Benefits Administration Specialist

The Benefits Administration Specialist manages the daily operations of corporate benefit programs, ensuring high-quality support for employee inquiries, plan enrollment, and vendor coordination. Operating within the Houston, TX corporate office, this midlevel professional provides immediate, independent impact by leveraging established expertise to manage plans, resolve issues, and ensure compliance. This role serves as a key partner to the Benefits Manager, requiring minimal training to execute core benefits processes efficiently RESPONSIBILITIES Process health, dental, vision, life, disability, life status changes, and terminations. Partner directly with the Total Rewards Manager on vendor file feeds and invoice reconciliations. Serve as a primary contact for tier-one employee inquiries regarding benefit eligibility, coverage rules, and claims troubleshooting. Manage HSA within HRIS (UKG Pro). Maintain accurate records inside the HRIS, ensuring adherence to federal and state guidelines including ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, and ERISA. Review, approve, and process qualifying life events (marriages, births, divorces) in the HRIS. Verify all required legal documentation. Partner with the Benefits Manager to execute the annual open enrollment strategy. Test HRIS portal configurations, draft employee communications, and audit final elections. Manage the termination process for benefits. Coordinate with the third-party administrator to ensure timely delivery of COBRA notices and compliance timelines. Manage the daily administration of the benefits module in the HRIS. Troubleshoot data integration errors and update employee records. Monitor electronic data interchange (EDI) files sent to carriers. Resolve error reports immediately to prevent coverage gaps. Perform monthly audits on insurance carrier invoices against payroll deductions. Resolve billing discrepancies and submit approved invoices to Accounts Payable. Generate standard and ad-hoc reports regarding plan participation, enrollment statistics, and demographic data for the Benefits Manager. Meet regularly with account managers from medical, dental, and retirement vendors. Monitor service level agreements and report recurring issues. Administer the initial intake for FMLA, STD, LTD, and track employee leave statuses alongside payroll. QUALIFICATIONS 3 to 5 years of dedicated benefits administration experience; prior background in oil and gas or oilfield services environments is strongly preferred Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field (or equivalent professional. Moderate, plug-and-play capability with standard HRIS platforms (e.g., UltiPro, Workday, or ADP) and advanced Microsoft Excel skills; UKG experience preferred Working familiarity with standard health and welfare plans, leave coordination, and routine statutory compliance reporting. Ability to research, analyze, and evaluate complex problems and recommend solutions. Self-starter with a willingness to learn and ability to work independently. Strong attention to detail. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a strong familiarity with Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams). Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment and to effectively communicate and coordinate with numerous corporate stakeholders. COMPETENCIES Professional Maturity Responsibility Communication Time Management Flexibility Leadership Customer Service Job/Technical Knowledge Collaboration and Partnership Problem Solving Attention to Detail Integrity and Respect Teamwork Accountability Qualifications Education Preferred Bachelors or better in Business Administration or related field. Equal Opportunity Employer This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor. #J-18808-Ljbffr