance through benefits and leaves programs. This position will partner closely with Payroll, People Resources (PR), organizational leaders, and third-party vendors to administer benefits and leave programs, provide employee education, and support employees with benefit utilization. ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS General Responsibilities • Partner closely with PR team to create, deliver and innovate process improvements, policies, procedures, and various initiatives. • Build strong relationships with all levels of staff • Develops, maintains, and continuously improves LifeCenter benefit and leave programs, including tools, templates, and leader resources to support consistent application and ease of use across the organization. • Partners with PR team member(s) and provides guidance on benefits administration processes • In partnership with team leadership and health insurance broker, shepherds the annual benefits renewal process • Leads the end-to-end Open Enrollment process annually including building and/or modifying benefit plan set up in the HRIS, communications, meeting facilitation, etc. • Conducts benefits surveys and provides recommendations to leadership. • Develops benefits information materials and partners with internal communications team to provide benefits communications to employees. Responds to employee benefit questions with established service level agreements. • Monitors dependent age reviews and ensures follow up completed appropriately. • Partners with team member to ensure appropriate employee benefit terminations, including COBRA notifications are completed. • Monitors benefits plans and administration for compliance with applicable laws. • Manages 403(b) program administration and employee education, including serving as a member of the 403(b) Internal Management Committee. • Performs audits of payroll deductions and benefits data for accuracy. • Partners with broker and internal teams to manage benefit plans and resolve issues. • Monitors ACA reporting within HRIS and ensures ACA checklist completed for annual 1095 completion. • Partners with the PR team for management of FMLA and State leave programs. • Engages interactive process in accordance with the ADA. • Administers end-to-end leave processes, including eligibility determination, documentation, communication, and return to work coordination. • Advises managers and employees on leave laws and interaction with PTO, disability, and workers’ compensation. • Oversees the return-to-work process for employees returning from extended leave. • Facilitates other leave requests, which may include accommodation requests under the ADA. • Administers other company time-off programs as assigned in accordance with internal policy and applicable laws. • Oversees tracking and reporting of leave usage, monitoring for trends and flagging leaves that may have more organizational impact than others. • Serves as subject matter expert and provides guidance on all aspects of multi-state and federal leave mandates as well as company leave policies and benefits. • Drafts and/or recommends revisions to company leave policies to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations. • Coordinates with Payroll to ensure use of paid time benefits and leave codes is reflective of the actual leave schedule and collaborate on the true-up and reconciliation process when the employee returns to work. • Assists employees with Short Term Disability and Long-Term Disability questions and claims. • Partners with PR team on Wellness Program administration, challenge and content creation, guest speakers, etc. • Partners with PR team on leave and benefit needs for employees on Worker’s Compensation • Maintains complete and accurate records of leave and accommodation requests in accordance with specified legal requirements and documentation of best practices. • Provides PR leadership with reporting on leave usage, impacts to retention, staffing, or other considerations. • Maintains confidentiality of medical documentation and records. • Reviews and monitors benefits and leave programs for out of donation service area (DSA) requests and approved relocations out of DSA. Raises compliance concerns for review. Supervision • This position has no formal supervisory responsibilities. Other Responsibilities: • Participates in, and may lead, employee committees and events. • As needed, takes on lead role for PR projects and initiatives. • Develops and reviews PR policies and processes, as requested by departmental leadership. • Complies with applicable laws, regulations, and LifeCenter policies and procedures. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES • Knowledge of applicable local/state/federal regulations. • Ability to work in a fast paced and at times ambiguous environment. • Solution oriented and proactive in identifying issues. • Strong relationship building and interpersonal skills, i.e., diplomacy, consideration, sensitivity, confidentiality, and the ability to collaborate with employees at all levels. • Excellent written and verbal skills. • Strong attention to detail and follow-through. • Ability to work successfully as a team member and independently. • Advanced knowledge of personal computers with at least intermediate and preferably advanced skills in Outlook, Word, Excel, MS Project, Power Point, and other comparable software programs. • Skill working with an HRIS system • Knowledge of various types of benefits plans, including but not limited to medical, dental, vision, life, FSA, HSA, and voluntary benefit programs. • Knowledge of COBRA, and ability to administer effectively and in compliance with regulations • Knowledge and experience with application of health and welfare regulations including but not limited to HIPAA, ACA, GINA, ADA(AA), ERISA • Knowledge of all applicable leave and accommodation laws including the FMLA, USERRA, ADA, and state and local laws. BEHAVIORAL REQUIREMENTS The employee in this position must uphold the core values of LifeCenter; these include: • Integrity: We are trustworthy, reliable, respectful, and accountable. • Collaboration: We work in partnership with others, seeking to understand and be understood, and finding common ground and shared goals to build upon together. • Courage: We take personal responsibility and face challenges head-on. • Service: Through professionalism and dedication, we honor our commitment to serve others and our obligation to be good stewards of the gift of life. Physical Activities/Requirements • The individual must have the ability to speak clearly using the English language to accurately convey information and be able to hear at normal speaking levels both in person and over the phone. • Ability to arrive and depart from work- and work-related functions at expected times. • Travel requirements out of the general work area are infrequent. • This position requires the manual dexterity sufficient to effectively operate phones, computers, and other office equipment. • Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. • Generally, working conditions do not require exposure to hazardous materials nor extremes in health and safety hazards. Work is normally performed in an office or hospital setting, as well as other business environments. • The employee is required to move up to 25 pounds with or without assistance. ANTICIPATED WEEKLY TIME COMMITMENT • The duties of this position will typically require a minimum of 37 hours per week. Because of the nature of this position, the incumbent may need to work outside of regular business hours, including evenings and weekends, sometimes without advance notice. EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE & JOB REQUIREMENTS • A bachelor’s degree in human resources, or related, is preferred. • Relevant work experience can be considered and substituted for academic requirements. • PHR designation, SHRM-CP or equivalent preferred. • Minimum of three years’ experience in benefits administration. • Minimum of three years' experience in leave administration, completion of specialized certification or training on FMLA/leave administration preferred. • Proof of COVID-19 vaccination, or applicable medical or religious exemption, will be required as a condition of employment upon offer.