Senior Specialist - Benefits

Wood Mackenzie is the global leader in analytics, insights and proprietary data across the entire energy and natural resources landscape. For over 50 years our work has guided the decisions of the world’s most influential energy producers, utilities companies, financial institutions and governments. Now, with the world’s energy system more complex and interconnected than ever before, sector-specific views are no longer enough. That’s why we’ve redefined what’s possible with Intelligence Connected. By fusing our unparalleled proprietary data with the sharpest analytical minds, all supercharged by Synoptic AI, we deliver a clear, interconnected view of the entire value chain. Our trusted team of 2,700 experts across 30 countries breaks siloes and connects industries, markets and regions across the globe. This empowers our customers to identify risk sooner, spot opportunities faster and recalibrate strategy with confidence – whether planning days, weeks, months or decades ahead. Wood Mackenzie Intelligence Connected WoodMac.com Wood Mackenzie Brand Video Wood Mackenzie Values Inclusive – we succeed togetherTrusting – we choose to trust each otherCustomer committed – we put customers at the heart of our decisionsFuture Focused – we accelerate changeCurious – we turn knowledge into action Role Purpose The Senior Specialist – Human Resources (Benefits) will support the delivery of benefits provision across the Americas region. This role is responsible for benefits administration across the regions by managing our BAU activities, along with supporting annual renewals and projects. The successful candidate for this position must have experience and a thorough knowledge of benefits and payroll practices across the Americas region (US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil). The ideal candidate will have experience working in a fast-paced, rapidly changing environment and be willing to guide, support, and engage with the wider HR and payroll/finance teams. Key Responsibilities Benefits Administration: Enter and validate employee benefit elections during onboarding or open enrolmentProcess benefit cessation and ensure correct end dates for leaversReview and approve life event requests and update benefit selections accordinglyCoordinate COBRA notifications, enrolment, and continuation coverage administration with the vendor following qualifying events.Manage end-to-end leave cases including approvals and employee/manager co-ordinationCommunicate leave status and related changes to payroll to ensure accurate pay and benefit deductions.Ensure benefits continue or adjust correctly during periods of leave Employee Support Provide first-line guidance on benefit plans, enrolment, coverage, and processes. Send standard communications to employees.Investigate and resolve complex benefit issues escalated from employees, managers, vendors, or HR teams.Work with vendors to resolve denied or complex insurance claimsAdvise employees on benefit options and coverage implicationsResolve benefit-related payroll issues, deductions, adjustments, and reimbursements in partnership with payrollGuide employees on steps needed for benefit changes or compliance Vendor Management Serve as day-to-day liaison between company and benefit providers/brokersManage complex vendor/service issues not resolved via standard channels Compliance Monitor and ensure all benefits comply with relevant regulationsProduce and submit statutory filings and employee compliance communicationsProvide documentation and responses during internal or external audits Operational Excellence Continue supporting HR operations processes where neededEnsure employee data accuracy in HR systems (e.g., Workday) Workday Maintenance Perform system testing for benefit changes, upgrades, or renewalsOversee system interfaces between HRIS, payroll, and benefit vendorsMonitor and reconcile benefits data across systems Billing Validate carrier invoices against enrolment and eligibility dataCorrect historical billing discrepancies and backdated changesManage employer contributions and funding processes for savings plans Key Relationships Principal Specialist – RewardPayrollExternal Vendors About You 4+ years of benefits administration, ideally across the US, Canada, Mexico, and Brazil.Strong interpersonal and communication skillsAbility to analyze situations and recommend solutionsExperience working with HR systems such as WorkdayAbility to manage multiple priorities and work collaboratively across teams The salary range for this position is $90,000- $100,000, which represents base pay only and does not include short-term incentive compensation or commission. When determining base pay, as part of a final compensation package, we consider several factors such as location, experience, qualifications, and training. This base salary maps to the Boston Location. Equal Opportunities We are an equal opportunities employer. This means we are committed to recruiting the best people regardless of their race, colour, religion, age, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, disability or protected veteran status. You can find out more about your rights under the law at www.eeoc.gov