**Job Description** **Overview:** As part of the Compensation & Benefits Operations team, you play a key role in the exceptional delivery of our Company's Total Rewards program to employees, retirees and their families. The Benefits and Communications Support Specialist is responsible for providing support and advocacy to current and former employees and their families and consulting around our Company's U.S. Active and Retiree Medical Plans and other Health & Welfare plans with a variety of stakeholders. This role requires strong organizational and communication skills, empathy, ability to work independently while managing multiple priorities and attention to detail. This role will also support the various processes in our benefit programs, including our Company's Annual Enrollment, Retiree Health Exchange and the Medicare Open Enrollment, compliance, call center excellence and benefit communications. **Responsibilities:** Employee/Retiree Support: + Support transitioning employees at all levels in their understanding of key compensation and benefits programs at critical moments in their career lifecycle (i.e. retirement, separation) + Review, research and respond to employee and retiree issues to ensure a seamless participant experience + Participate in the resolution of issues that escalate through the HR Support Center, Benefits Support Center or from other stakeholders, and further partner with benefit suppliers/carriers to timely resolve escalations, review call center resources and conduct monthly call calibrations to ensure continuous improvement in the member experience. + Process emergency benefit enrollments with health plans as needed + Complete required forms for employees (Medicare, benefit verifications, etc.) Benefit Plan Support: + Play a pivotal role in our Company's Annual Enrollment process end to end including project oversight, vendor integrations, system testing and communications. + Support special projects as needed (i.e. M&A, union benefits support, plan audits, and benefits education/outreach) + Review and edit benefit communications including mandatory compliance documents such as SPDs, SARs, SBCs, update vendor websites/portals as needed. review ongoing benefits literature from suppliers, test vendor apps, links, etc. + Partner with other team members in COEs, Payroll, Legal, Labor Relations, and the HRBP community regarding various HR inquiries. + Review trends of escalations and work with internal our Company HR Support Center to improve efficiency, timely support to employees + Maintain member escalation logs with suppliers and conduct ongoing status calls to ensure continuous improvement in the member experience. **Qualifications:** + Strong working knowledge of U.S. benefits programs (medical, dental, life insurance, retiree medical), ERISA, ACA, Medicare an other U.S. benefit regulations. + Organized, effective communicator with the ability to respond to time sensitive, complex situations and maintain confidentiality. + Strong written communication skills-ability to develop, edit and review benefit communications, vendor websites/portals, review and distribute compliance documentation. + Strong judgment, analytical, and problem-solving skills, proven ability to work independently, critical thinking. + Ability to work with all levels of management and external suppliers + Working knowledge of HRIS platforms and other tools (including Workday, Fidelity NetBenefits Plan Sponsor tools, Excel, apps.) **Education & Experience:** + Minimum of a Bachelor's degree, or current in pursuit of degree completion, or equivalent relevant work experience. + Minimum of 3 years' experience in benefits administration and support or related experience (with Master's degree, minimum experience is 1 year.) MSJR Current Employees apply HERE (https://wd5.myworkday.com/msd/d/task/1422$6687.htmld) Current Contingent Workers apply HERE (https://wd5.myworkday.com/msd/d/task/1422$4020.htmld) **US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:** Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please click here (https://survey.sogosurvey.com/r/aCdfqL) if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process. As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit: EEOC Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2022-10/22-088\_EEOC\_KnowYourRights\_10\_20.pdf) EEOC GINA Supplement​ We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing together, talented, and committed people with diverse experiences, perspectives, skills and backgrounds. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with diverse ideas, broad experiences, backgrounds, and skills come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively. Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts (https://www.msdprivacy.com/us/en/CCPA-notice/) **U.S. Hybrid Work Model** Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence.This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as “remote”. The Company is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the salary range for this job in certain states and cities within the United States. Final determinations with respect to salary will take into account a number of factors, which may include, but not be limited to the primary work location and the chosen candidate’s relevant skills, experience, and education. Expected US salary range: $77,700.00 - $122,300.00 Available benefits include bonus eligibility, long term incentive if applicable, health care and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, paid holidays, vacation, and sick days. A summary of benefits is listed here (https://www.benefitsatmerck.com/) . **San Francisco Residents Only:** We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance **Los Angeles Residents Only:** We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance **Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully** Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails. **Employee Status:** Regular **Relocation:** No relocation **VISA Sponsorship:** No **Travel Requirements:** No Travel Required **Flexible Work Arrangements:** Hybrid **Shift:** Not Indicated **Valid Driving License:** No **Hazardous Material(s):** N/A **Job Posting End Date:** 05/17/2025 ***A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day** **BEFORE** **the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day** **BEFORE** **the job posting end date.** **Requisition ID:** R347745