Human Resources Benefits Administrator

UMGC in Europe
Human Resources Benefits Administrator

Location: Kaiserslautern Administrative Headquarters, Kaiserslautern, Germany
Employee Classification: Overseas Regular, 100%-Time, Grade 005

The Human Resources (HR) Benefits Administrator provides day-to-day administration of employee benefit programs for overseas employees across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The position serves as a primary operational liaison for employees, managers, Payroll, Finance, HR Systems, and benefit vendors to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant delivery of health, retirement, and related benefit services.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

• Track medical and dental clearance documentation for employees assigned to CENTCOM/AFRICOM locations in coordination with the designated medical vendor to confirm employment eligibility in accordance with military regulations, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
• Administer and communicate mandatory and voluntary group benefit plans including health, retirement, supplemental retirement accounts (403(b), 457(b), term life, long-term disability, Bridge, and COBRA for new, current, and former employees.
• Lead the operational execution of the annual open enrollment cycle for overseas employees to include the development and distribution of open enrollment communications including announcements, instructions, FAQs, reminders, webinars, and meetings.
• Conduct audits and invoice reconciliations in various systems as required to ensure payroll deductions are accurate and resolve any discrepancies with the Finance Office, Payroll, and third-party vendors.
• Review and provide constructive feedback on global HR policies to ensure the information applicable to the overseas divisions is properly captured and reflected accordingly.
• Support absence administration as required in accordance with global policies and work with employees, managers, and vendors to ensure timely processing of events.
• Execute system test cases as required, assist with troubleshooting, identify process gaps, implement improvements, and maintain standard operating procedures and job aids.
• Develop and maintain benefits-related content on approved HR platforms, facilitate employee benefits briefings and ongoing employee education initiatives, and manage shared email accounts ensuring timely responses.

COMPETENCIES

• Attention to detail
• Confidentiality
• Communication
• Problem solving
• Organization

SKILLS

• Workday benefits processing
• Excel reporting
• Benefits compliance knowledge
• Vendor communication

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, or related field from a U.S. regionally accredited institution or foreign degree equivalent
• 3-5 years of experience in benefits administration, HR operations, or related functions
• Experience supporting open enrollment and employee lifecycle processes
• Working knowledge of applicable regulations (e.g., FMLA, ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, ACA, ADA, GDPR)
• Must be able to learn and use software, understand basic computer and network hardware functionality, and routinely communicate with technical staff about their activities
• Strong verbal and written communication skills to work with both UMGC staff and third-party vendors
• Must be able to work on a variety of tasks with minimal supervision
• Must be highly organized and detail-oriented with the ability to meet deadlines and work well under pressure
• Must be able to work flexible hours

PREFERRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Professional HR certification (SHRM-CP/SCP, PHR/SPHR, CEBS, GBA, or CBP).
• Experience with Workday HCM Benefits and Absence modules.
• Experience supporting overseas or geographically dispersed employee populations.
• Experience with medical documentation tracking or compliance-related administrative processes.
• State of Maryland Retirement Coordinator Certification, Agency Benefits Coordinator Certification, and HIPAA Certification preferred; willingness and ability to pursue certification if required by operational needs.

WHO MAY APPLY: Local candidates with ILS preferred. Applicant must qualify for ILS as described in USAREUR Regulation 600-700, Section III, 7-13. Criteria under which applicants qualify for ILS are: must serve the US Forces exclusively; are not stateless persons; are nationals of a NATO state, excluding the host nation; are not ordinarily resident in the host nation.

All submissions should include a cover letter and resume.