Benefits Analyst

Job Description | Benefits Analyst

Title | Benefits Analyst

Location | Dulles, VA

Department | CO1HRM Corporate Human Resources

Reports To | Director , HR

Compensation Range | $78,000-$89,000

Overview

The Benefits Analyst is responsible for the administration, analysis, and ongoing improvement of the company's employee benefits programs. This role ensures benefits plans are competitive, cost-effective, compliant with applicable federal and state regulations, and aligned with the organization's business objectives and employee needs.

The Benefits Analyst serves as a subject matter expert on health and welfare benefits, retirement plans, leave programs, and other employee benefits. This position partners with Human Resources, Finance, Payroll, benefits brokers, insurance carriers, third-party administrators, and employees to ensure accurate plan administration, effective vendor management, and a positive employee experience.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Benefits Administration

- Administer employee benefits programs, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, voluntary benefits, and retirement plans.
- Manage new-hire enrollment, qualifying life events, annual open enrollment, and benefits changes related to employee status, leaves, and terminations.
- Ensure accurate processing of benefit elections, eligibility, payroll deductions, employer contributions, and carrier invoices.
- Maintain accurate benefits records and confidential employee information.

Compliance and Regulatory Requirements

- Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local benefits regulations, including ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, ACA, FMLA, and state leave requirements.
- Coordinate required benefits notices, filings, reporting, disclosures, and audits, including Form 5500 and ACA reporting.
- Maintain benefits policies, plan documents, and procedures; partner with brokers, legal counsel, and plan administrators on compliance matters.

Vendor and Financial Management

- Manage relationships with benefits brokers, carriers, third-party administrators, and other service providers.
- Monitor vendor performance, resolve escalated issues, and identify opportunities to improve service delivery.
- Analyze benefits costs, utilization, renewals, and plan performance to support budgeting, forecasting, and benefits strategy.
- Support annual renewals, plan design evaluations, contract reviews, and cost-containment initiatives while maintaining competitive benefits offerings.

Employee Communication and Support

- Serve as a resource for employees and managers on benefits eligibility, coverage, enrollment, claims, and plan provisions.
- Resolve complex benefits inquiries in partnership with carriers and administrators.
- Develop benefits communications, enrollment materials, FAQs, and employee education resources.
- Coordinate open enrollment, new-hire benefits orientation, and ongoing employee education.

Reporting, Analysis, and Process Improvement

- Develop and maintain reports and metrics related to benefits enrollment, costs, participation, and program effectiveness.
- Analyze benefits data to identify trends, discrepancies, risks, and improvement opportunities.
- Partner with HR and Finance on benefits budgeting, forecasting, reconciliation, and financial reporting.
- Improve benefits administration processes and support HRIS enhancements, system integrations, data audits, and documentation.

Leave Management and Disability Administration

- Administer employee leave programs, including FMLA, short-term and long-term disability, military leave, company-sponsored leaves, and applicable state and local leave programs.
- Manage leave cases from initial notification through return to work, including eligibility, required notices, documentation, tracking, extensions, and intermittent leave.
- Coordinate with employees, managers, Payroll, insurance carriers, and third-party administrators regarding leave approvals, disability claims, benefit payments, and payroll adjustments.
- Ensure compliance with applicable leave requirements and coordinate overlapping leave entitlements, continuation of benefits, and COBRA obligations as appropriate.
- Coordinate return-to-work processes, including work restrictions, reasonable accommodations, and the interactive process when applicable.
- Maintain confidential leave records, communicate policies and procedures, and monitor leave trends to identify process improvements.

Additional Responsibilities

- Support HR initiatives related to employee engagement, wellness, retention, and total rewards.
- Stay current on benefits trends, regulatory changes, and industry best practices.
- Perform special projects and other HR responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications:

- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
- Five or more years of progressive experience in human resources, employee benefits administration, benefits analysis, or total rewards.
- Demonstrated experience administering health and welfare benefits, retirement plans, and annual open enrollment.
- Experience with benefits compliance, vendor management, benefits reporting, and cost analysis.
- Experience working with HRIS, payroll, and benefits administration systems.
- Experience supporting a multi-state workforce preferred.

The description provided above is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties, responsibilities, and requirements.  Duties, responsibilities, and requirements may change over time and according to business need.