Senior Benefits Administrator

Senior Benefits Administrator

Contract to Hire

Hybrid- Chicago, IL (60607)

$50-57/hr

Industry: Technology

We are seeking an experienced Benefits Administrator to support employee benefits, leave administration, compliance initiatives, and HR operations across North America. This role serves as the primary point of contact for employee benefits programs, managing enrollments, life event changes, vendor relationships, employee inquiries, and benefits-related systems administration.

The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of U.S. and Canadian benefits and leave programs, excellent organizational skills, and a commitment to providing exceptional employee support. This position also plays an integral role in policy administration, compliance, onboarding, employee well-being initiatives, and cross-functional collaboration with HR, payroll, and finance teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Administer employee benefit programs for U.S. and Canadian employees and serve as the primary liaison between employees, brokers, carriers, and third-party vendors.
• Manage employee benefit enrollments, life event changes, terminations, and ongoing eligibility updates.
• Respond to employee inquiries regarding benefits and leave programs, resolve issues, and escalate complex matters as appropriate.
• Coordinate and administer leave of absence programs, including documentation, communications, case management, tracking, and compliance.
• Support annual benefits renewals, plan modifications, employee education, and ongoing program administration.
• Facilitate HR onboarding activities, helping ensure a positive and compliant new hire experience.
• Support employee offboarding processes, including benefits-related communications and transitions.
• Develop, maintain, and update employee policies, handbooks, procedures, and related documentation.
• Coordinate employee wellness, engagement, and well-being initiatives.
• Partner with payroll and finance teams to ensure benefits deductions, leave-related pay adjustments, and related payroll activities are processed accurately.
• Provide backup support for payroll administration as needed.
• Respond to inquiries from employees, managers, vendors, and external partners regarding HR policies, benefits, and leave programs.
• Support HR projects, compliance initiatives, audits, process improvements, and organizational priorities.
• Coordinate mobility and immigration-related administration, including documentation, case tracking, record maintenance, and collaboration with external service providers.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of benefits administration, HR operations, or related human resources experience.
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field
• Strong knowledge of U.S. and Canadian employee benefits programs, leave administration, employment regulations, workplace safety requirements, and compliance best practices.
• Experience supporting employees across multiple geographic locations, including the U.S. and Canada, preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word, and Outlook.

Core Competencies

• Strong customer service mindset with the ability to build trusted relationships across all levels of an organization.
• Exceptional attention to detail and ability to manage sensitive and confidential information.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to navigate complex or sensitive employee matters with professionalism and empathy.
• Sound judgment, discretion, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Process-oriented mindset with a focus on continuous improvement, efficiency, and compliance.
• Ability to adapt to changing business needs in a fast-paced environment.