Job Description

Job Title: Benefits Specialist

Location: Chicago, IL

Industry: Higher Education

Pay: $26.00 – $33.00 / hour

About Our Client:

Addison Group is partnering with our client, a respected institution in the higher education space, to hire two Leaves Specialists (Benefits Specialists). This is an exciting opportunity to join a well-established HR team and support a dynamic and mission-driven environment.

Job Description:

The Leaves Specialist will be responsible for overseeing day-to-day administration and support of employee benefits programs. This includes responding to employee inquiries, managing benefit enrollment changes, and maintaining compliance with federal and state regulations. This is a long-term temporary role with the potential for ongoing engagement.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide responsive and knowledgeable support to employees regarding benefits programs and policies
• Maintain employee benefit data within internal systems (PeopleSoft preferred) and ensure data integrity
• Administer benefit enrollment processes including new hires, life events, and open enrollment
• Manage FMLA, ADA, and other leave programs; ensure proper documentation and compliance
• Coordinate tuition benefit programs and workers' compensation cases
• Collaborate with benefit vendors to troubleshoot and resolve employee issues
• Prepare regular audits and reports related to benefits, payroll deductions, and compliance
• Assist with updating internal/external HR and benefit communication materials
• Support onboarding sessions and deliver benefits overviews to new hires
• Help ensure ACA and other regulatory requirements are met through accurate tracking and reporting
• Participate in process improvement efforts related to benefits delivery

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in HR or related field and 3–4 years of experience in benefits administration
• Strong Excel skills required (VLOOKUPs, pivot tables, formulas)
• Experience with HRIS systems, ideally PeopleSoft
• Knowledge of federal and state benefit-related regulations (FMLA, ADA, ACA, COBRA, etc.)
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally across all levels of an organization
• Experience in higher education is a plus, but not required

Additional Details:

• Schedule: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, with a 1-hour lunch
• Work Model: Hybrid (2 days remote / 3 days in office)
• Contract Type: Temporary, long-term

Perks:

• Benefit Information: Dental, Medical, 401(k)
• Central downtown location near public transit
• Flexibility to work remotely part of the week
• Collaborative and supportive team environment
• Exposure to comprehensive HR operations
• Opportunity to work within a mission-driven, creative institution

Addison Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Addison Group provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. Addison Group complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. Reasonable accommodation is available for qualified individuals with disabilities, upon request.

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