Benefits & Leave Specialist

Company: Goodwill of the Finger Lakes
Location: Rochester
Posted on: February 16, 2026

Job Description:

Job Description Job Description The Benefits & Leave Specialist supports the organization’s mission by administering employee benefits, managing leave programs, and ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. This role serves as a primary point of contact for employees regarding benefits, leave, and related 403B processes, with a strong emphasis on accuracy, confidentiality, and exceptional service. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, proficient analytical skills, and the ability to coordinate high-level activity under various conditions, with several competing priorities while maintaining the organizational values – Live Goodwill B.L.U.E. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Access, Excel, Word, PowerPoint). ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES : Benefits Administration – 40% Under the leadership of the Total Rewards Manager, administer all employee benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, and voluntary benefits. Process benefits enrollments, changes, and terminations in HRIS and carrier systems. Resolve employee inquiries, trouble shoot benefit issues and escalate complex matters as appropriate. Support annual open enrollment, including communication, system updates, and employee support. Serve as the primary liaison with benefit vendors and brokers. Support administration of the organization’s 403(b) retirement plan , including: Coordinating employee enrollments, contribution changes, and verify loan requests Ensuring compliance with plan rules and eligibility requirements Assisting with annual nondiscrimination testing and audits Maintain accurate benefit records and ensure timely billing and reconciliation. Stay current on benefit legislation topics, compliance requirements, industry standards, trends, and best practices (update processes/SOP as needed). Oversee collection and maintenance of summary plan descriptions, benefit summaries, insurance certificates, and other plan documents. Update benefit content for the intranet (Goodwill Information Gateway) including plan documents, guides, etc. 2. Leave Management – 20% Administer all leave programs, including FMLA, ADA accommodations, state-specific leave laws, and internal leave policies in collaboration with HR Works. Serve as the main point of contact for employees using leave. Track leave usage, eligibility, and documentation, to ensure compliance. Coordinate return-to-work processes and reasonable accommodation requests. Partner with managers to ensure proper communication and coverage during employee absences. Partner with insurance vendors to ensure smooth employee claim process. Collaborate with payroll to ensure accurate pay, benefits continuation, and repayment of benefits. Stay current on LOA legislation topics, compliance requirements, and best practices (update processes/SOP as needed). 3. Compliance & Reporting – 15% Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations related to benefits and leave. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of regulatory changes affecting nonprofit employers and 403(b) plans. Prepare required reports, including ACA reporting, EEO-1, and benefits-related audits. Support policy updates and documentation related to benefits and leave. 4. Employee Support & HR Operations – 15% Provide responsive, high-quality customer service to employees, managers and key stakeholders. Assist with onboarding and offboarding processes related to benefits and leave. Support HR projects, process improvements, and organizational initiatives. Contribute to a positive, mission-driven workplace culture. Assist HR department with ADP creation of mapping as needed. 5. Other duties as required – 10% Qualifications Required 3 years of experience in benefits administration, leave management, or related HR role. Knowledge of FMLA, ADA, and state leave laws. Experience with 403(b) or similar retirement plans. Strong attention to detail and ability to manage confidential information. Excellent communication and customer service skills. Proficiency with HRIS system (ADP) and Microsoft Office. QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS : To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. RELATIONSHIPS: Is able to work cooperatively with customers, suppliers, marketing partners and across departments within Goodwill of the Finger Lakes. EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE : Bachelor’s Degree in Business with a Marketing focus and 3–5-year progressive experiences in business operations and marketing. Or an equivalent combination of education and experience. LANGUAGE SKILLS : Able to read, analyze and interpret general business communications and periodicals. Able to write reports and business correspondence. Communicates effectively with managers, staff and employees, customers and business partners. REASONING ABILITY : Able to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions. Able to interpret an extensive variety of instructions in mathematical, written or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables simultaneously. Able to manage efficiently the time and resources required of comprehensive projects to achieve desired outcome. PHYSICAL DEMANDS : The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee must be able to communicate effectively with a wide variety of people. The employee must have reasonable mobility. The employee is regularly required to sit for extended periods of time and to work extensively with computers. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. WORK ENVIRONMENT : The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Goodwill of the Finger Lakes is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Keywords: Goodwill of the Finger Lakes, Cheektowaga , Benefits & Leave Specialist, Human Resources , Rochester, New York