Benefits Coordinator

What is a Benefits Coordinator?

Benefits coordinators are needed in the human resources department of almost every industry. They oversee and administer various employee benefits programs. This includes retirement plans; life, health, and disability insurance benefits; the company’s personal leave policies; wellness programs; and more.

Benefits coordinators also select service vendors and monitor state and federal government regulations to ensure the benefit programs offered are compliant with all regulations. They also review these programs to make sure they are current and competitive with other companies. Lastly, they will also oversee employee enrollment and employee renewals of the benefits programs.

Job Responsibilities

The Bureau of Labor Statistics and Indeed for Employees both provide insights on job responsibilities required of benefits coordinators. An overview of those responsibilities includes:

• Meeting with employees to discuss benefit program options
• Overseeing the benefit enrollment process
• Assisting employees with enrolling in dental, vision, medical, and other insurance benefit programs
• Providing new hires with an orientation explaining benefits and assisting them with the enrollment process
• Keeping meticulous records of benefit information provided to employees—and making sure the records are updated
• Reviewing monthly benefit payroll deductions
• Answering employee questions about benefit programs: This may include conducting presentations and meetings with employees to explain available benefits or any changes
• Monitoring competitive wage rates to implement compensation changes as needed
• Choosing and managing benefits vendors, insurance brokers, investment managers, and others relevant to the company’s specific benefit plan
• Resolving employee issues with benefit providers
• Familiarity with benefits and payroll software

Necessary Skills

In addition to being informed about procedures regarding the selection and allocation of benefits, a benefit coordinator should have the following qualifications:

• Analytical skills to analyze data on wages, salaries, and cost of benefits—they will be needed to devise programs that best fit the organization
• Communication skills to convey benefits to employees and answer their questions—from giving presentations to day-to-day working with colleagues, they must have the ability to clearly respond to concerns and help solve problems employees may have
• Leadership skills involve coordinating staff activities, administering the compensation and benefits program, and ensuring deadlines are met
• Detail oriented in keeping records and in staying updated on state and federal government regulations
• Strong organizational skills
• Interpersonal skills working with employers, benefit providers, and employees

Administrators: Career Outlook

According to the BLS about 1,100 openings for compensation and benefits managers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.

The BLS notes that organizations are focused on reducing the costs of compensation and benefits and will need benefits coordinators to manage and direct the benefit policies and plans.

One issue to consider is that companies may outsource their compensation and benefits functions, at least a portion of them, to human resources consulting firms if it appears that will save the company money. Consulting firms often have automated systems in place that reduce the need for benefit managers.

On the other hand, even with the possibility of outsourcing benefits coordinator jobs, there will be at least 1,300 openings annually due to employees leaving to pursue other careers or who are retiring.

Additional Training/Requirements

Although no additional training past the bachelor’s degree is required, due to the level of competition, it may be helpful for candidates to pursue a master’s degree or a certification program. Some professional organizations that offer advanced certifications for benefits coordinators include the Society for Human Resource Management, the International Foundation for Employee Benefit Plans, and World at Work.

Employment Settings

Benefits coordinators are needed in nearly every industry. The BLS reports the largest employers of benefit coordinators by industry are:

• Management of companies and businesses
• Professional, scientific, and technical services
• Insurance carriers and related activities employers
• Government, both state and federal
• Healthcare and social assistance

Most jobs are office jobs. The coordinators work full time and generally have regular 8-to-5 business hours. They may have times within their industry where they need to work more than 40 hours a week to be sure they meet the deadlines of benefits enrollment periods.

Benefits coordinators generally work as part of a team of other HR personnel and coordinate the work activities of other specialists in the organization where they work.