The Senior Compensation and Benefits Analyst will be responsible for the management, implementation, and continuous improvement of the organization's compensation and benefits programs. This role will focus on key areas such as employee insurance programs, absence management, and the administration of compensation structures and recognition/reward initiatives. The Senior Compensation and Benefits Analyst will ensure that these programs are aligned with organizational objectives, driving both employee satisfaction and business success.

This is an onsite role at our headquarters in Latham, NY.

Benefits Administration and Compliance

• Administers employee benefits programs including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and supplemental insurance plans.
• Manages employee enrollments, terminations, life status changes and in HRIS and with benefit carriers.
• Processes and tracks leave-of-absence requests including FMLA, disability, and personal leaves; interprets policy implications and ensures proper documentation.
• Manages benefits enrollment, life status changes, and leave-of-absence requests (medical, personal, disability, FMLA); interprets FMLA and ADA implications.
• Coordinates annual open enrollment, including preparation of materials, system updates, and employee communications.
• Serves as a resource for employee inquiries regarding benefits eligibility, coverage, claims, and plan provisions.
• Ensures compliance with COBRA, HIPAA, ERISA, and other applicable regulations through accurate documentation and reporting.
• Provides reports for billing and allocation purposes.
• Maintains current knowledge of benefits trends, market conditions, and regulatory changes.
• Coordinates 401(k) plan administration in partnership with Finance.

Benefits Strategy, Vendor and Data Management

• Researches industry benchmarks and trends to recommend enhancements to benefit offerings.
• Conducts employee surveys and demographic analyses to support benefit provider selection and quoting.
• Participates in the identification and selection of carriers and plans based on cost, coverage, and organizational needs.
• Collaborates with brokers and investment planners to design competitive, cost-effective benefits packages.
• Monitors carrier reports to ensure plan compliance and service quality.
• Coordinates with benefit vendors, brokers, and third-party administrators to resolve employee issues and ensure service quality.
• Conducts regular audits of benefits and compensation data to ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Prepares reports and dashboards related to benefits utilization, compensation trends, and cost analysis.

Compensation Administration

• Prepares and maintains and updates job descriptions and classifications in alignment with organizational standards.
• Supports compensation benchmarking by collecting market data and preparing comparative analyses.
• Assists in developing and maintaining salary structures and ensuring accurate compensation data in HR systems.
• Conducts job evaluations to determine exemption status and appropriate salary ranges.
• Evaluates and implements job analysis tools and methodologies.
• Prepares summary reports on job and compensation analyses for leadership review.

Rewards & Recognition

• Manages service anniversary recognition program in partnership with external vendor, ensuring timely delivery and accuracy.
• Administers the spot award program, including tracking nominations and processing awards.
• Collaborates with the employee engagement committee on recognition initiatives and related projects.

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• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Extensive knowledge of employee benefits and compensation.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Thorough knowledge of COBRA, HIPAA, and ERISA requirements.