Specialist, Associate Employee Benefits

Tap into the professional possibilities of the largest publicly traded energy partnership that features one of the most diversified cash flow streams in the midstream segment of the energy industry. With dynamic career opportunities and a creative and supportive environment, our unique midstream energy organization offers the chance to share and be recognized for your ideas. Join our team and increase your opportunities for success.

The Associate Employee Benefits Specialist supports the daily administration of employee benefit and timekeeping programs, serving as a key point of contact for employees while ensuring accuracy, compliance, and exceptional service. This role partners closely with employees, vendors, and internal HR teams to support benefits, leave, and timekeeping processes across the organization. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

Benefits Administration and Leave Management

- Respond to employee inquiries through the centralized benefits inbox and other communication channels.

- Process employee benefit life events in accordance with ERISA, IRS regulations, and Plan Documents.

- Process and monitor Short‑Term Disability (STD), Long‑Term Disability (LTD), maternity leave, and parental leave claims.

- Assist with the annual benefits enrollment process, including system setup, employee support, and testing.

- Process Qualified Medical Child Support Orders (QMCSOs), Medicare forms, state verifications of enrollment, and disability‑related documentation.

- Discuss COBRA and Medicare options with terminated employees.

- Process life insurance claims for employees, dependents, and retirees.

- Act as a subject matter expert (SME) on the Company’s benefit plans and offerings, providing guidance and support to employees and internal partners.

Time and Labor/Payroll Support

- Prepare biweekly and semi‑monthly timecards for payroll processing.

- Act as SME on the Company’s pay and timekeeping policies.

- Answer timecard and pay‑related questions from employees and local timekeepers.

- Explain pay and statements of earnings related to timecards, STD, unpaid leave, PTO, and other payroll impacts.

- Process PTO balance adjustments, reconciliations, reports, carryover holds, retro processing, and timecard corrections.

- Assist with final timecards for terminations and payroll transfers.

Systems, Reporting, and Compliance

- Review inbound system error reports and process employee data corrections or updates.

- Serve as Superuser for Oracle Advanced Benefits (OAB) and Oracle Time & Labor, including troubleshooting, testing, and process support.

- Participate in quarterly, annual, and ad‑hoc IT system testing.

- Prepare documentation and assist with processing benefit funding and vendor payments.

- Stay current on regulatory compliance, state leave laws, and legal requirements by attending training and monitoring upcoming changes.

- Perform fiduciary duties by acting with integrity..

Collaboration and Administration.

- Act as a liaison between employees, benefit vendors, internal HR staff, and employee supervisors.

- Deliver benefits and timekeeping presentations as needed.

- Perform administrative support tasks related to benefits administration, such as coordinating mailings and materials, as needed.

- Perform other duties as assigned.

- Availability during standard Company business hours at the Corporate office, with after‑hours support as business needs require.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will meet the following qualifications:

- High school diploma or G.E.D. required; Bachelor’s degree is preferred.

- Minimum of 2 years of Benefits experience is preferred.

- Experience with Oracle Advanced Benefits strongly is preferred.

- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

- Demonstrated ability to independently research, analyze, and resolve benefits or timekeeping issues in a timely manner.

- Strong attention to detail, organizational, and proofreading skills.

- Ability to manage multiple tasks and competing priorities in a deadline‑driven environment.

- Ability to quickly learn and apply new information, systems, and processes.

- Proven ability to communicate effectively with employees at all levels of the organization and their family members.

- Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and professionally handle sensitive, emotional, or high‑pressure situations.

- Self‑motivated with strong critical thinking and problem‑solving skills.

- Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, and Word.

- Ability to travel up to 10%.

Primary Location: USA-Texas-Houston

Shift: Day Job

Travel: Yes, 10 % of the Time

Unposting Date: Ongoing

Organization: Human Resources

Job: Human Resources

Job Level: Individual Contributor