Benefits Specialist

Job Description

Benefits Specialist (m/f/d)

Are you passionate about creating an outstanding employee experience and ensuring colleagues feel supported throughout their journey? We are looking for a highly organized and service-oriented Benefits Specialist (m/f/d) to join our People & HR team.

In this role, you will take ownership of employee benefits and wellbeing programs for approximately 3,000 employees in Germany. You will collaborate with employees, external providers, HR colleagues, and business stakeholders to deliver an excellent employee experience while continuously improving our benefits offering and processes.

Your Responsibilities

• Act as the primary contact for employee benefits programs and external benefit providers. 

• Support employees with benefit-related inquiries and ensure a positive employee experience. 

• Manage and continuously improve benefits programs such as pension, healthcare, wellbeing, and mobility offerings. 

• Collaborate with the Works Council and internal stakeholders on benefits-related initiatives. 

• Support vendor management activities, including reviews, contract renewals, and procurement processes. 

• Monitor market trends and benchmark benefits offerings to help maintain a competitive employee value proposition. 

• Analyze benefit utilization and identify opportunities to increase employee awareness and engagement. 

• Maintain accurate documentation and drive process improvements.

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree in HR, Business Administration, or a related field, or equivalent experience. 

• Experience in Benefits Administration, HR Operations, Employee Services, or a similar area is expected. 

• Hands-on experience managing employee benefits programs and working with external vendors is highly desirable.

• Strong communication skills with the ability to explain benefits clearly to employees and stakeholders.

• Experience working with employee representatives or Works Councils is an advantage. 

• Strong organizational, stakeholder management, and problem-solving skills. 

•  A service-oriented, proactive, and detail-focused mindset. 

• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment. 

• Fluent German (minimum C1) and English (written and spoken) are required.

Why Join Us?

• Contribute to initiatives that directly impact employee wellbeing and engagement.

• Work in a collaborative and international environment.

• Gain exposure to a broad range of HR and Benefits topics while supporting employees across their journey.

People with severe disabilities and persons with equivalent status will be given preference if equally qualified.

Additional location(s) Compensation Information:

Required Skills:

Compensation Program Design, ERISA Compliance, Expatriate Administration, Financial Research, Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS), Incentive Programs, Job Evaluations, Pension Plan Administration, Performance Appraisal Management, Policy Development, Retirement Plan Administration, Retirement Plan Compliance, Salary Surveys, Teamwork, US Corporate Tax Compliance - International

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully 
Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company.  No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails. 

Employee Status:

Regular

Relocation:

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

No Travel Required

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

N/A

Job Posting End Date:

11/16/2026

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.