Benefits Specialist

Benefits Specialist

OUC - The Reliable One, is presently seeking a Benefits Specialist to join the Employee Experience. At OUC, we don't just work – we're building a bright future of innovation and transformation for future generations.

We are seeking a knowledgeable and detail-oriented professional to support our employees and retirees by administering OUC's comprehensive benefits plan and leave of absence (LOA) programs with care, accuracy, and professionalism. In this role, you'll serve as the go-to resource for employee questions and help ensure compliance and timely administration of programs including Health and Retirement benefits, Open Enrollment, FMLA, and ADA accommodations.

OUC is an industry leader and the second largest municipal utility in Florida, committed to innovation, sustainability, and our community. OUC's mission is to provide exceptional value to our customers and community by delivering sustainable, reliable services and solutions.

What You Will Do

• Administer employee benefits and leave programs, including FMLA, ADA, STD/LTD, and retirement plan activities.
• Support open enrollment, new hire orientations, and day-to-day benefits operations.
• Collaborate with internal teams and vendors to ensure accurate processing, reporting, and compliance.
• Assist with audits, reconciliations, and continuous process improvements.
• Stay up to date on laws and regulations affecting benefits and leave administration.

The Ideal Candidate Will Have:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, or related field from an accredited college or university. In lieu of a degree, equivalent combination of education and directly related experience may be substitutable on a 1:1 basis.
• 3+ years of experience in benefits, leave administration, accommodations, or retirement programs.
• Knowledge of laws and regulations such as ADA, FMLA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, and ERISA.
• Strong communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.
• Comfortable working with HR systems and data reporting tools.
• Experience partnering with third-party vendors, brokers, and insurance carriers to communicate, deliver, administer, and manage benefit, retirement, and leave of absence programs (preferred)
• SHRM or HRCI Certified Professional or similar HR certifications preferred.

OUC offers a very competitive compensation and benefits package. Our Total Rewards package includes, to cite a few:

• Competitive compensation
• Low-cost medical, dental, and vision benefits and paid life insurance premiums with no probationary period. Retirement benefits include a cash balance account with employer matching along with a health reimbursement account
• Paid vacation, holidays, and sick time
• Paid parental leave
• Educational and Professional assistance programs; Paid Memberships in Professional Associations
• Access to workout facilities at each location
• Paid Conference and Training Opportunities
• Hybrid work schedule

Salary Range: $28.264 to $35.330 per hour commensurate with experience (Est. $58,800 to $73,500 annually)

Location: "The Greenest Building in Downtown"- Reliable Plaza, 100 W. Anderson Street, Orlando, FL 32801

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application. This organization does not offer or sponsor employment visas for internship or full-time positions.

Job Purpose:

• Supports OUC's benefits, leave of absence, and retirement programs by responding to employee and retiree inquiries in a timely and accurate manner, ensuring positive communication and assistance.
• Manages the administration of medical, dental, vision, and other health benefits, including data tracking and reporting. Serves as the primary point of contact for all leave of absence cases (sick time, FMLA, STD, LTD), USERRA, and accommodation requests, ensuring seamless processing and compliance.

Primary Functions:

• Collaborate with leadership, clients (Business Unit leaders, employees) and appropriate employee experience team members to administer benefits, retirement and leave programs in accordance with the OUC policies and procedures and applicable federal and state laws.
• Support benefits daily operations, processes, and procedures, in partnership with any third-party outsourcing vendors.
• Serve as the first tier of resources to employee and retiree requests for assistance or information on benefits, leave of absence and retirement programs.
• Respond to benefits inquiries on plan provisions and manage all processes including eligibility verification related to benefits enrollments, qualifying status changes, dependent eligibility, leave and disability coverage.
• Handle retirement program enrollments, terminations, changes, beneficiaries, disability, accident and death claims, rollovers, distributions, loans, hardships and compliance testing.
• Assist in reviewing routine claims and auditing employee contributions and related payroll deductions; Prepare reports and support audits related to claims, leave requests, STD/LTD processes managed by third-party vendors.
• Perform moderately complex financial reconciliations, routine retirement and benefits calculations/allocations, and process retirements.
• Generate and provide reports, data, documentation and other administrative and logistical support on an ongoing basis for all benefits, retirement and leave programs; Manage employee benefit files and ensure records are up to date for all employees.
• Review and process all benefits, leave of absence and retirement forms and support documentation ensuring accuracy and compliance with HR policies, as well as following appropriate privacy and record disposition procedures.
• Partner with the benefits and wellness teams to provide front-facing support for annual benefits open enrollment process and benefits orientations for new hires.
• Partner with benefits leadership, HRIS and IT on ACA Reporting and year-round local, state, and federal compliance matters for health plans, including 5500 filings, Non-Discrimination testing and all other compliance related filings.
• Partner with risk management on Worker's Compensation processes, including navigating employee injuries and return to work processes as it relates to leave and benefits.
• Serve in a cross functional team to support large initiatives in Benefits, Wellness, or other related HR programs.
• Document standard operating procedures.
• Collaborate with internal teams (Payroll, IT, HRIS, etc.) and external vendors to conduct process improvement audits, identify ways to streamline operations, improve the use of technology, reduce redundancies and improve quality, accuracy, and timeliness of information processing.
• Stay informed on changes to laws, regulations and policies regarding benefits administration, leave of absence, disability and retirement programs.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Technical Requirements:

• Working knowledge of all, but not limited to, the following:
• Benefits, leave of absence and retirement programs.
• Benefits, leave of absence and retirement trends and practices.
• ADA and reasonable accommodation process.
• Project coordination and support methods.
• Data, metrics and reporting.
• Software Applications (i.e. JD Edwards EnterpriseOne, Documentum).
• Familiarity with all, but not limited to, the following:
• General Human Resources practices and processes.
• Related industry, organizational and departmental policies, practices and procedures; legal guidelines, ordinances and laws such as ADA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, and ERISA.
• Ability to:
• Communicate clearly, concisely and efficiently both verbally and in writing with employees at all levels of the organization.
• Prioritize and organize assigned work.
• Review data, prepare reports, organize projects, and assignments.
• Gather information, reports and metrics from software systems (i.e., E-1, Documentum, etc.).
• Work in a team-oriented environment and provide support to the department through a strong work ethic, sense of commitment and a strong desire to succeed.
• Make arithmetic computations using whole numbers, fractions and decimals, and compute rates, ratios, and percentages.
• Use Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, etc.) and standard office equipment (telephone, computer, copier, etc.).

Education/ Certification/ Years of Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in human resources, Business, or a closely related field from an accredited college or university. In lieu of a degree, equivalent combination of education and directly related experience may be substitutable on a 1:1 basis.
• Minimum of three (3) years