Benefits Consultant

Be an essential element to a brighter future. \n\nWe work together to transform essential resources into critical ingredients for mobility, energy, connectivity and health. Join our values-led organization committed to building a more resilient world with people and planet in mind. Our core values are the foundation that make us successful for ourselves, our customers and the planet. \n\nJob Description\n\nAlbemarle is hiring for a Benefits Consultant. This position is a hybrid position located in our Charlotte, NC corporate office. \n\nThe Benefits Consultant serves as Albemarle\u2019s internal subject matter expert and drives the execution of employee benefits service delivery. This role ensures flawless day to day execution of U.S. and global benefit programs while driving modernization, digital enablement, and continuous improvement across the benefits ecosystem.\n\nOperating as the bridge between strategy and execution, the consultant translates Total Rewards COE design into clear, scalable processes, documentation, and governance. This role partners closely with HR Service Delivery, HRIS, Payroll, and external vendors to resolve complex cases, enhance data quality, and strengthen the end-to-end employee and manager experience.\n\nWith strong technical depth, operational rigor, and a continuous improvement mindset, the Benefits Consultant ensures benefits programs run smoothly, compliantly, and in alignment with Albemarle\u2019s global philosophy, values, and transformation roadmap.\n\nKey Responsibilities\n\nBenefits Administration \u0026 Operational Delivery\n\n * Oversee daily administration of health \u0026 welfare, life and disability, voluntary benefits, wellness programs, time off programs, and Leave of Absence coordination, including escalations requiring SME expertise.\n * Manage eligibility, enrollment, coverage corrections, and vendor file interfaces in partnership with HRIS and HR Service Delivery.\n * Troubleshoot and resolve complex employee cases, navigating across carriers, payroll, HRIS, and case management systems to ensure accurate, timely outcomes.\n * Support Annual Enrollment planning, testing, communications, documentation updates, and post enrollment reconciliation.\n * Maintain strong SOPs, process maps, and knowledge articles to support self-service, consistent execution, and global scale.\n\n\n\nVendor Coordination \u0026 Issue Resolution\n\n * Serve as the primary operations contact for benefits vendors, managing escalations, monitoring SLAs, and ensuring strong operational performance.\n * Partner with Total Rewards COE on vendor improvements, renewals, plan changes, and new program alignment.\n * Influence vendors and internal partners to uphold service standards and resolve issues with urgency and clarity.\n\n\n\nCompliance, Governance \u0026 Quality Assurance\n\n * Ensure ongoing compliance with ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, and internal governance standards.\n * Support audits, plan documents, regulatory filings, testing cycles, and compliance reviews.\n * Own operational governance for benefits related case management, ensuring SLA adherence, documentation quality, and consistent handling of sensitive or high impact issues.\n * Conduct regular quality checks on data, interfaces, reporting, and vendor outputs to mitigate downstream impacts.\n\n\n\nData Integrity, Reporting \u0026 Analytics\n\n * Review, validate, and reconcile data across HRIS, vendor files, payroll, and case management tools.\n * Use reporting and analytics to surface trends, recurring issues, root causes, and insights that inform process or system enhancements.\n * Partner with HRIS and Service Delivery to strengthen dashboards, operational reporting, and data integrity controls.\n\n\n\nProject Implementation, Automation \u0026 Continuous Improvement\n\n * Support benefits related implementations, system enhancements, and cross functional initiatives.\n * Identify opportunities to simplify processes, reduce manual effort, and introduce automation and AI enabled improvements across the benefits lifecycle.\n * Apply strong project management rigor to requirements, timelines, testing, and transition to steady state.\n * Ensure new programs, changes, and enhancements are operationalized effectively with clear workflows, documentation, and change management.\n\n\n\nGlobal Collaboration \u0026 Alignment\n\n * Partner with global HR teams to ensure alignment between U.S. and international benefits operations where applicable.\n * Support development of consistent global processes while respecting local regulatory nuances.\n\n\n\nWhat You Bring\n\nRequired Experience \u0026 Skills\n\n * Bachelor\u2019s degree required.\n * 5+ years of experience in benefits operations, vendor management, or total rewards administration.\n * Strong understanding of U.S. benefits regulations and experience supporting health, welfare, and leave programs including ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, or ADA.\n * Strong analytical skills with demonstrated experience reconciling large data sets using Excel, including pivot tables, lookups (VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP), and data validation techniques.\n * Experience resolving complex issues spanning employees, vendors, HRIS, and payroll.\n\n\n\nPreferred Experience \u0026 Skills\n\n * CEBS, SHRMCP, or similar certifications preferred.\n * Proven operational and systems acumen; comfortable navigating HRIS, vendor portals, case management tools, dashboards, and data.\n * Excellent problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and ability to independently manage sensitive or time critical cases.\n * Clear, confident communicator with ability to explain benefits concepts in practical, employee friendly terms.\n * Collaborative mindset with the ability to partner effectively across COE, Service Delivery, Payroll, HRIS, and external vendors.\n * Process oriented and data driven, with a continuous improvement mindset and willingness to challenge inefficiencies.\n * Comfortable with technology and digital enablement, including identifying opportunities for automation and AI.\n * Experience resolving complex issues spanning employees, vendors, HRIS, and payroll.\n * Prior experience in an HR shared services or matrixed operating model.\n * Exposure to global benefits programs or multinational environments. \n\n\n\n#LI-JH3\n\nBenefits of Joining Albemarle\n\n * Competitive compensation\n\n * Comprehensive benefits package\n\n * A diverse array of resources to support you professionally and personally.\n\n\n\n\nWe are partners to one another in pioneering new ways to be better for ourselves, our teams, and our communities. When you join Albemarle, you become our most essential element and you can anticipate competitive compensation, a comprehensive benefits package, and resources that foster your well-being and fuel your personal growth. Help us shape the future, build with purpose and grow together.\n