Benefits Specialist

Benefits Specialist

The Benefits Specialist is responsible for supporting the administration, communication, compliance, and day-to-day operations of employee benefit programs. This role serves as a key point of contact for associates, HR partners, vendors, carriers, third-party administrators, and other internal stakeholders regarding benefit eligibility, enrollment, coverage, claims, retirement programs, billing, compliance, and policy-related questions. This position provides high-quality customer service, resolves associate benefit inquiries, supports health and welfare and retirement plan administration, assists with compliance activities, maintains accurate benefit data, supports open enrollment and benefit communications, and helps ensure benefit plans are administered accurately, timely, and in compliance with applicable federal and state regulations.

Benefit Administration and Associate Support

• Provide day-to-day support for benefit programs, including medical, prescription, dental, vision, life, disability, wellness, employee assistance, retirement, and other benefit programs.
• Serve as a primary contact for associate benefit questions, including eligibility, enrollment, plan provisions, coverage, claims, retirement, and policy-related inquiries.
• Counsel associates, HR partners, managers, and other stakeholders on benefit plan provisions, policies, procedures, and administrative processes.
• Research, respond to, and resolve associate benefit questions, complaints, and escalated issues in a timely, accurate, and professional manner.
• Provide a high level of customer service when working with associates by phone, email, system cases, and in person as needed.

Enrollment, Data Integrity, and Systems

• Process benefit enrollments, status changes, terminations, deduction adjustments, and other benefit-related updates in HRIS, payroll, enrollment, and vendor systems accurately and timely.
• Review benefit data and file feeds to support accuracy between HRIS, payroll, benefit administration systems, and external vendor platforms.
• Perform audits to ensure benefit enrollment, eligibility, payroll deductions, vendor files, and reporting data are accurate and complete.
• Partner with vendors, carriers, recordkeepers, and internal teams to research and correct data discrepancies.

Compliance and Plan Administration

• Support compliance activities for applicable benefit programs, including ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, ERISA, Form 5500 filings, 1094-C, 1095-C, Summary Plan Descriptions, plan documents, legally required notices, and other required filings or disclosures.
• Assist with retirement plan compliance activities, including compliance testing, external audits, Form 5500 filings, required notices, and review of plan administration processes.
• Partner with Benefits, HR, Finance, Payroll, Legal, vendors, recordkeepers, consultants, and other external partners to support compliant and accurate benefit plan administration.
• Interpret benefit plan documents, compliance materials, policies, and procedures to support accurate administration and associate guidance.

Claims, Appeals, and Specialized Benefit Processes

• Support claims-related issue resolution by working with associates, vendors, carriers, and TPAs as appropriate.
• Coordinate and track benefit claim appeals, including review, follow-up, communication, and documentation.
• Process and support life insurance claims for associate and dependent deaths, as applicable.
• Assist with dependent verification processes and partner with verification vendors and associates to resolve outstanding items.
• Administer or support additional benefit policies or programs, such as tuition assistance, adoption assistance, relocation educational assistance, or similar benefit programs, as assigned.

Communications, Open Enrollment, and Projects

• Support annual open enrollment activities, including system updates, testing, associate communications, vendor coordination, issue resolution, and reporting.
• Draft, coordinate, and support benefit communications to associates regarding plan changes, legal rights, education, enrollment, retirement, wellness, and termination-related procedures.
• Support benefit fairs, wellness initiatives, financial wellness programs, voluntary benefits, retirement education, and other benefits-related events or campaigns.
• Assist with special projects, plan changes, vendor transitions, new benefit features, de-risking initiatives, and other Benefits Department initiatives as assigned.
• Act as backup to other benefit administration team members as needed.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

What You'll Bring to the Role

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience may be considered.
• 2+ years of experience administering employee benefit programs, HR support, or benefits administration preferred.
• Experience supporting benefits in a large, multi-state, multi-location employer environment preferred.
• Retail industry experience preferred.
• Retirement plan administration experience preferred.
• Experience working with outsourced benefit or retirement vendors, recordkeepers, enrollment systems, or benefit portals preferred.

Knowledge and Skills

• Knowledge of health and welfare benefit plans, including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life, STD, LTD, EAP, wellness, and related benefit programs.
• Working knowledge of applicable benefit laws and regulations, including ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, ACA, IRS requirements, and related federal or state benefit regulations.
• Ability to interpret benefit plan documents, compliance materials, policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Strong PC skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Office products, especially Word and Excel.
• Experience with HRIS, payroll, benefit administration, or enrollment systems preferred.
• Experience with systems such as Dayforce, Workday, ADP, Equifax, or similar platforms preferred where applicable.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail, follow-through, organizational skills, and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and research skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion.
• Strong customer service skills and ability to work tactfully with associates, vendors, and internal stakeholders.

Benefits

• You will be eligible to receive a merchandise discount at select KnitWell Group brands, subject to each brand's discount policies.
• Support for your individual development plus opportunities for career mobility within our family of brands.
• A culture of giving back – local volunteer opportunities, annual donation and volunteer match to eligible nonprofit organizations, and philanthropic activities to support our communities.
• Medical, dental, vision insurance & 401(K).
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Time off – paid time off & holidays.
• The target salary range for this role is: $58,000 - 60,000*

*Any job offer will consider factors such your qualifications, relevant experience, and skills. Eligibility of certain benefits and associate programs are subject to employment type and role.

This position works in a hybrid model, with required days worked in the Talbots office location in Hingham, MA as defined by business needs.

Applicants to this position must be authorized to work for any employer in the US without sponsorship. We are not providing sponsorship for this position.

Location:

Corporate Office-Talbots-Hingham, MA 02043

Position Type:

Regular/Full time

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Company is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from diverse candidates. Hiring decisions are based upon a candidate's qualifications as they relate to the requirements of the position under consideration and are made without regard to sex (including pregnancy), race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, genetic information, military status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other category protected by applicable law. The Company is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for job applicants with disabilities. If you require an accommodation to perform the essential duties of the position you are seeking or to participate in the application process, please contact View email address on click.appcast.io. The Company will make reasonable accommodations for otherwise qualified applicants or employees, unless such accommodations would impose an undue hardship on the operations of the Company's business. The Company will not revoke or alter a job offer based on an applicant's request for reasonable accommodation.