Benefits Specialist

AvalonBay is proud to be named one of Glassdoor's Best Places to Work in 2019.

AvalonBay Communities, Inc. is one of the nation’s leading Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), in the business of acquiring, selling, constructing, developing, redeveloping and managing high-quality apartment communities in high barrier-to-entry markets of the United States. These markets are located in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Pacific Northwest and Northern and Southern California regions of the country. We currently own and operate approximately 82,000 apartment homes in the US and employ approximately 3,000 associates. We are currently searching for the right candidate to join our Human Resources Team as a Benefits Specialist in our Arlington, VA corporate headquarters.

The Benefits Specialist administers and coordinates all aspects of health and welfare benefits enrollment, family status changes and termination processes. This person also develops internal processes and systems that enable administrative efficiency, and is responsible for maintaining integrity and good working processing of data in the PeopleSoft system. The position will participate in annual benefit plan design reviews, assist with strategic planning, and help coordinate the annual open enrollment process.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Coordinating the company’s relationship with the Mercer Marketplace, our third party benefits administrator, ensuring accuracy and satisfaction Administering the full life cycle of the company’s various Leave of Absence programs, including providing direction and guidance to associates, managers, the HR team and other various stakeholders, and managing the relationship with our third party administrator

• Processing monthly invoices including reconciling and ensuring timely payments of premiums

• Maintaining and sustaining processes, systems, procedures, and materials to support all benefit program administration

• Ensuring benefits compliance with all appropriate federal, state and local laws

• Serving as a benefits liaison with vendors and associates

• Assisting with development of benefits communications including new hire and open enrollment materials
• Assist with coordination of the annual open enrollment process including communications development, health fair logistics, and analysis of behavior at close of open enrollment

• Managing wellness program, including making recommendations on program improvement

• Researching, resolving and responding to all health and welfare benefit related issues, from both internal and external customers, in a timely and accurate manner

• Developing reports and queries using appropriate reporting tools, including but not limited to reports and documents necessary for compliance testing and audit for health and welfare plans

• Assisting with annual benefits surveys

• Maintaining associate benefit files in online benefit system. Maintaining documents and records to ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state and local regulations

• A Bachelor’s degree and at least 5 years related experience or equivalent combination of education and experience

• Working knowledge of group medical, dental, life, vision and disability insurance; FMLA, state and local leave laws, ACA, COBRA, ERISA, HIPAA, regulations and Section 125 Rules & guidelines and health savings accounts related to benefits administration and policy, etc.

• An ability to work in fast paced environment

• Ability to work with a team as well as independently

• Excellent communication skills

• Analytical, project management and organizational skills

• Proficiency in Excel and HRIS/payroll report generation

• Knowledge of Labor, Employee Benefits and Employment Law

• Strong problem-solving skills

• Ability to handle confidential information

• Strong attention to detail

• PeopleSoft experience

AvalonBay will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with requirements under the law.

AvalonBay is an Equal Opportunity Employer.