Benefits Specialist

Job Description:
Join OCTA’s Human Resources team and play a key role in delivering high-quality employee benefits programs. These positions support and administer health, supplemental, retirement, and deferred compensation benefits.

Benefits Specialist focuses on administering programs, supporting open enrollment, assisting employees, and performing benefits research and analysis.

Senior Benefits Specialist performs all Level I duties with additional responsibility for leading key initiatives, conducting complex analysis, and serving as a senior consultant on benefits strategy, compliance, and process improvement.

Benefits Specialist - This is a non-exempt position in Salary Grade 185: Min $38.71 - Mid $46.24- Max $53.76 hourly. The starting salary will be within this range based on qualifications.

Benefits Specialist, Senior - This is an exempt position in Salary Grade 205: Min $97,864.00 – Mid $116,896.00 – Max $135,928.00 per year. The starting salary will be within this range based on qualifications.

This position will remain open until filled.

What You’ll Do

At Both Levels:

• Administer medical, dental, vision, retirement, and deferred compensation programs.
  
• Serve as an internal consultant and benefits subject-matter expert for employees and management.
  
• Assist employees with benefit issues, manage eligibility updates, reconcile invoices, and prepare employee communications.
  
• Support open enrollment, benefits education programs, health fairs, and seminars.
  
• Research competitive benefit data, participate in surveys, prepare reports, and evaluate plan and claims data for compliance.
  

Additional Responsibilities at the Senior Benefits Specialist level:

• Lead the annual open enrollment process, including project planning, communications, and ACA reporting.
  
• Provide benefits, pension, and deferred compensation guidance to retiring or separating employees.
  
• Develop and maintain benefit policies, procedures, Board actions, and contract proposals.
  
• Analyze benefit plan performance, monitor third-party administrators, and recommend improvements.
  
• Conduct complex research and resolve higher-level plan, policy, and regulatory issues.
  
• Produce advanced analytical reports and deliver presentations.
  
• Apply advanced regulatory knowledge (COBRA, Section 125, ACA, HIPAA, FMLA/CFRA, 401(a), 457(b), etc.).
  

What We’re Looking For

Benefits Specialist:

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, HR, or related field—or equivalent experience.
  
• Minimum three years of professional benefits administration experience.
  
• Strong customer service, analytical, communication, and technical skills.
  
• Certified Benefits Professional designation preferred.
  
• Workday experience highly desirable.
  

Senior Benefits Specialist:

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, HR, or related field—or equivalent experience.
  
• Minimum five years of professional benefits experience, including three at the journey level.
  
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills; strong MS Excel skills highly desirable.
  
• Certified Employee Benefits Specialist preferred.
  
• Workday benefits and report-writing experience preferred.
  

Why You’ll Love It Here

• Make a meaningful impact on employee well-being and organizational success.
  
• Work in a collaborative, supportive HR environment.
  
• Opportunities to apply expertise, lead initiatives, and contribute to continuous improvement.
  
• A dynamic role with variety, visibility, and room for professional growth.
  
• Join a team where innovation, integrity, and strategic thinking are valued

Apply now to help shape the future of OCTA’s programs.

OCTA is an equal employment opportunity employer that recruits, hires, and promotes qualified people without regard to race, color, religion, creed, ancestry, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition, disability, genetic information, military and veteran status, or other legally protected status.