Senior Rewards and Benefit Specialist

Job Title: Senior Specialist, Benefit Operations

Location: Widnes

Department: Human Resources / Benefits

Job Summary:

The Senior Specialist, Benefit Operations, plays a key role in managing and optimizing the company's employee benefits programs, including health, wellness, retirement, and other employee perks. This position ensures that benefits programs are administered efficiently and in compliance with regulatory requirements. The Senior Specialist will also serve as a subject matter expert (SME), providing support and guidance to employees and HR teams on benefits-related issues.

Key Responsibilities:

Benefits Administration:

• Manage day-to-day administration of all benefit programs, including health insurance, life insurance, disability, wellness programs, and retirement plans.

Vendor Management:

• Collaborate with external benefits vendors and carriers to ensure effective communication, accurate data exchange, and timely issue resolution.

Compliance and Reporting:

• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local laws and regulations (e.g., HIPAA, COBRA, ACA, ERISA). Manage reporting and audit processes, ensuring accurate and timely filings (5500, 1095-C, etc.).

Employee Support and Communication:

• Serve as the primary point of contact for employee benefit inquiries. Develop and distribute communication materials to educate employees on available benefits and any plan changes.

Open Enrollment Coordination:

• Lead the annual open enrollment process, including developing timelines, coordinating with vendors, preparing communication materials, and ensuring seamless execution.

Data Analysis & Reporting:

• Analyze benefits utilization and cost data to identify trends and recommend plan design changes to optimize cost-effectiveness and employee satisfaction. Prepare regular reports for management review.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in benefits administration, with at least 2 years in a senior or specialist-level role.
• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local benefits regulations (ACA, ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, etc.).
• Experience with HRIS and benefits administration platforms (e.g., Workday, ADP, etc.).
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex information in simple terms.
• Proven ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritize effectively.

If you would like to discuss this vacancy further or to discuss your career options in confidence, please telephone on +44 (0) 2039288383 or email me on: nbartlett@planet-pharma.co.uk

If this role isn’t suitable for you, please let us know if you can refer anyone – any recommendations are much appreciated! Planet Pharma offers a competitive referral scheme so you will be rewarded for your help!

About Planet Pharma

Planet Pharma is an American parented Employment Business/Agency that provides global staffing services with its head-quarters in Chicago and our EMEA regional office located in Central London. We have invested significantly in creating a robust international platform that enables us to work compliantly in 30+ countries with a current network of 2500+ active contractors globally as well as a very strong permanent / direct hire recruitment offering.

Our specialist knowledge and close relationships with our clients and the wider industry really makes us unique in our field. Just recently we were recognised by FORBES as the 17th best professional staffing firm, and have won multiple awards from industry accredited bodies for our commitment to excellence and service delivery. We have extensive functional expertise including: Regulatory Affairs, Pharmacovigilance, QA, QC, Submissions experts, Clinical development, Quality, Biostatistics, and Medical Affairs / Writing.

We are an equal opportunities Recruitment Business and Agency.

We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age.

• www.planet-pharma.com