Human Resources, Benefits Specialist

The Jewish Federation of Detroit is the cornerstone of Jewish philanthropy and community engagement in Southeast Michigan. We are a community-driven organization committed to meeting the needs of the Jewish people and strengthening Jewish life—locally, in Israel, and around the world. We are seeking a proactive and detail-oriented
Human Resources, Benefits Specialist to join our HR team.

Reporting to the Senior Director, Human Resources, this individual will manage the organization’s day-to-day benefits administration for approximately 100 employees, serve as a primary resource for employee benefits questions, support annual renewal and Open Enrollment processes, and contribute to new hire onboarding, recruitment support, and employee wellness initiatives. Manage the day-to-day administration of employee benefit programs, including health, dental, vision, life, disability, COBRA, retirement, and wellness-related programs, as applicable.

Serve as the primary liaison to benefits vendors and brokers for routine questions, issue resolution, annual renewal planning, and Open Enrollment implementation. Maintain accurate benefits census data and employee records for new hires, terminations, and employee changes, ensuring alignment across vendor, HRIS, and payroll systems. Lead the annual Open Enrollment process, including renewal meetings with brokers, employee communications, enrollment support, plan implementation, and administration of the retiree dental and vision benefits program.

Provide benefits information to prospective candidates as part of the recruitment process.

Recruitment & Onboarding

~ Support recruitment activities, including resume review, interview coordination, candidate interviews, and reference checks. Manage HRIS setup for new employees upon hire, ensuring accurate employee and benefits-related information. Lead new hire benefits meetings and support employees through the enrollment process. Prepare and manage biweekly change reports to support Finance and payroll accuracy. Manage payroll-related changes in Paycom, ensuring timely and accurate updates.

Oversee the workers’ compensation claims process and coordinate with appropriate internal and external partners. Help plan and implement internal staff events and employee wellness initiatives that support employee engagement. Perform other duties as assigned by the Senior Director, Human Resources. Bachelor’s degree and three to five years of progressive experience in benefits administration, HR operations, or a related field. Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, HRIS/payroll systems, and benefits-related data, with strong accuracy and attention to detail.