The Benefits Specialist serves in a strategic, technical, and operational lead role across all employee benefit programs. This position acts as the organization’s benefits subject matter expert, manages key vendor partnerships, and provides consultative guidance to management and employees. The role leads complex audit and compliance activities and supports benefits strategy through data analysis, business case development, and cross-functional collaboration.

The role also requires strong project management capability, independent decision‑making. This team member engages stakeholders at all levels, develops and delivers employee communications, coordinates support for offsite locations, and ensures high-quality customer service with clear, professional communication. The position drives process improvements, manages competing priorities under tight deadlines, and leads special projects to enhance accuracy, efficiency, and the overall employee experience.

• Serve as the technical subject matter expert for all benefit programs, systems, and processes.
• Deliver high‑quality customer service through clear, professional verbal and written communication.
• Investigate and resolve complex benefit issues, escalating cases appropriately when needed.
• Analyze data to identify trends, measure program performance, and inform strategic improvements.
• Lead complex audit and compliance activities to ensure accuracy and regulatory adherence.
• Build and maintain strong vendor relationships; oversee vendor strategy, performance, and coordination across all locations.
• Contribute to overall benefits strategy, including program design, business case development, and recommendations to leadership.
• Support and guide cross-functional teams to resolve issues, communicate changes, and implement integrated solutions.
• Act as a consultative business partner to management, providing guidance, training, and resources to support decision‑making and employee engagement.
• Manage key projects and special initiatives, providing leadership and coaching to team members.
• Work independently to prioritize tasks, manage deadlines, and proactively drive solutions.

Schedule

Full-time, Monday–Friday with set work hours. Weekend hours may be required for special events. This role sits in our Quonset Point, RI office. Must have the ability to travel to other site locations as requested.

Required Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience in Employee Benefits or a related function such as leave management, compliance, employee relations, employee wellness, HR operations, and employee communication.
• Bachelor's Degree in an HR related field such as (but not limited to) Human Resource Management, Organizational Leadership, Business Administration or 8+ years of experience in Employee Benefits.
• Demonstrable knowledge of benefit plans, including HSA, FSA, 401k, medical, dental, vision, STD/LTD, and ADD/Life.
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of Federal and State regulatory laws in regards to Benefits, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, ADA and ERISA.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with defined benefit plans including pension administration
• Experience with project management

Skills

• Strong interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to build and maintain productive working relationships with a wide range of contacts.
• Ability to work in a team environment collaboratively
• Able to multitask in a busy environment
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