Senior Specialist, Benefits

The Senior Specialist, Benefits plays a key role in managing and enhancing the organization's employee benefits programs. This position is responsible for the day-to-day administration of health, wellness, retirement, and leave programs, ensuring compliance with all applicable laws and regulations while delivering exceptional employee experiences. The Senior Specialist, Benefits is detail-oriented, knowledgeable about benefits regulations, and serves as a trusted resource for associates.

Responsibilities:
Oversight and Program Management Manage the administration of group benefit programs, such as health, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, retirement plans, and wellness initiatives. Maintain and manage vendor relationships, including resolving service issues Provide comprehensive support to the benefits team throughout the open enrollment cycle, including preparation, communication, and follow-up. Manage associate leave requests (FMLA, ADA, Workers' Compensation, and Personal Leave) and coordinate with employees, managers, and third-party administrators to ensure a smooth process. Function as the primary liaison between the company and third-party providers. Compliance and Technical Expertise Assist with ongoing benefits compliance activities to ensure adherence to all applicable laws and regulations. Monitor and evaluate benefits utilization, costs, and trends; prepare analyses and recommend enhancements to improve program effectiveness. Process and verify final paycheck requests accurately and in a timely manner. Employee Support and Communication Serve as the primary contact for employee benefits inquiries, providing guidance and resolving complex issues. Develop and deliver benefits education materials, including presentations, FAQs, and intranet content. Support wellness integration by collaborating with the Manager Benefits and Director of Total Rewards to create a comprehensive, holistic, benefits strategy.
Required Qualifications:
Bachelors Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field 2+ years of progressive experience in benefits administration Skilled in Microsoft Office, Teams & SharePoint Deep knowledge of benefits regulations Strong analytical, communication, and project management skills Expert customer service experience P referred
Qualifications:
Experience with enterprise HRIS platforms and benefits administration systems Experience in supporting open enrollment and benefits transitions or vendor changes Experience supporting multi-state and global employee population (the role requires experience in more than just LOA management) Behavioral Traits for
Success:
Conscientious, thorough, and precise Naturally cooperative and supportive Comfortable following established procedures and processes Enjoys accomplishing work as an individual Can work harmoniously with others Communication is factual, polite, and professional
Working Environment:
Typical office environment with climate control and sufficient lighting, ergonomic desk/chairs Hybrid work schedule (Combination of in-office and remote) Lifting > 25 lbs.
Your Performance Will Be Measured On:
Your performance will be measured by your ability to achieve annual department objectives and corporate goals which include but are not limited to the following: Compliance and accuracy Audit integrity Time management and planning Communication and associate experience Decision-making, judgment, and execution Achievement of assigned goals Use of tools, processes, and systems Stakeholder feedback This description is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills, and abilities. Supervisors may assign additional functions and requirements as deemed appropriate. This document does not represent an expressed or implied contract of employment, nor does it alter your at-will employment, and Build-A-Bear, Inc. reserves the right to change this job description and/or assign tasks for the employee to perform, as may deem appropriate. Equal Opportunity Employer This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
Back to blog

Common Interview Questions And Answers

1. HOW DO YOU PLAN YOUR DAY?

This is what this question poses: When do you focus and start working seriously? What are the hours you work optimally? Are you a night owl? A morning bird? Remote teams can be made up of people working on different shifts and around the world, so you won't necessarily be stuck in the 9-5 schedule if it's not for you...

2. HOW DO YOU USE THE DIFFERENT COMMUNICATION TOOLS IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS?

When you're working on a remote team, there's no way to chat in the hallway between meetings or catch up on the latest project during an office carpool. Therefore, virtual communication will be absolutely essential to get your work done...

3. WHAT IS "WORKING REMOTE" REALLY FOR YOU?

Many people want to work remotely because of the flexibility it allows. You can work anywhere and at any time of the day...

4. WHAT DO YOU NEED IN YOUR PHYSICAL WORKSPACE TO SUCCEED IN YOUR WORK?

With this question, companies are looking to see what equipment they may need to provide you with and to verify how aware you are of what remote working could mean for you physically and logistically...

5. HOW DO YOU PROCESS INFORMATION?

Several years ago, I was working in a team to plan a big event. My supervisor made us all work as a team before the big day. One of our activities has been to find out how each of us processes information...

6. HOW DO YOU MANAGE THE CALENDAR AND THE PROGRAM? WHICH APPLICATIONS / SYSTEM DO YOU USE?

Or you may receive even more specific questions, such as: What's on your calendar? Do you plan blocks of time to do certain types of work? Do you have an open calendar that everyone can see?...

7. HOW DO YOU ORGANIZE FILES, LINKS, AND TABS ON YOUR COMPUTER?

Just like your schedule, how you track files and other information is very important. After all, everything is digital!...

8. HOW TO PRIORITIZE WORK?

The day I watched Marie Forleo's film separating the important from the urgent, my life changed. Not all remote jobs start fast, but most of them are...

9. HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A MEETING AND PREPARE A MEETING? WHAT DO YOU SEE HAPPENING DURING THE MEETING?

Just as communication is essential when working remotely, so is organization. Because you won't have those opportunities in the elevator or a casual conversation in the lunchroom, you should take advantage of the little time you have in a video or phone conference...

10. HOW DO YOU USE TECHNOLOGY ON A DAILY BASIS, IN YOUR WORK AND FOR YOUR PLEASURE?

This is a great question because it shows your comfort level with technology, which is very important for a remote worker because you will be working with technology over time...