Benefits Specialist

We are looking for an Onsite Benefits Specialist to support leave of absence and accommodation programs for a healthcare organization in Boston, Massachusetts. This is a long-term contract position.

About the role

This role focuses on guiding employees and managers through leave processes, maintaining compliant documentation, and helping ensure timely return-to-work coordination. The role also contributes to reporting, policy administration, and accurate tracking of benefit-related activity across multiple leave programs.

Responsibilities

• Manage employee leave cases across federal, state, and employer-specific programs, including union-related leave provisions, from initial request through resolution.
• Review required paperwork, obtain medical certifications, issue determinations, and ensure all leave documentation is complete and processed within established timelines.
• Partner with employees, supervisors, and internal stakeholders to coordinate return-to-work plans and secure any required fitness-for-duty clearances.
• Oversee medical accommodation requests by facilitating communication, preparing follow-up correspondence, and monitoring the status of approved arrangements.
• Maintain detailed records for leave usage, balances, approvals, denials, and accommodation activity to support compliance and operational accuracy.
• Prepare recurring and ad hoc reports that identify patterns, usage trends, and areas requiring attention within leave and accommodation programs.
• Collect benefit premium payments for employees who are away from work on approved leave or workers’ compensation status.
• Administer paid parental leave, sick leave policies, and related programs by recording accruals, tracking usage, and supporting corrective action processes when needed.
• Review complex or potentially improper leave activity, work with supervisors on follow-up, and help resolve issues involving suspected misuse.
• Manage confidential medical and personnel files in accordance with organizational standards and communicate approved catastrophic illness leave time to payroll.

Requirements

• Experience administering employee benefits with a strong focus on leave of absence programs, including FMLA and related policies.
• Knowledge of benefits coordination, compensation and benefits practices, and leave documentation requirements.
• Ability to interpret and apply federal, state, and employer leave guidelines while maintaining consistent and compliant processes.
• Strong communication skills for working directly with employees, supervisors, payroll, and other internal partners on sensitive matters.
• Experience handling medical certifications, accommodation documentation, and return-to-work coordination.
• Proficiency in benefits analysis, recordkeeping, and reporting to monitor trends and support decision-making.
• High level of discretion and accuracy when maintaining confidential employee and medical information.

Benefits

• Medical, vision, dental, and life and disability insurance.
• Eligibility to enroll in the company 401(k) plan.