Employee Benefits Specialist

Employee Benefits Specialist

The Illinois Tollway is dedicated to providing and promoting a safe and efficient system of highways while ensuring the highest possible level of service to our customers. Whether it's I-PASS, the Move Illinois Program, open road tolling or keeping you safe with our H.E.L.P. trucks, we are committed to delivering great benefits and services to customers.

The Tollway is a user-fee system – no state or federal tax dollars are used to support maintenance and operations. Operations are funded by toll and concession revenues.

Under the leadership of the Board of Directors and Executive Staff, the Tollway is committed to achieving the following goals: increase collaboration with regional transportation and planning agencies, promote the regional economy, maintain financial integrity, foster environmental responsibility and sustainability, maintain the safety and efficiency of the Tollway system, further transparency and accountability, enhance customer service, and maintain public trust.

In support of this vision, the Employee Benefits Specialist (EBS) is responsible for administering employee benefit programs, including health insurance, dental, vision, life insurance, retirement plans, disability, and other ancillary benefits. This position provides direct support to employees and retirees, ensures compliance with state and federal regulations, enrollment processes, and policy implementation. The EBS also ensures that employees receive proper benefits packages, and serves as an intermediary between health care providers, external vendors, third party administrators (TPA) and employees.

Essential Job Functions

• As an HR professional you are responsible for enrollment and administration of the group health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription), group life, COBRA, flexible spending account (FSA), wellness programs, employee assistance program (EAP), credit union, deferred compensation/investment planning, tuition reimbursement, and other related employee benefit programs.
• Provide guidance and service to employees, retirees, and dependents regarding benefit plans, eligibility, and enrollment.
• Educate employees on benefit options during onboarding and open enrollment periods.
• Assist with wellness initiatives and benefit communications.
• Reconcile benefit invoices and resolve discrepancies with vendors and payroll.
• Process benefit enrollments, terminations, changes, and qualifying life events.
• Oversees the maintenance of employee benefit records, including creating and maintaining individual employee benefit files.
• Participates in new hire orientation, prepares and provides benefit package options and other enrollment materials.
• Ensures that all employees are properly enrolled in selected benefit plans. Processes all life event enrollment changes and maintains employees Benefits files.
• Prepares deduction/contribution reporting for payroll.
• Administer, interpret and apply state policies and federal benefit laws (COBRA and HIPPA) in accordance with applicable laws and policies for employee distribution.
• Reconciles monthly health plan eligibility and premium reports.
• Responsible for entering employee data into the HRIS system for new hires and other employee benefit changes.
• Participate in audits, benefit plan renewals, and RFPs for benefit vendors as needed.
• Processes all tuition reimbursement requests and provides counseling to employees when needed.
• Support annual open enrollment process by preparing documentation and inputting changes into the HRIS system.
• Perform other duties as requested or assigned.

Qualifications

Education and Experience (Required)

• Associates degree or higher from an accredited college or university in Human Resources, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field
• 2–4 years of experience in employee benefits, HR, or a similar administrative role (government/public sector preferred).
• Excellent oral, written, interpersonal, organizational and customer service skills required
• Detail-oriented, takes initiative, and possesses problem-solving skills.
• Working knowledge of benefit regulation, including Group Health Insurance, Open Enrollment, COBRA, HIPAA, Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA), and Retirement Plans.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Excel, Forms, PowerPoint, etc.) and Adobe.

Education and Experience (Preferred)

• Experience working with union-represented employees or public employee retirement systems.
• Minimum of one (1) year experience with a Human Resource Information System (HRIS)
• Desired Certification(s) in HR and/or Benefits: CEBS, PHR, or SHRM-CP certification.

The Illinois Tollway is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, marital status, national origin or ancestry, disability, unfavorable discharge from military services, age, order of protection status, military status, sex or sexual orientation.