Houston Methodist is happy to share that Newsweek has released its annual list of best-in-state hospitals for 2025. We are proud to announce that Houston Methodist Hospital is ranked the #1 best-in-state hospital for Texas.
The ranking was compiled by considering four different parameters: Hospital quality metrics like mortality, safety, …
Benefits Specialist - 100% Remote (Must Live In Greater Houston)
Location:
Telecommute
- Job Ref:
- 63438
- Talent Area:
- Human Resources
- Job Shift:
- 1st - Day
- Job Type:
- Full-Time
- Posted Date:
- Nov. 7, 2024
Note: Candidates with "Benefits" experience and knowledge of ERISA Special Enrollment Rights and Section 125 rules strongly encouraged to apply.
At Houston Methodist, the Benefits Specialist position is responsible for assigned areas of Houston Methodist benefits programs such as retirement, health and welfare, or workers compensation with special focus on plan administration. This position supports system implementations, upgrades and testing, generates required reports and has accountability for assigned projects, delivering high quality customer service through a variety of channels. This position contributes to the overall success of benefit-related software within the Human Resources (HR) Payroll, time and attendance or risk management system. The Benefits Specialist position works across the benefits management team to ensure delivery of innovative, consistent, and cost-effective services that support, sustain, and improve our benefits administration while in compliance with all regulatory and legal requirements.
Requirements:
PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Ensures that HR Hub staff have the resources and education pertaining to assigned areas of specialization to provide support and answers to our employee population.
- Partners with Information Technology (IT) and providers regarding systems update, interfaces and customizations as assigned.
- Conducts self in a manner that is congruent with cultural diversity, equity and inclusion principles. Provides contributions towards improvement of department scores for employee engagement, i.e. peer-to-peer accountability.
SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Participates in the entire life cycle of implementing benefits programs with internal departments (IT and payroll) and external vendors. Assists with user acceptance testing (UAT).
- Identifies service and/or system issues for external and internal stakeholders and vendors. Makes recommendations for resolution to department leadership.
- Performs operational and transactional tasks required to administer company benefit programs and provides prompt and accurate responses to customers through a variety of channels (i.e. email, phone, chat).
QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Partners with vendors/providers to support flawless administration of benefit plans, such as healthcare, 403(b), paid time off (PTO), leaves, and Worker's Compensation that enhances the overall Houston Methodist total reward philosophy.
- Supports compliance of associated state and federal laws/regulations and mandatory record keeping through routine and ad hoc reporting as required. Identifies discrepancies and reports to management.
FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Partners with internal and external parties to ensure all benefit deductions, including arrears and refunds, 403(b) deferrals and contributions, or payment of wage replacement are accurate as assigned. Audits associated system reports to ensure accuracy and takes necessary action to correct discrepancies.
- Independently manages time effectively and prioritizes daily tasks. Helps other team members.
GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Stays abreast of industry trends and seeks out opportunities to apply innovative solutions to assigned programs. Makes recommendations focused on delivering high quality, cost effective programs to address the benefit needs of our employees.
- Evaluates internal processes and makes recommendations for cost savings.
- Assumes responsibility for own learning needs and seeks continuing opportunities to meet those needs. Completes and updates the My Development Plan (MDP).
This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.
Qualifications:
EDUCATION
- Bachelor's degree or an additional four years of experience in addition to the minimum experience below in lieu of degree
WORK EXPERIENCE
- Two years experience in HR or related field to include customer service experience
LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - REQUIRED
- N/A
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
- Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations
- Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security
- Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles
- Effective time management and ability to management competing priorities in an organized fashion in a fast-paced environment
- Strong verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to work independently and make decisions within scope of role
- Ability to professionally and confidentially resolve issues including working with stakeholders with varying work styles and personalities
- Solid computer skills in excel
- General knowledge of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA), Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Workers Compensation
- Knowledge of benefits systems preferred
- Ability to work effectively and efficiently in a remote environment as assigned
SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
WORK ATTIRE
- Uniform No
- Scrubs No
- Business professional Yes
- Other (department approved) No
ON-CALL*
*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. DIsaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.
- On Call* Yes
TRAVEL**
**Travel specifications may vary by department**
- May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area No
- May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area No
Company Profile:
Houston Methodist is one of the nation’s leading health systems and academic medical centers. Houston Methodist consists of eight hospitals: Houston Methodist Hospital, its flagship academic hospital in the heart of the Texas Medical Center, and seven community hospitals throughout the greater Houston area. Houston Methodist also includes an academic institute, a comprehensive residency program, a global business division, numerous physician practices and several free-standing emergency rooms and outpatient facilities. Overall, Houston Methodist employs more than 27,000 employees and is supported by a wide variety of business functions that operate at the system level to help enable clinical departments to provide high quality patient care.
Houston Methodist is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Equal employment opportunity is a sound and just concept to which Houston Methodist is firmly bound. Houston Methodist will not engage in discrimination against or harassment of any person employed or seeking employment with Houston Methodist on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, status as a protected veteran or other characteristics protected by law. VEVRAA Federal Contractor – priority referral Protected Veterans requested.
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