Requirements
* Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field preferred
* 4+ years of experience in benefits, leave administration, HR operations, or Total Rewards
* Experience supporting global employee populations and/or benefits administration outside the US strongly preferred
* Knowledge of US benefits and leave regulations including FMLA, ACA, ERISA, COBRA, and HIPAA
* Familiarity with international benefits and leave practices in countries such as the UK, India, Canada, or EMEA/APAC regions preferred
* Experience working with HRIS, benefits administration systems, and payroll platforms
* Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines independently
* Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills
* Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion
* Demonstrated customer service orientation and employee support mindset
What the job involves
* The Global Benefits & Leave Specialist supports the design, administration, and continuous improvement of Smarsh’s global benefits, wellness, and leave programs across multiple countries
* This role serves as a key operational partner within the Total Rewards function, ensuring employees receive a high-quality experience while maintaining compliance with country-specific regulations and company policies
* The Global Benefits & Leave Specialist independently manages day-to-day benefits and leave administration activities, partners with external vendors and internal stakeholders, and provides guidance to employees and managers regarding benefit offerings, leave programs, wellness initiatives, and related processes
* This role also supports global program scaling as the organization continues to grow internationally
* This position requires strong knowledge of benefits and leave administration, experience supporting global employee populations, sound judgment, attention to detail, and the ability to manage sensitive and confidential information in a fast-paced environment
* Global Benefits Administration
* Administer global employee benefits programs including medical, dental, vision, retirement, life insurance, disability, wellness initiatives, and supplemental benefit offerings across multiple countries
* Support benefit operations in the US and international regions, including coordination with country-specific vendors, brokers, and administrators
* Serve as a subject matter resource for employees regarding benefit eligibility, enrollment, life event changes, and plan utilization
* Manage benefits onboarding and annual open enrollment processes, including employee communications, education sessions, and system coordination
* Ensure accurate benefits data management and payroll deductions through HRIS and payroll systems
* Partner with the Global Benefits/Total Rewards Manager to support program enhancements, renewals, benchmarking, and process improvements
* Identify opportunities to improve employee experience, operational efficiency, and scalability of global benefits processes
* Leave of Absence Administration
* Administer leave of absence programs including FMLA, statutory leave programs, disability, parental leave, sick leave, and country-specific leave requirements
* Coordinate directly with employees, managers, HR partners, and third-party administrators regarding leave eligibility, documentation requirements, timelines, and return-to-work processes
* Track employee leave status and maintain accurate documentation while ensuring confidentiality and compliance
* Support international leave administration and coordinate with regional partners to ensure alignment with local regulations and practices
* Escalate complex or high-risk leave matters appropriately while exercising sound judgment in routine case management
* Wellness & Employee Experience
* Coordinate and support global wellness initiatives and employee wellbeing programs in partnership with Total Rewards and People teams
* Assist in the development and execution of employee education and engagement efforts related to benefits and wellness offerings
* Support communication strategies that improve employee understanding and utilization of available programs and resources
* Gather employee feedback and identify opportunities to enhance participation and overall employee experience
* Compliance & Governance
* Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and international regulations related to benefits and leave administration, including ACA, ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, and applicable country-specific requirements
* Maintain accurate records, documentation, and reporting for audits, renewals, and regulatory compliance activities
* Support annual compliance filings, benefits audits, and vendor reporting requirements
* Monitor changes in legislation and escalate potential impacts to leadership
* Vendor & Stakeholder Partnership
* Partner with brokers, insurance carriers, leave administrators, and external vendors to ensure timely issue resolution and quality service delivery
* Assist with vendor management activities including enrollment accuracy, billing reconciliation, reporting validation, and operational issue resolution
* Collaborate cross-functionally with Payroll, HR Operations, Legal, Finance, and People Business Partners to support effective program administration
* Contribute to ongoing process documentation and operational best practices
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