HR Analyst - Benefits & Leave

About the role

The Benefit Analytics & Leave Specialist supports the organization's total rewards strategy through benefits administration, leave of absence coordination, HRIS data integrity, compliance support, and analytics. Reporting to the Compensation & Benefits Manager, this role serves as a key resource for employees, HR partners, vendors, and internal stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a primary point of contact for employee benefits and leave-related questions, including eligibility, enrollment, life events, Open Enrollment, disability, FMLA, and other leave of absence inquiries.
• Administer day-to-day benefits programs, including enrollments, changes, terminations, billing, payroll deduction reconciliation, invoice processing, vendor file feeds, and employee communications.
• Cook up leave of absence programs in compliance with company policy and applicable federal, state, and local requirements; maintain accurate and confidential leave records and support employees and managers through the leave and return-to-work process.
• Maintain and audit benefits, leave, and employee data in HRIS and vendor systems to ensure accuracy with carriers, payroll, and internal records; identify, resolve, or escalate discrepancies as appropriate.
• Support annual Open Enrollment and new hire benefits orientation activities, including system updates, plan set-up validation, communication materials, employee education, and election support.
• Partner with HR, payroll, managers, vendors, brokers, and benefits leadership to resolve routine, sensitive, and complex benefits or leave issues and ensure high-quality service delivery.
• Participate in annual compliance filing processes by providing data, analyzing data, and submitting data as directed and within required deadlines (Annual Funding Notice, Summary Annual Report, Summary of Benefits Coverage, Summary Plan Descriptions, etc.).
• Support benefit Request for Proposals by providing census files and required data, and then continuing that support through new benefit plan and/or new vendor implementations.
• Support benefit plan valuations and nondiscrimination tests.
• Monitor and analyze financial and utilization metrics of health and welfare and retirement plan performance; assist in preparing metrics for Leadership.
• Develop and maintain benefits and leave communications, forms, procedures, HRIS or website content, training resources, and process documentation.
• Leverage AI and automation to streamline HR technology, reporting tools, and processes to improve accuracy, efficiency, and the employee experience.
• Maintain confidentiality and professionalism when handling sensitive employee and organizational information.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business, Economics, Statistics, Analytics, or a related field preferred; associate’s degree or equivalent work experience may be considered.
• 4+ years of progressive experience in benefits administration, leave of absence administration, HR analytics, compensation, or a related Human Resources function.
• Strong knowledge of employee benefits programs and leave regulations, including FMLA, disability, parental leave, COBRA, HIPAA, health and welfare plans, voluntary benefits, and applicable federal, state, and local requirements.
• Demonstrated analytical and critical thinking skills, with the ability to work with large amounts of data, identify issues, research solutions, and make sound recommendations.
• Experience maintaining HRIS, benefits, leave, payroll, or vendor systems; UKG experience preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, active listening, and customer service skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with employees and stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong organizational, time management, and project management skills, with the ability to prioritize, meet deadlines, manage changing priorities, and work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• High attention to detail, discretion, professionalism, and ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, cross-train across related responsibilities, and support continuous process improvement.

Preferred Qualifications

• Preferred certifications: Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS), Certified Compensation Professional (CCP), or related certification, or progress toward certification.
• Experience supporting Open Enrollment, benefits audits, vendor integrations, compensation surveys, salary benchmarking, or HR reporting.
• Strong initiative, adaptability, and commitment to lifelong learning and continuous improvement.