Lead Benefits Specialist

The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), an agency within the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), is seeking a highly skilled and motivated Lead Benefits Specialist to join our Human Resources team. This position plays a critical role in the administration of employee benefits programs for retirees and a diverse unionized and non-unionized workforce serving Maryland's transit system. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in benefits administration, including self-funded health and wellness plans, and will provide technical and operational leadership to a team of Benefits Analysts/Specialists while ensuring compliance, accuracy, and superior customer service.

Key Responsibilities:

Benefits Administration

• Administer and oversee MTA's employee benefit programs including medical, dental, vision, prescription, life insurance, and wellness related benefits.
• Perform and review complex benefit transactions, calculations, and reconciliations in Infor Global HR and other HR systems.
• Ensure compliance with plan documents, collective bargaining agreements, and federal/state laws.
• Coordinate with Payroll, Finance, and external vendors to maintain data integrity and timely processing of benefits transactions.
• Support administration of self-funded health plans, including audits, reporting, and actuarial requests.

Leadership and Oversight

• Provide day-to-day guidance and technical direction to Benefits Analysts/Specialists.
• Review and approve complex cases, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and excellent customer service.
• Assist the Benefits Manager with workflow management, training, and process improvement initiatives.
• Lead or participate in projects to streamline benefits administration or enhance employee communication.

Compliance and Reporting

• Ensure adherence to COBRA, HIPAA, ACA, ERISA, FMLA, and state regulations.
• Conduct internal audits and prepare reports to monitor benefits activity, utilization, and costs.
• Maintain detailed documentation and assist with audit and compliance reviews.
• Recommend policy or procedural changes to improve operational efficiency and compliance.

Employee and Retiree Support

• Serve as an escalation point for complex employee and retiree benefit inquiries.
• Conduct retirement counseling sessions, new hire orientations, and open enrollment briefings.
• Develop employee-friendly materials to communicate benefit programs and changes.
• Collaborate with Leave and Payroll staff to ensure coordinated employee support.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in human resources, Business Administration, or related field.

• Two (2) years of experience in a lead, supervisory, or quality assurance capacity.

• Experience with HRIS systems such as Infor Global HR, Workday, or PeopleSoft.

• Comprehensive knowledge of FMLA, ACA, HIPAA, ERISA, COBRA, and applicable state laws.

• Experience managing or supporting self-funded benefits or wellness plans.

• Experience working in a public-sector or unionized environment.

• Professional certifications such as CEBS, PHR, SPHR, or SHRM-CP/SCP.

• Strong analytical skills with experience conducting benefit audits and cost analyses.

Location: Baltimore City

Education: Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.

Experience: Four years of professional HR work in the areas of either job analysis, job evaluation, salary administration, employee recruitment and selection, employment services and benefits, employer-employee relations, HR program evaluation, or HR policy formulation.*Three (3) years of experience administering or supporting employee health and wellness benefit programs, including self-funded plans, in accordance with federal or state regulations.
*Selective Qualification recruitments are utilized when the position requires specific or additional bona fide occupational qualifications (knowledge, skill, or ability). No substitution is allowed for a selective qualification.

Notes:

1. Thirty graduate semester credits from a college or university in the fields of HR administration, business administration, public administration, statistics, tests and measurements, or psychology may be substituted for one year of experience.
2. Paraprofessional HR experience or professional HR management work experience may be substituted on a year for year basis for up to four years of the required education.
3. For employer-employee relations positions applicants may substitute the possession of a Juris Doctor or equivalent degree from an accredited school of law for up to four years of the required experience.
4. Candidates may substitute equivalent U.S. Armed Forces military service experience on a year for year basis for up to four years of the required education.

Employees in this classification are assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator's license valid in the State of Maryland.

To Apply:
You must complete a Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) application (Form DTS-1) to be considered for this recruitment. Resumes may not be substituted for the application. Consideration for employment may be based solely on the contents of your application; therefore, it is essential that the application is filled out completely and accurately, listing all relevant experience in detail and addressing the specific requirements shown above. Please include all relevant experience on your application. This includes, but is not limited to, full or part time, volunteer, military, acting capacity, or any other experience that is relevant to the position you are applying for within MDOT, one of the Transportation Business Units, or the Authority.

Note:
Applications not completely filled out will not be considered. The selected candidate may be subject to background and reference checks. Employees are subject to the State Substance Abuse Policy to include possible drug testing. It is highly recommended that applications be completed and submitted online by registering at www.mdot.maryland.gov/employment. Make sure you meet the minimum and selective qualifications and follow the instructions on MDOT's Online Employment Center website.

Applicants with degrees granted outside of the United States will be required to provide a written evaluation of education documentation by a credentialing organization such as: International Credential Evaluation (WES), https://www.wes.org/.

Reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities will be provided as requested.

The Maryland Department of Transportation is not sponsoring new employees in application of the H-18 Visa at this time due to budgetary constraints. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Federal regulations prohibit H1B Visa candidates from paying sponsorship fees; all sponsorship fees must be assumed by the potential employer.

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