Benefits Specialist (Leave of Absence Specialist)

OUC - The Reliable One, is presently seeking a Benefits Specialist (Leave of Absence Specialist) to join the Employee Experience division. At OUC, we don't just work - we're building a bright future of innovation and transformation for future generations.

We are looking for a highly organized, detail-oriented, and knowledgeable professional to manage and administer leave of absence programs, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and company policies while providing exceptional support to employees and management.

In this role, you will be responsible for coordinating and overseeing all leave of absence cases, including FMLA, short-term and long-term disability (STD/LTD), USERRA, ADA accommodations, and other related programs. You will serve as the subject matter expert on leave policies, working closely with third-party administrators, investigating potential leave fraud, and training managers on best practices for handling leave-related matters. Additionally, you will collaborate with cross-functional teams to improve processes, enhance compliance, and provide strategic recommendations for program enhancements.

We are looking for a proactive problem-solver with strong analytical skills and experience in benefits administration, who can effectively partner with Risk & Safety, Employee Relations, Payroll, and external vendors to ensure seamless program execution.

OUC's mission is to provide exceptional value to our customers and community by delivering sustainable and reliable services and solutions. Click here to learn more about what we do.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Bachelor's degree in human resources, Business, or a closely related field from an accredited college or university. In lieu of a degree, equivalent combination of education and directly related experience may be substitutable on a 1:1 basis.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience with employee benefits, leave of absence, reasonable accommodations or retirement programs (Required).
• Experience partnering with third-party vendors, brokers and insurance carriers to communicate, deliver, administer and manage benefit, retirement and leave of absence programs (Preferred).
• Certifications and/or licenses (Preferred):
  • SHRM or HRCI Certified Professional (SPHR/PHR or SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP)
  • Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) or Certified Benefits Professional (CBP)

OUC offers a very competitive compensation and benefits package. Our Total Rewards package includes, to cite a few:

• Competitive compensation
• Low-cost medical, dental, and vision benefits and paid life insurance premiums with no probationary period. Retirement benefits include a cash balance account with employer matching along with a health reimbursement account
• Paid vacation, holidays, and sick time
• Educational and Professional assistance programs; Paid Memberships in Professional Associations
• Access to workout facilities at each location
• Paid Conference and Training Opportunities
• Free downtown parking
• Hybrid work schedule

Click here to view our Benefits Summary.

Salary Range: $27.30 to $34.13 per hour commensurate with experience (Est. $56,784 to $70,990 annually)

Location: "The Greenest Building in Downtown"- Reliable Plaza, 100 W. Anderson Street, Orlando, FL 32801

Job Purpose:

Supports OUC's benefits, leave of absence, and retirement programs by responding to employee and retiree inquiries in a timely and accurate manner, ensuring positive communication and assistance.

Manages the administration of medical, dental, vision, and other health benefits, including data tracking and reporting. Serves as the primary point of contact for all leave of absence cases (sick time, FMLA, STD, LTD), USERRA, and accommodation requests, ensuring seamless processing and compliance.

Primary Functions:

• Collaborates with leadership, clients (Business Unit leaders, employees) and appropriate employee experience team members to administer benefits, retirement and leave programs in accordance with the OUC policies and procedures and applicable federal and state laws.
• Supports benefits daily operations, processes, and procedures, in partnership with any third-party outsourcing vendors.
• Serves as the first tier of resources to employee and retiree requests for assistance or information on benefits, leave of absence and retirement programs.
• Responds to benefits inquiries on plan provisions and manage all processes including eligibility verification related to benefits enrollments, qualifying status changes, dependent eligibility, leave and disability coverage.
• Handles retirement program enrollments, terminations, changes, beneficiaries, disability, accident and death claims, rollovers, distributions, loans, hardships and compliance testing.
• Assists in reviewing routine claims and auditing employee contributions and related payroll deductions; Prepare reports and support audits related to claims, leave requests, STD/LTD processes managed by third-party vendors.
• Performs moderately complex financial reconciliations, routine retirement and benefits calculations/allocations, and process retirements.
• Generates and provide reports, data, documentation and other administrative and logistical support on an ongoing basis for all benefits, retirement and leave programs; Manage employee benefit files and ensure records are up to date for all employees.
• Reviews and process all benefits, leave of absence and retirement forms and support documentation ensuring accuracy and compliance with HR policies, as well as following appropriate privacy and record disposition procedures.
• Partners with the benefits and wellness teams to provide front-facing support for annual benefits open enrollment process and benefits orientations for new hires.
• Partners with benefits leadership, HRIS and IT on ACA Reporting and year-round local, state, and federal compliance matters for health plans, including 5500 filings, Non-Discrimination testing and all other compliance related filings.
• Partners with risk management on Worker's Compensation processes, including navigating employee injuries and return to work processes as it relates to leave and benefits.
• Serves in a cross functional team to support large initiatives in Benefits, Wellness, or other related HR programs.
• Documents standard operating procedures.
• Collaborates with internal teams (Payroll, IT, HRIS, etc.) and external vendors to conduct process improvement audits, identify ways to streamline operations, improve the use of technology, reduce redundancies and improve quality, accuracy, and timeliness of information processing.
• Stay informed on changes to laws, regulations and policies regarding benefits administration, leave of absence, disability and retirement programs.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Technical Requirements:

• Working knowledge of all, but not limited to, the following:
  • Benefits, leave of absence and retirement programs.
  • Benefits, leave of absence and retirement trends and practices.
  • ADA and reasonable accommodation process.
  • Project coordination and support methods.
  • Data, metrics and reporting.
  • Software Applications (i.e. JD Edwards EnterpriseOne, Documentum).
• Familiarity with all, but not limited to, the following:
  • General Human Resources practices and processes.
  • Related industry, organizational and departmental policies, practices and procedures; legal guidelines, ordinances and laws such as ADA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, and ERISA.
• Ability to:
  • Communicate clearly, concisely and efficiently both verbally and in writing with employees at all levels of the organization.
  • Prioritize and organize assigned work.
  • Review data, prepare reports, organize projects, and assignments.
  • Gather information, reports and metrics from software systems (i.e., E-1, Documentum, etc.).
  • Work in a team-oriented environment and provide support to the department through a strong work ethic, sense of commitment and a strong desire to succeed.
  • Make arithmetic computations using whole numbers, fractions and decimals, and compute rates, ratios, and percentages.
  • Use Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, etc.) and standard office equipment (telephone, computer, copier, etc.).

Education/ Certification/ Years of Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in human resources, Business, or a closely related field from an accredited college or university. In lieu of a degree, equivalent combination of education and directly related experience may be substitutable on a 1:1 basis.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience with employee benefits, leave of absence, reasonable accommodations or retirement programs (Required).
• Experience partnering with third-party vendors, brokers and insurance carriers to communicate, deliver, administer and manage benefit, retirement and leave of absence programs (Preferred).
• Certifications and/or licenses (Preferred):
  • SHRM or HRCI Certified Professional (SPHR/PHR or SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP), or similar HR certification such as CEBS/CBP.

Working Conditions:

This job is free from disagreeable working conditions and is primarily performed in an office environment.

Physical Requirements:

This job includes very frequent speaking/ hearing, writing/ typing, and detailed inspection. This job requires frequent sitting, standing, and walking. There may be occasional kneeling, bending, reaching overhead, and lifting up to twenty (20) lbs. Also, this job may include occasional driving of a company vehicle.

OUC-The Reliable One is an Equal Opportunity Employer who is committed through responsible management policies to recruit, hire, promote, train, transfer, compensate, and administer all other personnel actions without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, marital status, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information and any other factor prohibited under applicable federal, state, and local civil rights laws, rules, and regulations.

EOE M/F/Vets/Disabled