Senior Benefits Specialist - Analyst

About the role

The Senior Benefits Specialist/Analyst is the subject‑matter expert for Northeastern University’s health, welfare and retirement benefit programs. You will manage day‑to‑day administration, provide advanced analytics, and serve as the escalation point for complex employee and retiree inquiries. The role requires strong analytical ability, excellent customer service, and the capacity to balance multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment.

Key responsibilities

• Administer health and welfare plans, including enrollment, qualifying life events, open enrollment support, and COBRA coordination.
• Serve as senior point of contact for escalated benefits and retirement inquiries, resolving complex eligibility, billing, and claims issues.
• Partner with carriers and vendors to troubleshoot data discrepancies, file feed errors, and billing reconciliation.
• Maintain and develop recurring and ad‑hoc reports, dashboards, and data analyses to inform cost‑management and program‑design decisions.
• Identify and implement process improvements, ensure compliance with ERISA, HIPAA, ACA, COBRA and IRS regulations, and support special projects such as vendor transitions and system implementations.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in benefits administration, retirement plan administration, or total‑rewards analytics, preferably in a large, complex organization.
• Demonstrated expertise administering medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and 401(k)/403(b) programs.
• Strong analytical skills with proven ability to build reports and dashboards; advanced Excel required.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with experience developing employee‑facing communications and job aids.

Required skills

• Advanced Microsoft Excel
• Workday or similar HRIS (preferred)