Senior Benefits and Onboarding Specialist

Art and Wellness Enterprises (AWE) is a professional services organization supporting non-profits founded by Alice Walton, including the Alice L. Walton Foundation, Alice L. Walton School of Medicine, Art Bridges Foundation, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, the Momentary, and Heartland Whole Health Institute.

Job Description:

Job Title: Senior Benefits and Onboarding Specialist
Reports to: People Services Director
FLSA Classification: Exempt

Location: Bentonville, Arkansas (On-site)

Art and Wellness Enterprises (AWE) supports operating non-profits founded by Alice Walton, including the Alice L. Walton Foundation, Alice L. Walton School of Medicine, Art Bridges, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, the Momentary, and Heartland Whole Health Institute.

About The Position

The Senior Benefits and Onboarding Specialist is responsible for administering and executing employee benefits and onboarding programs across the AWE ecosystem, in partnership with People Services leadership. This role serves as the primary subject-matter expert and first point of contact for benefits-related requests, supporting health and welfare benefits, retirement programs, onboarding and orientation, leaves of absence, accommodations, and Workers’ Compensation across the ecosystem.

Serving as a hands-on specialist in a mission-driven, multi-entity environment, the Senior Benefits and Onboarding Specialist ensures benefits and onboarding programs are delivered accurately, consistently, and in compliance with applicable regulations. This role collaborates closely with People Services leadership, People Services Business Partners, and the Director of Wellness to support a positive team member experience throughout the employee lifecycle.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Benefits Administration

• Administer the day-to-day operations of employee health and welfare benefit programs, including group medical, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, accident and disability coverage, life insurance, employee assistance programs (EAP), wellness benefits, and the 401(k) plan.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for team members seeking information regarding benefits programs, eligibility, qualifying life events (QLEs), enrollments, claims, and plan changes, providing timely, accurate, and professional support.
• Identify, investigate, and resolve benefits-related errors, eligibility discrepancies, file feed issues, and system or vendor data concerns.
• Ensure accuracy and integrity of benefit enrollments and eligibility data through ongoing audits, data quality checks, and reconciliation within the HRIS; provide accurate eligibility and billing data to carriers and vendors.
• Perform monthly carrier billing reconciliation, funding, and coordination of annual audits to ensure financial and data accuracy.
• Partner with Payroll and Finance to support accurate processing of employer contributions, payroll deductions, benefits funding, and related reconciliations.

Onboarding and Team Member Support

• Facilitate ecosystem-wide onboarding and orientation processes related to benefits enrollment, including paperless elections and system workflows.
• Administer and coordinate leave and benefits-related processes, including FMLA, ADA accommodations, Workers’ Compensation, and related benefit claims, in collaboration with People Services Business Partners, Payroll, and other internal stakeholders.
• Coordinate medical evaluations, documentation, and reporting requirements related to Workers’ Compensation claims.
• Ensure timely and accurate distribution of required government notices and benefits-related communications to team members.
• Deliver high-quality, consistent benefits and onboarding experiences by providing responsive service and fostering trusted relationships with team members across the ecosystem.

Compliance and Regulatory Oversight

• Manage the full lifecycle of the annual Open Enrollment process, including strategy, planning, team member communications, system configuration, testing, execution, and post-enrollment compliance review.
• Monitor and administer 401(k) plan activity, including enrollments, contributions, catch-up contributions, loan distributions, repayments, and annual non-discrimination testing.
• Audit internal and external compliance related to benefits programs in accordance with ACA, SECURE 2.0, ERISA, COBRA, IRS contribution limits, and other applicable regulations.
• Conduct annual and ad hoc audits of benefit programs to ensure compliance and support the preparation and maintenance of policies, procedures, and required documentation.
• Ensure accurate prep