Benefits Specialist

As the Benefits Specialist, you are part of the Employee Benefits Team, which serves as the main point of contact for our U.S. employees. Together with your team members, you provide excellent customer service support for all employee benefit programs offered to Bertelsmann Printing Group, Penguin Random House, BMG, Fremantle, Arvato, Bertelsmann Corporate, and employees at our other operating companies. You also support the leave of absence and disability process. In this role, you will coordinate with benefit vendors, research, and resolve any escalated employee issues and questions that arise. You are also responsible for assisting former employees with retiree medical, retiree life insurance, and pension benefits. In addition, you will work closely with the entire HR-Benefits Team on organizational initiatives, such as annual enrollment. The Benefits Specialist is part of the HR-Benefits Team, which has the responsibility of developing, negotiating, and customizing the health, welfare, and retirement programs for each of Bertelsmann's U.S. operating Companies. The Benefits Specialist is expected to possess a wealth of knowledge and understanding of employee benefits at an employee-facing and corporate level.This role generally works standard business hours, with the exception that, on occasion, the schedule will be shifted to support employees in the evening shift. This role is expected to work in the office at least two days per week (subject to change based on business needs).This role reports to the Director of Employee Benefits.Role and ResponsibilitiesAssist employees with benefit issues, including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life insurance, flexible spending accounts, leaves of absences, voluntary benefits, pension, 401(k) and other company-provided benefits and servicesSupport the annual enrollment process, qualifying life event changes, implementation of new vendors and onboarding of employees for acquired companiesRespond to high daily volume of phone, email, and face-to-face inquiries and assist current and former employees with resolving benefits-related issuesResolve administrative problems with the carrier representatives, investigate discrepancies, escalate issues and provide information in non-routine situationsPartner and collaborate with HRIS, Corporate Benefits, HR Business partners, and external vendors to resolve issues related to enrollment, eligibility, claims and vendor performanceResearch, interpret, and provide employees guidance on established benefit policies and proceduresDraft and coordinate the distribution of communications for ad hoc participant issues, present and facilitate benefits orientations for annual enrollment and new hire orientationsSupport the translation of benefit communications and plan documents between English and Spanish as neededCollaborate with vendors and HR partners to administer leave of absence and key entries as neededSupport audit activities and the accuracy of data and benefit recordsSupport and respond to employees, including support for evening shift as needed and during peak periods such as annual enrollmentEnsure proper document retention in accordance with statutory and internal business practicesOther duties as assigned to meet business needs