US Benefits Senior Associate

We are seeking a detail-oriented and experienced U.S. Benefit Sr Associate based in India to manage and administer U.S.-based health and welfare programs. In this role, you will be responsible for the daily administration of the companys US health and welfare benefit plans, ensuring accurate operations, compliance, and excellent service delivery. This role will manage routine vendor interactions, resolve escalated employee issues, maintain plan documentation, and support key annual processes such as open enrollment and compliance reporting.

This position requires a strong understanding of U.S. benefit regulations, excellent communication skills, and the ability to manage benefit related activities while working with teams and vendors in different time zones.

Roles & Responsibilities:

Program Administration & Compliance

• Administer US health and welfare benefit plans, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, flexible spending accounts, and other ancillary programs.
• Process benefit transactions accurately in alignment with plan rules and timelines.
• Ensure compliance with ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, and other applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
• Maintain plan documents, SPDs, compliance filings (e.g., 5500s), and internal records.
• Process invoices payments and support with budget related activities as needed.
• Support audits and compliance testing as required.

Vendor & Stakeholder Management

• Serve as the primary contact for benefits vendors and third-party administrators to resolve day-to-day issues.
• Monitor vendor service delivery, escalate concerns, and track resolutions.
• Coordinate with Payroll, HR, legal and other internal teams to ensure seamless benefit operations.

Employee Support & Communication

• Respond to and resolve escalated employee benefits inquiries in a timely and accurate manner.
• Assist employees with enrollment, claims, eligibility, and plan understanding.
• Support the development and distribution of benefits communications, including open enrollment materials and ongoing program updates.

Data & Reporting

• Maintain accurate benefits data in HR systems and ensure timely updates for life events, new hires, and terminations.
• Prepare and distribute routine benefits reports and ad-hoc data requests.
• Reconcile vendor invoices and ensure accurate payment processing.

Annual Processes & Process Improvement

• Assist in coordinating and executing the annual open enrollment process.
• Support benefits-related file feeds, testing, and updates.

• Help prepare and review plan-related communications and employee education materials.

• Identify opportunities to streamline and improve benefit processes for greater efficiency and employee satisfaction.

• Assist in the development and implementation of new processes and tools to manage benefit programs effectively.

Basic Qualifications and Experience:

• 5+ years of experience in benefit administration, preferably with a focus on US benefit administration.
• In-depth knowledge of U.S. benefit programs and regulations, including ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, and related regulations.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to interact effectively with U.S. employees and managers remotely across different time zones.
• Experience with Workday, third party benefit administrator systems and ServiceNow is preferred.

Skills:

• Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines in a global work environment.
• Excellent communication, project management, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Ability to analyze data and translate insights into actionable program improvements.
• Experience working in a large, diverse, global organization.