Human Resources, Benefits Specialist

About Us:

The Jewish Federation of Detroit is the cornerstone of Jewish philanthropy and community engagement in Southeast Michigan. We are a community-driven organization committed to meeting the needs of the Jewish people and strengthening Jewish life—locally, in Israel, and around the world.

Position Summary:

We are seeking a proactive and detail-oriented Human Resources, Benefits Specialist to join our HR team. Reporting to the Senior Director, Human Resources, this individual will manage the organization’s day-to-day benefits administration for approximately 100 employees, serve as a primary resource for employee benefits questions, support annual renewal and Open Enrollment processes, and contribute to new hire onboarding, recruitment support, and employee wellness initiatives.

Key Responsibilities:

Benefits Administration:

• Manage the day-to-day administration of employee benefit programs, including health, dental, vision, life, disability, COBRA, retirement, and wellness-related programs, as applicable.

• Serve as the primary liaison to benefits vendors and brokers for routine questions, issue resolution, annual renewal planning, and Open Enrollment implementation.

• Oversee the review, reconciliation, and timely submission of monthly benefits invoices for JFD and JCSI across multiple benefit plans.

• Maintain accurate benefits census data and employee records for new hires, terminations, and employee changes, ensuring alignment across vendor, HRIS, and payroll systems.

• Manage COBRA administration for employee terminations, ensuring timely and accurate processing.

• Lead the annual Open Enrollment process, including renewal meetings with brokers, employee communications, enrollment support, plan implementation, and administration of the retiree dental and vision benefits program.

• Serve as an internal resource for employee benefits questions, providing clear guidance on plan options, enrollment, qualifying life events, and related processes.

• Provide benefits information to prospective candidates as part of the recruitment process.

Recruitment & Onboarding:

• Support recruitment activities, including resume review, interview coordination, candidate interviews, and reference checks.

• Manage HRIS setup for new employees upon hire, ensuring accurate employee and benefits-related information.

• Lead new hire benefits meetings and support employees through the enrollment process.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Prepare and manage biweekly change reports to support Finance and payroll accuracy.

• Manage payroll-related changes in Paycom, ensuring timely and accurate updates.

• Monitor PTO deductions and approval processes to ensure accurate tracking and supervisor approval.

• Oversee the workers’ compensation claims process and coordinate with appropriate internal and external partners.

• Help plan and implement internal staff events and employee wellness initiatives that support employee engagement.

• Perform other duties as assigned by the Senior Director, Human Resources.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and three to five years of progressive experience in benefits administration, HR operations, or a related field.

• Experience supporting benefits renewals, Open Enrollment, vendor coordination, and employee benefits communications preferred.

• Working knowledge of benefits compliance requirements, including COBRA, HIPAA, ACA, and related regulations, with the ability to apply requirements appropriately and escalate complex issues as needed.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, HRIS/payroll systems, and benefits-related data, with strong accuracy and attention to detail.

• Ability to explain benefits information clearly and professionally to employees, candidates, vendors, and internal partners.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with a collaborative and service-oriented approach.

• Highly organized, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and follow through on details.

• Proactive problem solver with sound judgment, discretion, and the ability to manage sensitive employee information confidentially.

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