Benefits Specialist

Summary

The Benefits Specialist is responsible for the day-to-day administration and support of James Hardie employee benefit programs, with a primary focus on health and welfare benefits and retirement plan administration. This role serves as a key resource for employees, managers, HR Business Partners, Payroll, and external vendors by providing exceptional customer service, ensuring accurate processing of benefit transactions, supporting compliance activities, and assisting with continuous improvement initiatives. This role reports to the Benefits Director and is based at the Chicago corporate office.

What You’ll Do:

Benefits Administration

• Administer employee benefit programs including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, health savings accounts (HSA), flexible spending accounts (FSA), voluntary benefits, employee assistance programs (EAP), COBRA, and retirement plans.
• Partner with third-party administrators, insurance carriers, and internal teams to resolve escalated employee benefit issues and enrollment discrepancies.
• Monitor eligibility file feeds and benefit administration system transactions to ensure data accuracy and compliance.
• Conduct routine audits of employee benefit data and identify opportunities for process improvements and enhanced controls.
• Maintain benefit plan documentation, administrative procedures, and employee-facing materials.

401(k) and Retirement Plan Administration

• Support day-to-day administration of the Company's 401(k) and retirement programs, working closely with recordkeepers, trustees, payroll, and external vendors.
• Assist with retirement plan funding processes, contribution file validation, and reconciliation activities.
• Research and resolve participant inquiries related to eligibility, enrollments, distributions, loans, beneficiary updates, and contribution elections.
• Support annual compliance testing, audit requests, and data collection efforts related to retirement plans.
• Assist with retirement plan communications, employee education initiatives, and promotional activities to increase employee awareness and engagement.
• Coordinate with vendors to ensure accurate plan administration and timely resolution of participant issues.

Vendor Management and Service Delivery

• Develop and maintain productive relationships with benefit vendors, carriers, brokers, and third-party administrators.
• Investigate and resolve service issues, eligibility concerns, claim escalations, and administrative discrepancies in partnership with vendors.
• Participate in vendor performance reviews and support implementation of service improvements.
• Assist with testing, implementation, and enhancement activities related to benefits and HR systems.

Compliance and Reporting

• Support compliance with ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, ACA, and other applicable federal, state, and local regulations governing employee benefits programs.
• Assist with regulatory reporting, compliance audits, and documentation requirements, including support for Form 5500 and ACA reporting processes.
• Monitor administrative processes to ensure adherence to plan provisions, company policies, and regulatory requirements.
• Prepare recurring and ad hoc reports related to plan participation, enrollment activity, compliance, and operational metrics.

Employee Support and Communications

• Serve as a primary point of contact for escalated employee benefit inquiries, providing timely, accurate, and customer-focused support.
• Support annual Open Enrollment activities, including system testing, employee communications, training sessions, and enrollment support.
• Develop and maintain employee education materials, FAQs, and benefit guides to improve program understanding and engagement.
• Deliver a high level of customer service while handling sensitive and confidential information with professionalism.

What You’ll Bring:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field required.
• 3-5 years of progressive experience in benefits administration, retirement plan administration, or related HR functions.
• Experience supporting 401(k) or other qualified retirement plans strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of health and welfare benefit programs and applicable regulations.
• Experience working with HRIS, payroll and benefits administration systems, including SuccessFactors, ADP, UKG, WEX, or similar platforms.

• Strong knowledge of employee benefits administration and retirement plan operations.
• Exceptional customer service and employee relations skills.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational abilities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Advanced attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment when handling sensitive employee information.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

What You’ll Receive:

As of the date of this posting, a good faith estimate of the current pay scale for this position is $79,300K to $95,000K. Placement in the range depends on several factors such as experience, skills, geography and internal equity and may change over time. This position qualifies for benefits and you will be eligible to participate in a bonus plan.

At James Hardie, we recognize that our success depends on our people. We've worked hard to build a generous and competitive benefits program that demonstrates our commitment to our employees.

• Compensation: competitive salary and bonus eligibility
• Insurance: day-one health coverage medical, dental, vision, life insurance
• Paid Time Off: vacation and company holidays
• Retirement: 401(k) with 6% match
• Investments: Employee Stock Purchase plan (ESP)
• Work-Life Balance: parental leave, wellness programs
• Purpose. Impact. Community: Sustainability Initiatives | James Hardie 

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