We are seeking a Benefits Specialist to join the People & Talent team at Duffy Health Center. This role is essential in advancing our mission by supporting HR functions that enhance employee engagement, ensure compliance with organizational policies, and promote a positive employee experience.
Based on Cape Cod, MA, this position is responsible for HRIS Paycom utilization & system management, recruitment and onboarding activities, and administration of employee benefits. The ideal candidate will bring relevant HR & Benefit experience along with strong knowledge of Massachusetts employment laws and best practices.
Salary Range $55,000- $62,000
The posted range represents the full earning potential for the role over time, not the typical starting or hiring rate. Starting pay is determined based on factors such as relevant experience, skills, internal equity, and market alignment. The top of the range reflects compensation that employees may reach through demonstrated performance, increased responsibilities, and tenure in the role. This structure allows us to support growth and advancement while maintaining fairness and consistency across the organization.
Company Overview
Duffy Health Center, a non-profit located in Hyannis, MA, provides compassionate and skilled integrated healthcare for persons with complex health and social needs on Cape Cod. We envision a Cape Cod where all persons have access to quality health care, safe and stable housing, and lives filled with connection and purpose.
Duffy Health Center is a Federally Designated Healthcare for the Homeless Program. This requires that most of the patients we serve are experiencing or have recently experienced homelessness or some other form of housing insecurity.
Staff choose to work here because they believe deeply in the mission, and some staff have relevant lived experience themselves.
Position Summary
The Benefits Specialist is responsible for the day-to-day administration, coordination, and compliance of Duffy Health Center’s employee benefits programs, ensuring employees receive accurate, timely, and high-quality support throughout the employee benefits lifecycle. This position serves as a key member of the People & Talent team and is responsible for supporting benefit enrollment and eligibility, vendor coordination, benefit billing and invoice reconciliation, COBRA administration, unemployment claims, 403(b) administration and audits, and related compliance requirements.
The Benefits Specialist serves as a primary resource for employees and managers regarding benefit programs, providing exceptional customer service while ensuring benefit information, employee elections, eligibility, and deductions are accurate and maintained in accordance with organizational policies and applicable federal and state requirements.
This position works closely with Finance, payroll, benefit vendors, and other internal and external partners to ensure accurate billing, timely payments, appropriate employee deductions, resolution of discrepancies, and accurate benefit records. The Benefits Specialist also supports required audits, reporting, and compliance activities, including 403(b) audits and other benefit-related reviews.
The Benefits Specialist plays a critical role in supporting Duffy Health Center’s mission by fostering a positive employee experience, ensuring employees understand and can effectively access their benefits, maintaining strong vendor and compliance practices, and supporting the organization’s ability to attract and retain a high-quality workforce.
Key Responsibilities
- Administer employee benefit programs, including health, dental, vision, life, disability, retirement, and other employer-sponsored benefits.
- Manage benefit enrollment, eligibility changes, qualifying life events, new hire enrollment, and termination-related benefit processes.
- Coordinate COBRA administration, including qualifying events, notices, elections, and coordination with the applicable vendor.
- Support unemployment claims and related responses, ensuring information is accurate, timely, and appropriately documented.
- Administer and support the organization's 403(b) retirement plan, including employee changes, vendor coordination, payroll coordination, and required audits and compliance activities.
- Review and reconcile benefit invoices and billing statements, identify discrepancies, coordinate corrections with vendors and Finance, and ensure accurate and timely payment.
- Partner with Payroll to ensure benefit deductions, elections, eligibility, and changes are accurately reflected in payroll.
- Serve as a primary point of contact for employees with benefit questions and provide clear, timely, and confidential assistance.
- Maintain accurate benefit records and documentation and support benefit-related audits, reporting, and compliance requirements.
- Coordinate with benefit vendors and brokers to resolve employee issues, billing discrepancies, eligibility concerns, and other administrative matters.
- Support annual Open Enrollment, including communications, employee education, vendor coordination, system setup, and reconciliation of elections.
- Maintain compliance with applicable federal and state laws, regulations, plan documents, and Duffy Health Center policies.
- Protect the confidentiality and security of employee personal, compensation, and benefits information.
- Identify opportunities to improve benefit processes, employee communications, data accuracy, and overall efficiency.
Benefits Administration
- Serve as the primary point of contact for employee benefits inquiries, providing timely, accurate, and confidential guidance to employees and managers.
- Administer health, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, retirement, and voluntary benefit programs.
- Coordinate annual Open Enrollment activities, including employee education, communications, vendor coordination, system setup, and election reconciliation.
- Process benefit enrollments, changes, terminations, and qualifying life events in a timely and accurate manner.
- Maintain accurate employee benefit records in the HRIS and applicable carrier and vendor systems.
- Reconcile monthly benefit invoices, identify and resolve discrepancies, and coordinate with Finance regarding benefit-related billing, payments, and adjustments.
- Partner with benefits brokers, carriers, and vendors to resolve employee issues, eligibility questions, billing discrepancies, and other benefit administration matters.
- Administer and coordinate COBRA processes, including qualifying events, notifications, elections, and coordination with the applicable COBRA administrator.
- Support administration of the 403(b)-retirement plan, including employee enrollment and changes, vendor coordination, payroll coordination, record maintenance, and required audits and compliance activities.
- Support benefit and retirement plan audits, including gathering documentation, reviewing records, identifying discrepancies, and coordinating corrective actions as needed.
- Assist with benefits compliance, including ACA reporting, COBRA requirements, HIPAA privacy requirements, 403(b) requirements, and applicable federal and state regulations.
- Partner with Payroll to ensure accurate benefit deductions, eligibility, employee elections, and changes are reflected appropriately in payroll.
- Prepare benefits-related reports, audits, reconciliations, and analyses to support organizational decision-making and compliance.
- Support employee wellness and engagement initiatives and assist with communications designed to increase employee understanding and utilization of available benefits.
Onboarding & Employee Experience
- Coordinate and facilitate new hire onboarding activities, including benefits orientation and enrollment support.
- Ensure completion of required employment documentation and compliance requirements during onboarding.
- Maintain onboarding checklists and ensure timely completion of required tasks and documentation.
- Provide new employees with clear and accurate information regarding benefit eligibility, enrollment deadlines, and available programs.
- Support employee recognition, engagement, wellness, and retention initiatives.
- Assist with employee communications related to benefits, policies, programs, and organizational updates.
- Provide responsive, professional, and service-oriented support throughout the employee lifecycle.
HR Operations & Compliance
- Maintain confidential employee records and HR documentation in accordance with organizational policies and applicable legal requirements.
- Assist with HR audits, benefits audits, reporting, and compliance initiatives.
- Support unemployment administration, including responding to unemployment claims, gathering supporting documentation, meeting response deadlines, and coordinating with appropriate internal stakeholders.
- Ensure compliance with applicable federal and state employment, benefits, and leave-related laws and regulations.
- Support policy implementation and employee education efforts.
- Generate HR, benefits, and workforce reports and analytics as requested.
- Maintain accurate and confidential documentation related to employee benefits, retirement plans, COBRA, unemployment, and other HR processes.
- Partner with Finance, Payroll, managers, vendors, and other internal stakeholders to resolve HR and benefits-related issues.
- Participate in HR and People & Talent projects, process improvement initiatives, system implementations, and organizational initiatives.
- Identify opportunities to improve benefits administration, employee communication, data accuracy, compliance, and operational efficiency.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Population Served
Duffy Health Center is a Federally Designated Healthcare for the Homeless Program. This requires that most of the patients we serve are experiencing or have recently experienced homelessness or some other form of housing insecurity.
Staff choose to work here because they believe deeply in the mission, and some staff have relevant lived experience themselves.
Qualifications & Skills
Education & Experience: (Required & Preferred)
- Associate's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, or related field required or SHRM, PHR or other related HR certification
- CBP Certfication- Certified Benefit Professional
Experience
- Minimum of 2 years of experience in human resources, benefits administration, or a related field.
- Healthcare, community health center, nonprofit, or FQHC experience preferred.
- Experience with HRIS systems (Paycom) and applicant tracking systems preferred
Skills & Competencies:
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Knowledge of employment laws and HR best practices.
- Understanding of employee benefits administration and compliance requirements.
- Strong customer service and relationship-building skills.
- Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and HR technology systems.
- Strong attention to detail and problem-solving abilities
Work Environment/Physical Requirements:
Physical Requirements
- Ability to sit, stand, walk, and use a computer for extended periods.
- Ability to attend recruitment events and travel locally as needed.
- Ability to occasionally lift to 25 pounds
- Office-based environment with occasional travel to recruitment events, community partners, and Duffy Health Center locations.
- May require occasional evening or weekend attendance at job fairs and recruitment events.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $55,000.00 - $62,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 403(b)
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible schedule
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Referral program
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
