Benefit Specialist
Bowling Green State University
Salary: Depends on Qualifications
Job Type: Full-Time
Division: President's Office
Opening Date: 02/10/2026
Location: Main Campus (BG), OH
Job Number: BGSU01398
Department: President's Office
Closing: Continuous
Summary
The Benefits Specialist serves as a core member of the collaborative Benefits Team, responsible for the daily administration of the university's comprehensive benefits, leaves of absence, and workers' compensation programs. The role balances technical data management with employee advocacy to ensure faculty and staff receive exceptional support. The position serves as a lead administrator for assigned benefits and leave programs, exercising independent judgment within established policies and procedures to ensure regulatory compliance, data integrity, and risk mitigation. The role acts as an authoritative operational resource and primary escalation point, with complex, non-routine, or high-risk matters reviewed in collaboration with the Director.
Essential Functions
Benefits Administration & Employee Advocacy
• Maintain a thorough understanding of university-sponsored benefits, including policy provisions and coverage details.
• Determine employee and dependent eligibility; assist employees with enrollment and documentation to ensure accuracy and deadline compliance.
• Serve as a facilitator and advocate for employees regarding benefit questions, serving as the liaison to vendors to resolve complex issues.
• Serve as the primary escalation point for complex or non-routine benefits issues, independently interpreting plan provisions and determining appropriate resolutions within established guidelines, and coordinating corrective actions with vendors, Payroll, and internal partners.
• Manage benefit-related employee data with strict confidentiality.
Leave & Workers' Compensation Management
• Administer all university leave plans such as Family Medical Leave (FML), Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), Parental Leave, Light Duty program, the Sick Leave Bank program, and others in compliance with university policy and federal/state/local laws.
• Conduct eligibility reviews, documentation assessments, and leave tracking for routine and moderately complex leave cases, applying established policies and procedures with independent judgment to ensure consistent and compliant administration.
• Escalate complex, disputed, exception-based, or high-risk leave and FMLA cases-including those with potential legal, operational, or employee-relations implications-to the Director for review and final determination.
• Manage the Workers' Compensation program, acting as the bridge between the university, the BWC, medical practitioners, and the third-party administrator.
• Serve as the primary operational administrator and institutional point of contact for Workers' Compensation claims, coordinating return-to-work activities and escalating disputed, high-cost, or non-routine cases to the Director.
• Maintain comprehensive and accurate records of all claims and usage.
Data Integrity, Audit, & Finance
• Manage the HSA lifecycle, including elections, account setups, and vendor data transmissions, while partnering with Payroll and Finance for tax documentation and reconciliation.
• Regularly audit employee enrollments, calculate arrears/missed deductions, and correct discrepancies within the university system.
• Monitor Affordable Care Act (ACA) eligibility, facilitate offers of election, and assist the Director with annual federal reporting requirements.
• Serve as the functional lead for ACA eligibility monitoring and data integrity, preparing documentation, analysis, and audit support materials used for Director-level reporting and review.
Team Collaboration & University Support
• Work with the Benefits Team to prepare, test, and facilitate annual Open Enrollment.
• Co-plan and execute New Employee Orientations, the annual Benefits Fair, and the annual Retirement Fair.
• Facilitate training as a subject matter expert.
• Provide functional guidance to cross-functional partners regarding complex benefits, leave, and compliance matters.
• Proactively recommend updates to internal processes, customer-facing materials, and the departmental website.
• Analyze trends, identify root causes of recurring issues, and recommend process, system, and/or procedural improvements to enhance service delivery, accuracy, and compliance.
• Represent the Benefits Team on various departmental and university committees.
• Represent the Benefits function as a subject matter expert, contributing operational insight and assists the Director with regards to policy, procedure, and program recommendations.
• Provide excellent service to internal and external stakeholders by collaborating effectively with the Benefits & Retirement team.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support the collective success of the HR department
Minimum Qualifications
The following Degree is required
• Bachelor's Degree
The following Experience is required
• 3 years of experience administering employee benefits, leaves of absence, and/or workers' compensation
The following Experience is preferred
• 5 years of benefit plan administration experience
• 5 years of experience in workers' compensation and FML administration
Additional Information
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities
• Comprehensive understanding of benefit plan design, COBRA, ACA, and workers' compensation regulations.
• Deep familiarity with FML and other state/federal leave laws.
• Strong analytical and mathematical skills for auditing enrollments and reconciling financial data.
• Proficiency in utilizing HRIS platforms and spreadsheet software to manage large datasets.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with extreme discretion.
• Ability to communicate complex benefit information clearly to diverse audiences.
• Ability to work effectively within a team-based environment, particularly during high-volume cycles such as Open Enrollment.
Application Deadline
The search committee will review applications until the position is filled; however, for best consideration, applications should be provided by February 25, 2026.
Required Application Materials & Evaluation
• Experience must be fully documented on the official application.
• The application will be used to evaluate if candidates meet the minimum requirements for the position and for consideration when determining starting pay rate.
• Experience requirements are inclusive of relevant professional experience, or experience attained through relevant internships, co-ops, student employment positions, or graduate assistantships.
Uploads
• Required: Resume (for supplemental information only)
• Optional: Cover Letter
Essential Requirement: Work Authorization
BGSU does not offer H-1B or other work authorization visa sponsorship for this position. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and maintain work authorization throughout the employment term.
Bowling Green State University is an Equal Opportunity Educator and Employer. We are committed to ensuring an equal employment opportunity for all applicants and encourage applications from all regardless of sex, race, veteran-status, disability, age, gender identity, genetic information, religion, or sexual orientation. EEOC Know Your Rights Poster: https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eeoc.gov%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2F2023-06%2F22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf&data=05%7C02%7Cckclark%40bgsu.edu%7C535321bdfed84e6945d708ddfd054c64%7Ccdcb729d51064d7cb75ba30c455d5b0a%7C0%7C0%7C638944921508830999%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=WS5n9BrD1eS58IHE5%2BQqAE81NERSJNPiktrwexWXk%2FU%3D&reserved=0
In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Bowling Green State University, please call 419-372-8421 or email mailto:ohr@bgsu.edu.
BGSU is an E-Verify employer. If hired into this position, you will be required to provide satisfactory proof of employment eligibility by providing acceptable, original forms of identification for employment verification via the Federal I-9 employment verification process. A list of acceptable documents can be seen here: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents
To apply, please visit https://apptrkr.com/6921108
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