Benefits Specialist

About us KnitWell Group, a specialty retail operating company, comprises some of the most iconic brands in America – Ann Taylor, Chico's, Haven Well Within, Lane Bryant, LOFT, Soma, Talbots, White House Black Market. Individually, our brands are unique and strong. Together, we are powerful. Our common thread is our commitment to create exceptional products, provide memorable experiences, and achieve superior results. Our associates are innovators who thrive through collaboration and are dedicated to excellence. At the heart of it all are the customers we serve. We are dedicated to creating fashion that not only looks good but also makes our customers feel good. Benefits Specialist About the role The Benefits Specialist is responsible for supporting the administration, communication, compliance, and day-to-day operations of employee benefit programs.  This role serves as a key point of contact for associates, HR partners, vendors, carriers, third-party administrators, and other internal stakeholders regarding benefit eligibility, enrollment, coverage, claims, retirement programs, billing, compliance, and policy-related questions.  This position provides high-quality customer service, resolves associate benefit inquiries, supports health and welfare and retirement plan administration, assists with compliance activities, maintains accurate benefit data, supports open enrollment and benefit communications, and helps ensure benefit plans are administered accurately, timely, and in compliance with applicable federal and state regulations.  The impact you can have Benefit Administration and Associate Support  Provide day-to-day support for benefit programs, including medical, prescription, dental, vision, life, disability, wellness, employee assistance, retirement, and other benefit programs.  Serve as a primary contact for associate benefit questions, including eligibility, enrollment, plan provisions, coverage, claims, retirement, and policy-related inquiries.  Counsel associates, HR partners, managers, and other stakeholders on benefit plan provisions, policies, procedures, and administrative processes.  Research, respond to, and resolve associate benefit questions, complaints, and escalated issues in a timely, accurate, and professional manner.  Provide a high level of customer service when working with associates by phone, email, system cases, and in person as needed.  Enrollment, Data Integrity, and Systems  Process benefit enrollments, status changes, terminations, deduction adjustments, and other benefit-related updates in HRIS, payroll, enrollment, and vendor systems accurately and timely.  Review benefit data and file feeds to support accuracy between HRIS, payroll, benefit administration systems, and external vendor platforms.  Perform audits to ensure benefit enrollment, eligibility, payroll deductions, vendor files, and reporting data are accurate and complete.  Partner with vendors, carriers, recordkeepers, and internal teams to research and correct data discrepancies.  Compliance and Plan Administration  Support compliance activities for applicable benefit programs, including ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, ERISA, Form 5500 filings, 1094-C, 1095-C, Summary Plan Descriptions, plan documents, legally required notices, and other required filings or disclosures.  Assist with retirement plan compliance activities, including compliance testing, external audits, Form 5500 filings, required notices, and review of plan administration processes.  Partner with Benefits, HR, Finance, Payroll, Legal, vendors, recordkeepers, consultants, and other external partners to support compliant and accurate benefit plan administration.  Interpret benefit plan documents, compliance materials, policies, and procedures to support accurate administration and associate guidance.  Claims, Appeals, and Specialized Benefit Processes  Support claims-related issue resolution by working with associates, vendors, carriers, and TPAs as appropriate.  Coordinate and track benefit claim appeals, including review, follow-up, communication, and documentation.  Process and support life insurance claims for associate and dependent deaths, as applicable.  Assist with dependent verification processes and partner with verification vendors and associates to resolve outstanding items.  Administer or support additional benefit policies or programs, such as tuition assistance, adoption assistance, relocation educational assistance, or similar benefit programs, as assigned.  Communications, Open Enrollment, and Projects  Support annual open enrollment activities, including system updates, testing, associate communications, vendor coordination, issue resolution, and reporting.  Draft, coordinate, and support benefit communications to associates regarding plan changes, legal rights, education, enrollment, retirement, wellness, and termination-related procedures.  Support benefit fairs, wellness initiatives, financial wellness programs, voluntary benefits, retirement education, and other benefits-related events or campaigns.  Assist with special projects, plan changes, vendor transitions, new benefit features, de-risking initiatives, and other Benefits Department initiatives as assigned.  Act as backup to other benefit administration team members as needed.  Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.  What You’ll bring to the role Education and Experience  Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience may be considered.  2+ years of experience administering employee benefit programs, HR support, or benefits administration preferred.  Experience supporting benefits in a large, multi-state, multi-location employer environment preferred.  Retail industry experience preferred.  Retirement plan administration experience preferred.  Experience working with outsourced benefit or retirement vendors, recordkeep