Benefits Associate

The Benefits Associate supports the day-to-day administration of the university's benefits programs, ensuring accurate processing and responsive service. This role provides faculty and staff with clear guidance on health, welfare, retirement, and related benefits, and assists with routine transactions and documentation. The Benefits Associate maintains benefit records and systems to ensure compliance, accurate reporting, and data integrity, and appropriately escalates more complex issues to senior team members. Through efficient and service-oriented support, this position contributes to a positive experience for the university community.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide front-line benefits support to employees through timely and accurate case management

• Respond to benefits inquiries with a strong customer-service mindset, ensuring clear and professional communication

• Support day-to-day administration of health, welfare, and voluntary benefit programs

• Assist with benefit enrollments, changes, and terminations, including qualifying life events

• Maintain accurate employee benefit records across HR systems and vendor platforms

• Partner closely with Benefits Partners and leadership to resolve issues and escalate complex cases appropriately

• Support Open Enrollment activities, including data validation, employee communications, and post-OE maintenance

• Review and process benefit documentation in compliance with policy, timelines, and regulatory requirements

• Proactively identify trends, errors, or recurring issues and flag them for review

• Participate in audits, reconciliations, and special projects as assigned

What Success Looks Like in This Role

• Deliver consistent, high-quality customer service with attention to detail

• Demonstrate accountability, follow-through, and ownership of assigned work

• Communicate clearly and collaborate effectively with peers and cross-functional partners

• Show initiative by anticipating needs and resolving issues proactively

• Adhere to deadlines, service standards, and compliance requirements

• Actively contribute to team knowledge-sharing and process improvement

Preferred Skills & Experience

• 4 years in benefits administration, HR operations, or customer service in a complex organization.

• Experience supporting employee benefits or HR operations in a fast-paced environment

• Experience using ServiceNow (SNOW) for case management and employee support

• Workday benefits transactions experience

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail

• Comfortable working with HRIS systems, case management tools, and vendor platforms

• Detail-oriented with strong organizational and problem-solving skills

• Spanish bilingual a plus

Minimum Skills & Experience:

• Associate's degree in human resources, Business Administration, Public Administration or related field(s).

• 2 years in human resources support, benefits support, payroll support, or a related administrative role.

• Basic knowledge of employee benefits administration, including health, welfare, and/or retirement programs.

• Ability to interpret and apply established policies, procedures, and eligibility guidelines related to employee benefits.

• Strong attention to detail with the ability to accurately process forms, verify documentation, and maintain records.

• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally with employees regarding benefits programs, procedures, and requirements.

• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion when handling sensitive employee information.

• Basic proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook).

• Ability to manage routine administrative tasks, follow structured processes, and meet deadlines.

• Strong organizational skills with the ability to track multiple transactions and maintain accurate files and records.

The budgeted hourly range for this position is $34.87 - $38.46. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer alignment, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.