Senior Benefits Specialist

Northeastern University · Boston

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About the Opportunity

Job Summary

The Senior Benefits Specialist is a subject-matter expert responsible for the day-to-day administration, analysis, and continuous improvement of the university's health and welfare and retirement benefit programs. This role serves as an escalation point for complex benefits and retirement inquiries, partners closely with vendors and carriers to ensure accurate plan administration, and delivers analytics that inform program design, compliance, and cost management decisions. The role requires a highly organized, detail-oriented professional with exceptional customer service instincts who thrives in a fast-paced, high-volume environment and is comfortable balancing competing priorities across multiple stakeholders.

This position reports to the Associate Director, Benefits, with a dotted-line relationship to the Manager, Benefits on matters related to day-to-day benefits operations, retirement administration coordination, and team-level service delivery.

This is a hybrid position with 3 days required on- campus

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• 5 - 7 years of progressive experience in benefits administration, retirement plan administration, or total rewards analytics, ideally within a large, complex organization.

• Demonstrated expertise administering health and welfare plans (medical, dental, vision, life, disability) and retirement/403(b)/401(k) programs, including eligibility, enrollment, and vendor file feeds.

• Strong analytical skills with proven ability to build reports, dashboards, and data analyses (advanced Excel required; experience with Workday or similar HRIS strongly preferred).

• Exceptional customer service orientation with a track record of building trust and rapport with employees, retirees, and leadership; skilled at translating complex benefits concepts into clear, accessible guidance.

• Working knowledge of applicable regulations, including ERISA, HIPAA, ACA, COBRA, and IRS retirement plan rules.

• Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent priorities, deadlines, and stakeholders in a fast-paced environment, with sound judgment and discretion when handling sensitive employee data.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including experience developing employee-facing communications and job aids.

• Experience in higher education or another academic/nonprofit setting is a plus.

• CEBS, CBP, PHR, or SPHR certification preferred.

Key Responsibilities & Areas (KRAs)

1. Benefits Administration & Employee/Retiree Support

• Serve as a senior point of contact for escalated benefits inquiries from employees and retirees, resolving complex eligibility, enrollment, billing, and claims issues.

• Administer day-to-day health and welfare plan operations, including new hire enrollment, qualifying life events, open enrollment support, and COBRA coordination.

• Partner with carriers and vendors to troubleshoot data discrepancies, file feed errors, and billing reconciliation.

• Deliver consistently high-quality customer service, modeling a proactive, empathetic approach to employee engagement.

2. Retirement Program Administration

• Administer the university's retirement program(s), including enrollment, contribution changes, loans/withdrawals coordination, and vendor data feed oversight.

• Support annual retirement plan compliance activities (e.g., nondiscrimination testing coordination, Form 5500 support, plan audits).

• Serve as the primary liaison with retirement plan recordkeepers and investment providers on day-to-day service issues.

• Assist employees with retirement planning questions and coordinate financial wellness education sessions.

3. Analytics & Reporting

• Build and maintain recurring and ad hoc reports and dashboards on benefits utilization, retirement participation, and plan costs to support decision-making.

• Analyze plan performance data to identify trends, anomalies, and opportunities for cost savings or process improvement.

• Support the Associate Director and Manager, Benefits with data and analysis for RFPs, renewals, and executive-level presentations.

4. Process Improvement & Compliance

• Identify and implement process improvements to streamline benefits and retirement administration workflows.

• Maintain accurate documentation of standard operating procedures and job aids.

• Ensure administration practices remain compliant with applicable federal and state regulations.

5. Team Collaboration & Special Projects

• Collaborate cross-functionally with HRBPs, Payroll, and HR Operations on benefits-related matters.

• Support special projects, including open enrollment, vendor transitions, and system implementations, as assigned.
• Requires the ability to manage high transaction volumes and shifting priorities, particularly during open enrollment and other peak periods

Position Type

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.  

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Compensation Grade/Pay Type:

Expected Hiring Range:

With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.

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