Benefits Specialist - Talent, Benefits

Job Description

The Specialist, Talent - Benefits plays a vital role in delivering a supportive and comprehensive total rewards experience for Uncommon Schools staff members. By ensuring the smooth day-to-day administration of employee benefits programs, this role directly supports the well-being of the educators and staff dedicated to fulfilling our mission. The Specialist serves as the primary point of contact for benefits inquiries, ensuring staff receive accurate, timely, and empathetic guidance throughout their employment journey. This role, working closely with internal teams and external vendors, manages benefits operations, open enrollment, and ongoing compliance. Ultimately, the Specialist helps foster an environment in which staff feel valued and supported, enabling them to focus on driving exceptional student outcomes.

Responsibilities

Benefits Administration & Operations

• Administer day-to-day operations for health, dental, vision, life, disability, and retirement plans.
• Process employee enrollments, terminations, status changes, and qualifying life events in the HR Information System (HRIS).
• Conduct regular audits of vendor billing statements to ensure accuracy, resolve discrepancies, and process invoices for payment.
• Oversee leaves of absence administration, partnering with staff and third-party vendors to manage FMLA, paid parental leave, and disability claims.

Stakeholder Partnership & Support

• Serve as the main point of contact for staff inquiries regarding benefits coverage, eligibility, claims, and enrollment processes.
• Provide clear, empathetic, and timely communication to resolve complex benefits issues and elevate the overall employee experience.
• Collaborate with payroll and talent teams to ensure accurate premium deductions, benefits setup, and seamless onboarding/offboarding workflows.
• Partner with third-party vendors and brokers to resolve escalated claims issues and maintain high service delivery standards.

Process & System Management

• Support the planning and execution of the annual open enrollment process, including communications, system configuration, and vendor setup.
• Maintain accurate employee benefits records, documentation, and reporting within HR systems to support data integrity.
• Identify opportunities to streamline administrative workflows and improve benefits operational efficiencies.
• Draft and update benefits communications, guides, and educational materials to help staff make informed decisions.

Compliance & Reporting

• Ensure benefits programs comply with federal, state, and local regulations, including ERISA, ACA, FMLA, and COBRA.
• Prepare data submissions for annual compliance reporting, audits, and mandatory filings.
• Monitor regulatory updates to help keep organizational policies and plan documentation current.

Qualifications

Required 

• 3–4 years of relevant experience in benefits administration, human resources, or total rewards.
• Strong knowledge of health and welfare benefits administration, retirement plans, and leaves of absence management.
• Familiarity with federal, state, and local labor laws and regulations related to employee benefits (e.g., ACA, FMLA, COBRA, ERISA).
• Proficiency with HRIS platforms and spreadsheet tools for data tracking, auditing, and reporting.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with a customer-service orientation.

Preferred 

• Experience using human resources management systems (HRMS) or specialized benefits administration platforms.
• Prior experience working in a multi-site or mission-driven organization.
• Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) or related HR credential.

Not sure if you meet every qualification? We encourage you to apply—we're excited to learn what you bring.

Additional Information

Our people are what make us Uncommon. We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits that support the personal health, wellness, and finances of our staff and their families. Our compensation philosophy values equity & fairness and attracting & retaining top talent.

Compensation

The full compensation range for this role is $78,800 - 92,700.

Typically, new hires who fully meet the qualifications and experience expectations for the role will start at or near $83,400.

Starting compensation below this reflects candidates with less experience or qualifications. Offers near the top end of the range are reserved for candidates who significantly exceed the qualifications, bringing extensive experience and specialized expertise beyond what is listed.

Compensation determinations consider relevant experience and tenure with Uncommon Schools. Additionally, because we value internal growth and tenure, current staff members are not subject to salary caps within this range.

Work Environment

Uncommon is an in-person organization with a commitment to at least three days each week at our Central Office in downtown Manhattan (100 Church Street). Candidates must be based in the NYC or Newark region and be required to travel monthly to regional locations (such as Rochester, Boston, or Camden) for 2 to 3 days at a time.

Benefits

• 19 days of paid time off
• 3 weeks of paid Winter and Summer org-wide holidays
• Comprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision insurance plans
• 403(b) retirement savings program + employer match
• Paid leave of absence options (parental, medical, disability, etc.)
• Mental health and counseling support + wellness benefits
• Pre-tax flexible spending, dependent care, and health savings accounts

*A detailed list of all benefits is located HERE. 

At Uncommon, we believe that a supportive and welcoming environment helps our students, staff, and community thrive. We are dedicated to building a team that brings a wide range of perspectives and experiences, reflective of the communities we serve---with over 70% of our staff identifying as people of color. Our organization values respect and open dialogue on important topics that shape our school culture.

As an equal opportunity employer, Uncommon provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. We also ensure that individuals with disabilities receive all privileges and benefits associated with employment and are provided reasonable accommodations for the interview process and to perform core job functions. If you would like to request an accommodation, please email [email protected].

Compensation: 78800 to 92700 (USD) (YEARLY)