Benefits Specialist

We are looking for a Benefits Specialist to support a high-volume benefits environment for an organization with approximately 3,000 employees in Dallas, Texas. This contract opportunity with permanent potential is ideal for a detail-oriented candidate who brings deep experience in open enrollment, benefit plan setup, and employee-facing communication. The person in this role will help employees understand their options, resolve benefits-related questions, and contribute to accurate administration within the UKG Ready platform.

Responsibilities:

• Lead day-to-day support for open enrollment activities, helping ensure timelines, elections, and benefit materials are managed accurately and efficiently.
• Build and maintain benefit plans within the HRIS environment, with a focus on correct setup, testing, and alignment with program requirements.
• Respond to employee inquiries related to medical, dental, vision, leave, and other benefit offerings by providing clear and timely guidance.
• Create and distribute benefit communications that explain plan options, enrollment steps, and key deadlines in an easy-to-understand manner.
• Partner with internal teams to review benefit data, investigate discrepancies, and help maintain accurate records for a workforce of roughly 3,000 employees.
• Support benefits coordination activities, including eligibility updates, life event changes, and general program administration.
• Assist with leave-related processes such as FMLA administration and employee support, ensuring compliance with established policies.
• Contribute to system-related benefits tasks in UKG Ready, including plan configuration and readiness activities tied to enrollment administration.
• 5-10 years of hands-on experience in benefits administration.
• Strong background supporting open enrollment processes in a mid-sized or large employee population.
• Experience building or configuring benefit plans within an HRIS or benefits platform.
• Proven ability to communicate benefit information clearly to employees and stakeholders.
• Working knowledge of FMLA and broader benefits coordination practices.
• Experience using UKG Ready for benefits administration or related HR processes.
• Solid analytical skills with the ability to review benefit data and resolve issues accurately.