Bodycote
Senior Benefits Specialist
Our people are the heart of our business. As the world's largest provider of thermal processing services, Bodycote employs thousands of highly skilled staff around the globe, some of the best engineers, scientists, and technicians in the industry. Come join our team!
Due to the nature of our business and a heavy industrial market, Bodycote deems this position to be safety-sensitive.
Position Summary : This is a remote position reporting to the Benefits Manager. The Senior Benefits Specialist is a key contributor within the Benefits Department and broader HR Operations team, responsible for ensuring the accuracy, compliance, and operational efficiency of benefits-related processes across the U.S. and Canada. This role balances ownership of benefits operations, including billing, reconciliation, and compliance, with administration of leave programs to ensure consistent, compliant employee experiences. The Senior Benefits Specialist will also support vendor management, employee communications, wellness initiatives, and continuous process improvement.
Essential Job Functions (Duties and Responsibilities):
The primary duties consist of, but are not limited to the following.
Benefits Operations & Compliance • Lead the monthly and quarterly benefits billing processes for U.S. and Canadian plans, ensuring accuracy and timely payment. • Reconcile benefit invoices against enrollment data from HRIS, vendor, and payroll systems; resolve discrepancies. • Partner with Finance and Payroll to ensure benefits costs are allocated, recorded, and deducted accurately. • Generate, analyze, and distribute benefits reports for Finance, HR, and leadership use. • Support compliance with ERISA, IRS, HIPAA, COBRA, CRA, and provincial regulations; assist with audits and regulatory filings.
Leave of Absence and Accommodations Administration • Administer leave of absence programs including FMLA, ADA, STD, workers' compensation, military, and personal leaves. • Track eligibility, balances, certifications, and documentation while ensuring timely notifications and compliance with return-to-work protocols. • Serve as primary contact for employees, managers and HR Business Partners regarding leave and accommodations programs.
Employee & Vendor Support • Respond promptly to employee and HR Business Partner inquiries related to benefits and leave programs. • Serve as a liaison between employees, HR, vendors, and other stakeholders to resolve issues and promote positive employee experiences. • Assist in vendor relationship management, including claims resolution, file feed monitoring, and vendor performance reviews.
Communications, Training & Engagement • Support benefits and wellness communications to promote understanding and utilization of programs. • Contribute to annual enrollment planning, communication campaigns, and employee education sessions. • Assist in developing training materials and process documentation for employees, managers, and HR stakeholders.
Process Improvement & Special Projects • Document and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) for benefits and leave processes. • Partner with the Benefits Manager on special projects, vendor reviews, audits, and new program implementations. • Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, accuracy, and employee experience in benefits and leave administration.
Qualifications:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. • Minimum of 5+ years of experience in benefits administration, with a strong focus on U.S. programs (Canadian experience strongly preferred). • Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field preferred. • Strong knowledge of FMLA, ADA, HIPAA, COBRA, and related federal/state laws; familiarity with ERISA, IRS, CRA, and provincial regulations preferred. • Proven experience managing multi-state leave of absence programs, including compliance with federal (FMLA) and state-specific regulations, employee and manager support, and coordination with vendors, payroll, and HR partners. • Proven experience with benefits billing, reconciliation, and HRIS platforms (UKG, Workday, etc.) for benefits processing, data audits, and reporting. • Advanced Excel proficiency (v-lookups, pivot tables, if/then formulas). • Strong analytical, problem-solving, and process-improvement skills. • Highly organized with excellent attention to detail and ability to prioritize effectively in a fast-paced environment. • Effective written and verbal communication skills, with strong interpersonal abilities for cross-functional and vendor collaboration. • Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion
Preferred: • CEBS, FMLA/Leave Management certification, or SHRM/PHR credentials. • Experience with Canadian benefits programs and provincial regulations. • Experience reconciling vendor feeds and resolving escalated claim issues.
Physical & Mental Demands:
The following physical and mental demands consist of, but are not limited to the following. • Must be able to work in a sitting/standing position for extended periods of time in an office/industrial environment • Manual dexterity to perform data entry functions • Ability to bend, pull, stoop and reach to perform functions • Ability to lift 25 lbs. • Must have the cognitive and mental capacity to perform essential job functions • Must be able to communicate effectively orally and in writing • Visual acuity to read documents, computer screens, files, etc. • Ability to hear in person and via phone
The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and levels of the work performed by employees, but are not a complete list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, the job description does not constitute a written or implied contract for employment. Bodycote reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.
Bodycote is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against current and prospective employees based on race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age for individuals over forty years of age, military and veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state and local laws.
Our people are the heart of our business. As the world's largest provider of thermal processing services, Bodycote employs thousands of highly skilled staff around the globe, some of the best engineers, scientists, and technicians in the industry. Come join our team!
Due to the nature of our business and a heavy industrial market, Bodycote deems this position to be safety-sensitive.
Position Summary : This is a remote position reporting to the Benefits Manager. The Senior Benefits Specialist is a key contributor within the Benefits Department and broader HR Operations team, responsible for ensuring the accuracy, compliance, and operational efficiency of benefits-related processes across the U.S. and Canada. This role balances ownership of benefits operations, including billing, reconciliation, and compliance, with administration of leave programs to ensure consistent, compliant employee experiences. The Senior Benefits Specialist will also support vendor management, employee communications, wellness initiatives, and continuous process improvement.
Essential Job Functions (Duties and Responsibilities):
The primary duties consist of, but are not limited to the following.
Benefits Operations & Compliance • Lead the monthly and quarterly benefits billing processes for U.S. and Canadian plans, ensuring accuracy and timely payment. • Reconcile benefit invoices against enrollment data from HRIS, vendor, and payroll systems; resolve discrepancies. • Partner with Finance and Payroll to ensure benefits costs are allocated, recorded, and deducted accurately. • Generate, analyze, and distribute benefits reports for Finance, HR, and leadership use. • Support compliance with ERISA, IRS, HIPAA, COBRA, CRA, and provincial regulations; assist with audits and regulatory filings.
Leave of Absence and Accommodations Administration • Administer leave of absence programs including FMLA, ADA, STD, workers' compensation, military, and personal leaves. • Track eligibility, balances, certifications, and documentation while ensuring timely notifications and compliance with return-to-work protocols. • Serve as primary contact for employees, managers and HR Business Partners regarding leave and accommodations programs.
Employee & Vendor Support • Respond promptly to employee and HR Business Partner inquiries related to benefits and leave programs. • Serve as a liaison between employees, HR, vendors, and other stakeholders to resolve issues and promote positive employee experiences. • Assist in vendor relationship management, including claims resolution, file feed monitoring, and vendor performance reviews.
Communications, Training & Engagement • Support benefits and wellness communications to promote understanding and utilization of programs. • Contribute to annual enrollment planning, communication campaigns, and employee education sessions. • Assist in developing training materials and process documentation for employees, managers, and HR stakeholders.
Process Improvement & Special Projects • Document and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) for benefits and leave processes. • Partner with the Benefits Manager on special projects, vendor reviews, audits, and new program implementations. • Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, accuracy, and employee experience in benefits and leave administration.
Qualifications:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. • Minimum of 5+ years of experience in benefits administration, with a strong focus on U.S. programs (Canadian experience strongly preferred). • Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field preferred. • Strong knowledge of FMLA, ADA, HIPAA, COBRA, and related federal/state laws; familiarity with ERISA, IRS, CRA, and provincial regulations preferred. • Proven experience managing multi-state leave of absence programs, including compliance with federal (FMLA) and state-specific regulations, employee and manager support, and coordination with vendors, payroll, and HR partners. • Proven experience with benefits billing, reconciliation, and HRIS platforms (UKG, Workday, etc.) for benefits processing, data audits, and reporting. • Advanced Excel proficiency (v-lookups, pivot tables, if/then formulas). • Strong analytical, problem-solving, and process-improvement skills. • Highly organized with excellent attention to detail and ability to prioritize effectively in a fast-paced environment. • Effective written and verbal communication skills, with strong interpersonal abilities for cross-functional and vendor collaboration. • Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion
Preferred: • CEBS, FMLA/Leave Management certification, or SHRM/PHR credentials. • Experience with Canadian benefits programs and provincial regulations. • Experience reconciling vendor feeds and resolving escalated claim issues.
Physical & Mental Demands:
The following physical and mental demands consist of, but are not limited to the following. • Must be able to work in a sitting/standing position for extended periods of time in an office/industrial environment • Manual dexterity to perform data entry functions • Ability to bend, pull, stoop and reach to perform functions • Ability to lift 25 lbs. • Must have the cognitive and mental capacity to perform essential job functions • Must be able to communicate effectively orally and in writing • Visual acuity to read documents, computer screens, files, etc. • Ability to hear in person and via phone
The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and levels of the work performed by employees, but are not a complete list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, the job description does not constitute a written or implied contract for employment. Bodycote reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.
Bodycote is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against current and prospective employees based on race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age for individuals over forty years of age, military and veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state and local laws.