Benefits Specialist
Oxbow Corporation
Accounting & Finance
West Palm Beach, FL, USA
Founded in 1983 by principal shareholder William I. Koch, Oxbow is one of the world's largest recyclers of refinery and natural gas coproducts. Oxbow is headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida with approximately 950 employees operating from more than 30 locations in 14 countries worldwide. Oxbow is a world leader in the production and distribution of calcined petroleum coke and the distribution of fuel grade petroleum coke. Oxbow also provides bulk storage and handling for petroleum coke and other commodities. Oxbow’s scale, expertise and leading market positions have allowed it to create a powerful global sourcing platform with superior market intelligence and longstanding relationships with many of its key suppliers and customers. Oxbow’s products are essential in the production of aluminum, steel, glass and cement and our specialty products are used in variety of innovative products, including high performance plastics, solar panels, electronics and batteries. Oxbow is annually ranked by Forbes as one of the top 500 privately held U.S. companies. Our success as a company and industry leader comes from a winning combination of teamwork, innovative uses of technology, and our talented employees.
The Benefits Specialist is responsible for the administration, analysis, and continuous improvement of employee benefits programs, including health and welfare, retirement, and wellness initiatives. This role ensures compliance with applicable regulations, supports open enrollment, and provides data-driven insights to optimize benefit offerings and employee experience.
Benefits Administration
- Administer day-to-day operations of employee benefit programs (medical, dental, vision, life, disability, 401(k), and voluntary benefits).
- Serve as primary point of contact for employee benefit inquiries and issue resolution.
- Oversee adherence to federal and state government filings (e.g., 5500s, ACA, EEO Reporting) and ensure compliance with ERISA, COBRA, FMLA, IRS, EEO, and DOL requirements.
- Oversee relationships with brokers, vendors, and third-party administrators to ensure high service quality and operational efficiency.
- Support retirement plan audits, documentation, and record retention.
Open Enrollment & Employee Communication
- Lead annual open enrollment process, including system setup, communications, and employee education
- Develop and distribute clear, engaging benefits communication materials
- Conduct employee meetings, webinars, and one-on-one sessions to explain benefit options
Data Analysis & Reporting
- Analyze benefits utilization, enrollment trends, and cost data to provide actionable insights
- Prepare reports and dashboards for HR leadership and finance partners
- Support budgeting and forecasting for benefit programs
Compliance & Governance
- Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations (e.g., ACA, ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA)
- Maintain plan documents, SPDs, and required filings (e.g., Form 5500)
- Assist with audits and regulatory reporting
Vendor Management
- Partner with brokers and vendors to evaluate plan performance and service levels
- Support RFP processes and vendor selection as needed
- Monitor SLAs and recommend improvements
Systems & Process Improvement
- Maintain and optimize HRIS/benefits systems for accuracy and efficiency
- Identify process improvements and implement best practices
- Ensure data integrity across payroll, HRIS, and vendor platforms