Benefits Specialist (Inst)

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Job Category:
Academic Staff

Employment Type:
Regular

Job Profile:
Benefits Specialist I (Inst)

Job Summary:

Under the direction of the Benefits Processing Manager, the Benefits Specialist I (Inst) position in the Office of Human Resources will be responsible for being a subject matter expert in benefits including medical, dental, vision, retirement savings and flexible spending. In addition, to understanding and identifying qualifying events related to these benefits.

The candidate will research, analyze, and process employee enrollments to provide accurate guidance with excellent customer service at all times. They will understand payroll processing schedules to meet weekly deduction and contribution deadlines.

Additionally, the candidate will have excellent computer, communication and customer service skills; including use of Microsoft products, Sharepoint and virtual platforms (examples include MS Teams, WebEx, Zoom).

They are driven by routine daily work including but not limited to review, entry and analysis of benefits enrollments, discrepancy and eligibility reports. The candidate will have the ability to learn and adapt in a fast-paced environment, a strong work ethic, motivated to succeed and be a team-player who also works well independently.

This position will be on site a minimum of two days per week, with the ability to work remotely up to three days per week.

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Develops and facilitates employee benefit trainings and associated resources and materials

• Serves as a unit subject matter expert and liaison to internal and external stakeholders providing complex benefit information

• Receives, processes, and audits benefit enrollments and changes according to established policies and procedures

• Identifies opportunities for operational improvements and recommends changes to leadership

• Receives, responds to, and resolves complex employee benefits questions, feedback and problems from employees, HR leadership, and campus partners through various mediums

• Advises current and prospective employees and human resources staff on benefit eligibility, options, and applicable timelines according to established policies and procedures

• Researches eligibility and enrollment rules, plan documents, contract statutes, and administrative codes to provide correct benefit resources and materials to human resources professionals and employees

Department:

• Location within the Office of Human Resources, in the operational area of Madison Benefits Services

Compensation:

• Depending on the experience of a successful candidate, the position will pay according to the salary administration guidelines with an absolute maximum pay of $62,500.00. (The upper level is not negotiable).
• Actual pay is determined at hire and is based on experience and qualifications.
• This position offers a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off, competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance, tax-advantaged savings accounts, and participation in the nationally recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund. For a summary of benefits, please see

Required Qualifications:

• 3+ years of experience creating and analyzing reports
• 3+ years of providing excellent customer service
• Ability to quickly learn and use new technology
• Takes full responsibility and ownership of all work assignments to meet and/or exceed deadlines
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality and work with confidential data
• Ability to work up to 4 late nights (approx. 10:30 pm - 2:00 am) per year to support 3rd shift employees
• Ability to use spreadsheets and word processing software (Word, Excel, etc.)

Preferred Qualifications:

• 3+ years of HR experience
• 2+ years of experience administering a variety of benefit plans (medical, life, retirement, etc)
• Experience process benefits enrollments or analyzing eligibility
• Experience working with Benefitsfocus and/or Employee Trust Funds
• Experience working with a diverse population of employees and job types (examples include shift employees, union and non-union, employees with differing degrees of education and backgrounds) and job types (such as blue collar to executive, public sector and private sector)
• Experience using Workday

Education:

• High School Diploma or equivalent required

How to Apply:

• To apply for this position, please click the "Apply" button. You will be prompted to upload the following documents: Cover Letter & Resume.
• Please note when applying, there will be only one attachment field. You must upload all your documents in the attachment field.
• After reading the Job Summary and Key Job Responsibilities, submit a cover letter (no longer than 2 pages in length) containing specific, first-hand examples of how your current knowledge, skills, and abilities, or a past experience would support your success in the role. We value authenticity and transparency. Please ensure all responses reflect your personal experience. Applicants may be asked to elaborate on provided examples during the interview process.
• Applicants should provide a resume detailing their training and experience relating to the required and preferred qualifications referenced above.
• Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment. UW-Madison is not an E-Verify employer, and therefore, is not eligible to employe F1 STEM OPT Extension participants.
• The application deadline is 11:59 pm on June 24, 2026.

Contact Information:

Phoua Khang

HR Generalist

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Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.

To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.


The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).


The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.