Benefits Consultant

This position is an integral member of the Benefits team, working closely with staff, Benefits leadership and vendors to ensure the effective administration, governance and compliance of the ESPH benefits program.  This individual will also cross-train with the Payroll Department, and assist in providing benefits and leave management training to payroll staff to ensure well-coordinated programs across these closely related teams.

Schedule: 

• Hybrid Schedule: 2-3 days on-site at our Raleigh Headquarters

What You’ll Do as a Benefits Consultant: 

• Provide Benefit Orientation & Support to New/Newly Eligible Staff  
• Participate in and/or lead comprehensive bi-weekly benefits orientation for new/newly eligible staff.
• Monitor onboarding activity through UKG Benefits Prime, communicating with staff as needed to answer questions, follow up to ensure election deadlines are met, EOI is completed as needed, etc.

• Coordinate Employee Benefit Terminations

• Use vendor portal to notify of COBRA eligibility in a timely manner. Prepare and deliver conversion notices for portable benefits and benefits termination paperwork to departing staff.
• Perform regular audits of benefit vendor invoices to ensure terminations have been removed from coverage and premium adjustments have been issued as necessary.

• Leave of Absence Coordination

• Understand and ensure adherence to FMLA, State, Local and ESPH leave policies and guidelines.
• Review leave requests to determine eligibility.  Prepare appropriate leave packets for staff.

• Provide Ongoing Benefits Support for Staff

• Support the administration of ESPH’s benefit program by serving as a Subject Matter Expert for benefit offerings, including medical, dental, vision, FSA’s, life/AD&D/disability, 403(b), EAP and ancillary plans.
• Work with Benefits leadership team on benefit vendor management and reporting, auditing and processing invoices, etc.

• Participate in Annual Benefit Open Enrollment

• Work with Benefits leadership team to ensure successful Annual Benefit Open Enrollment.  This includes establishing a comprehensive knowledge of plans offered, conducting testing in UKG to ensure enrollment workflows perform as needed, auditing payroll deductions, and providing staff with one-on-one support throughout the process as needed.

• Maintain Benefits Department Documentation

• Continuous Professional Development

• Remain current on related laws, regulations, and practices affecting ESPH benefits, subscribing to related literature, attending webinars, etc.  Take advantage of ongoing education offered by benefit vendors, UKG, etc.

How You’ll Benefit: 

We offer competitive benefits to benefits eligible positions. 

Our Benefits include: 

• Paid time off and paid holidays
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Health Benefits an optional Flexible Health Spending Account (FSA)
• Life Insurance, Disability Insurance and more 
• 403(b) Retirement Plan 
• Employees Assistance Program and Legal services, when needed
• Lots of Merchant Discounts to improve your purchasing power! 

What We’re Looking for in a Benefits Consultant:  

• High School Diploma, GED or equivalent required. Associates’ or Bachelors’ degree in Human Resource Management or Business Management a plus.
• 3-5 years of experience in Benefits Administration required.  Payroll experience a plus.
• Sound knowledge of benefit laws, regulations and vendor benefit enrollment processes and policies
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams and Outlook. 
• Prior experience and expertise with HRIS systems required; UKG experience preferred.
• Exceptional communication skills required.  This includes the ability to write professional correspondence, speak effectively to staff both one-on-one and in presentation settings, and to communicate effectively with leadership at all levels.
• Strong problem solving and project management skills.  Ability to prioritize and balance competing priorities in alignment with employee needs and department goals.
• A strong desire to consistently improve efficiency and take the extra step to improve the quality of Benefits support at ESPH.
• A valid, unrestricted North Carolina/equivalent driver’s license, good driving record and possession current, unrestricted auto insurance.

If you’re looking for a rewarding career opportunity where you can make a huge difference in the daily lives of the people you'll support, then please apply now on our website:  https://eastersealsport.com/  

About Easterseals PORT Health   

Easterseals PORT Health is a trustworthy, compassionate partner providing disability, behavioral health and addiction treatment services to help our neighbors live their best lives. Our diverse 2,600 team members provide meaningful support to 40,200 kids, adults and families in 11,000 home, facility and community locations across North Carolina and Virginia.  

Our working environment supports employee & client health with a ‘no tobacco’ use policy (tobacco free and smoke free) in all offices, client facilities, properties, and agency vehicles.  

We believe that by leveraging the unique strengths and perspectives of our workforce, we can advance our just cause, while building a healthy, sustainable organization. That’s why we listen, seek to understand & act to make ESPH an Inclusive, Diverse, Equitable, Authentic & Learning (IDEAL) organization.  

Applicants of all abilities are encouraged to apply!