Benefits Specialist I

Description:

About CLS Health

CLS Health is a growing healthcare system in Houston, Texas that is taking a different approach to healthcare. We are a physician-led healthcare group that focuses on providing patients with holistic, multispecialty care. We're a dynamic team on a mission to provide better healthcare options for Houstonians!

We are Looking for:

The Benefits Specialist is responsible for managing, coordinating, and administering employee benefit programs to support the health, financial, and personal well-being of employees. They ensure benefits programs comply with company policies and legal regulations and provide expert guidance to employees regarding benefits options. This role involves regular communication with vendors, tracking benefits data, conducting market analyses, and ensuring benefits packages are both competitive and aligned with organizational objectives.

Responsibilities:

• Manage daily operations of group benefits programs, including health insurance, dental, vision, life insurance, 401(k) plans, and wellness programs.
• Process employee benefits enrollments, changes, and terminations.
• Work closely with benefits vendors and brokers to ensure proper plan management.
• Serve as a primary contact for employees with benefits-related questions, helping them understand and make decisions about available benefits.
• Conduct Open Enrollment Meetings on benefits programs and answer employee inquiries about benefits, claims, and enrollment processes.
• Ensure compliance with government regulations (e.g., ACA, ERISA, HIPAA, FMLA, COBRA).
• Administer and process employee leaves of absence, including FMLA, ADA accommodations, short-term disability, and long-term disability in accordance with company policy and legal requirements.
• Coordinate with employees, managers, and third-party administrators to ensure timely and accurate documentation and communication of leave request
• Prepare and distribute legally required documents such as Summary Plan Descriptions and annual notices.
• Maintain accurate records and updated employee benefits information in HR systems.
• Maintain confidentiality and accuracy of all employee benefits and leave-related information.
• Monitor leave status and return-to-work timelines; communicate updates to leadership as needed.
• Assist in the evaluation, planning, and implementation of new benefits offerings or changes to existing programs.
• Conduct market and benchmark analysis to ensure benefits offerings are competitive within the industry.
• Recommend enhancements to benefit programs based on industry trends and employee feedback.
• Organize and lead benefits workshops, webinars, and wellness events.
• Prepare reports for HR leadership regarding benefit enrollment statistics, claim trends, and financial impacts.
• Collaborate with various departments to assess employee needs, gather feedback, and implement strategies for improvement.
• May travel to other CLS clinics as needed.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental Insurance
• Disability insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• HR certifications such as SHRM-CP, PHR, or Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) are preferred.
• Typically requires 2-4 years of experience in HR with a focus on benefits administration.
• Experience with HR software, such as Paylocity or Ease, is beneficial.
• Familiarity with ACA, ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, and other benefits-related laws.
• Ability to interpret data, conduct cost analysis, and make recommendations based on findings.
• High accuracy in managing benefits information and documentation.
• Strong verbal and written skills to communicate complex benefits information clearly.
• Empathy and responsiveness to employee questions and concerns.
• Capable of handling multiple tasks simultaneously and meeting deadlines.
• Proficiency in HRIS systems, Excel, and benefits administration software.