HR Benefits Enrollment & Billing Specialist

Overview

The salary range for this position is $5,858.67 - $6,115.70 per month depending upon qualifications and  is non-negotiable. 

This position works a hybrid in-office/remote schedule and incumbent must live a commutable distance from San Diego State University. 

This is an internal recruitment for SDSU Research Foundation Central Staff employees only with first review of candidates on August 4, 2026.

WHO WE ARE

Established in 1943, the mission of the SDSU Research Foundation (SDSURF) is to support the research objectives of San Diego State University by helping faculty and staff find, obtain, and administer funding for their research and sponsored programs. SDSU is one of the top public research universities in the nation, furthering discoveries, interventions, and solutions that improve communities and change the world. SDSURF provides the full life cycle of grants services to faculty and staff to further their important work.

Our vision is to foster a culture of creativity and collaboration with integrity and respect for individuals that results in the delivery of superior service to support the university’s strategic aspirations.

Our core values:

Service: We are a service organization that strives to provide superior support to the university community to achieve SDSU’s goals; we are committed to being professionally competent by setting high standards and working hard to achieve results; and we continually seeking to improve our skills and capabilities by valuing education and professional development.

Collaboration: We seek to actively engage with our stakeholders and employees to identify issues and design solutions, build strong relationships grounded in trust, openness, and inclusion and achieve the best results by taking pride in the accomplishments of our colleagues.

Innovation: We work towards inspired solutions to improve and adapt to emerging opportunities and challenges, creative ways to streamline and enhance our delivery of services through resourceful and proactive problem solving and strategic use of technology and reduction of obstacles.

Respect: We promote a culture where every individual is valued and treated with dignity, we honor open-mindedness toward different viewpoints and ideas and have a genuine appreciation for varied backgrounds, experiences, and ways of thinking.

Integrity: We are committed to act with the highest ethical standards, with honesty, integrity, and transparency, provide consistent and accurate information and value and respect all individuals.

WHAT OUR DEPARTMENT DOES

The Human Resources Department supports the Foundation’s mission by providing quality customer service and guidance in the areas of recruitment and onboarding, compensation and benefits administration, training, and employee relations. SDSURF HR strives to create a positive employee experience throughout the entire employee lifecycle. Through strategic partnerships, the Human Resources department helps attract and retain qualified, diverse, and competent talent who are committed to the success of the Research Foundation.

Responsibilities

YOUR ROLE IN CREATING THE UNIVERSITY’S PRESENT AND FUTURE

As the HR Benefits Enrollment & Billing Specialist, reporting to the Benefits Manager, you are a contributing force to the organization’s mission, vision, values, strategic goals, and objectives.

In this role, you’ll manage the full benefits lifecycle, from enrollment through separation, ensuring accuracy across HRIS, bswift, and carrier systems while keeping payroll deductions, billing, and reconciliations running flawlessly. You’ll collaborate with vendors, audit data, reconcile invoices, support retiree premiums, and contribute to financial reporting. As a trusted resource, you’ll guide employees through medical, dental, vision, disability, life, voluntary benefits, and 403(b) plans with clarity and care. You’ll play a key role in Open Enrollment, assist with annual audits, and help maintain ACA compliance.

THE WORK YOU WILL DO AND MANAGE

As a key player to the effectiveness of the Benefits Team within the HR Department and the Research Foundation, you will assume responsibility for several essential functions that support the integrity and performance of our benefits programs, including but not limited to:

• Benefits enrollment, billing and reconciliation lifecycle from employee date of hire through date of separation
• Coordinating and running the benefit deduction payroll file meetings; processing the payroll file, importing standard deductions and identifying deductions to be manually keyed
• Maintaining accurate benefit records in HRIS, benefit administration system (Apprize/ bswift), and all carrier systems; ensuring enrollments, benefit changes, and terminations are processed correctly via Apprize/bswift file feed to benefit carriers
• Collaborating with Apprize/bswift to resolve discrepancies and implement necessary system updates.
• Auditing payroll deductions each pay period and reviewing data to ensure accuracy in HRIS; identifying and resolving payroll benefit and deduction errors; calculating any necessary retroactive benefit/deduction adjustments
• Processing monthly insurance carrier invoices and premiums
• Providing financial record keeping and reconciling billing statements for all benefit deductions including health / dental plans, vision, Life Insurance, LTD, 403(b) retirement, Flexible Spending Accounts as applicable for active employees and retirees
• Assembling and compiling data used to generate financial reports and/or analysis balancing and reconciling assigned benefit liability accounts, creating and maintaining reconciliation for benefit carriers and for account deduction/verification with Finance Department
• Processing and reconciling all forms of retiree benefit premium payments
• Utilizing multiple systems including HRIS, MyRF, Emburse, Blackline, Apprize/bswift, and vendor websites for purposes of reporting and billing reconciliation
• Serving as a point of contact for employees regarding benefits; responding to employee inquiries regarding all health and welfare plans including but not limited to medical, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, short-term disability, long-term disability, life, accident, voluntary benefits, and 403b plans; processing qualifying life events.
• Actively participating in all aspects of Annual Open Enrollment, including renewal meetings, communications and system updates.
• Assisting Benefits Manager with annual benefit audits and ACA tracking.

Qualifications

THE SKILLS WE NEED

• Working knowledge of Health and Welfare plan mechanics including but not limited to medical, dental, vision, flexible spending, life, accident, disability, and COBRA
• Working knowledge of 403b and deferred compensation plans
• Knowledge of basic accounting principles, billing reconciliation and payroll processes
• Knowledge of online benefit enrollment platforms and carrier websites
• Strong proficiency and experience with SharePoint and MS Office tools, specifically Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook/Gmail
• Ability to analyze complex benefit plans and information and identify issues
• Ability to apply independent judgment, discretion, and initiative to address problems and develop solutions
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, display flexibility and handle multiple work priorities and interruptions while meeting deadlines and objectives
• Ability to organize, prioritize, and display strong data review and reporting skills
• Ability to work effectively with all levels of leadership, employees and peers, and to relate well to others within the Human Resources environment
• Ability to compose detailed and professional correspondence
• Ability to maintain standards of professional ethics and composure, and respond proactively to issues with professionalism
• Ability to maintain confidential and sensitive information

Experience and Education

• Equivalent to a bachelor's degree and/or equivalent training and administrative work experience involving study, analysis, and/or evaluation leading to the development or improvement of administrative policies, procedures, practices, or programs.
• 5-years of progressively responsible experience performing varied or specialized administrative and analytical duties and/or service as a program administrator.

Preferred Qualifications

• Benefits or Human Resources certification
• Recent work experience processing benefit enrollments
• Recent experience reconciling benefit liability accounts, researching, and correcting accounting discrepancies and billing errors
• Experience with payroll, finance, and accounting principles
• Previous experience using HRIS or third-party benefit platforms
• Experience building, running and reconciling reports

WHAT YOU WILL RECEIVE

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans
• Life and disability insurance plans
• Generous employer contributed 403b retirement plan. We match 200% on the first 5% of contributions, up to 10% maximum employer matching contribution. All contributions are 100% vested.
• Vacation and sick leave accruals
• 14 paid holidays and 1 annual personal holiday
• Hybrid in-office/telework arrangements
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Access to campus amenities, including Love Library, Aztec Lanes bowling alley, SDSU transit center, and a variety of coffee shops and eateries.
• Discounted Aztec Recreation Center gym membership and SDSU events
• Wellness workshops

HOW TO APPLY AND TIPS FOR MAKING IT THROUGH OUR HIRING PROCESS

You must apply through the SDSURF Career Page. Make sure your application is complete.  Including a resume and cover letter is recommended. Respond to supplemental questions thoroughly.

WHAT OUR HIRING PROCESS IS LIKE

We work as fast as we can to make hiring decisions. However, it may take several weeks for all the parties involved to review your application. We keep in touch each step of the way and inform you of the status of your application.

ADDITIONAL APPLICANT INFORMATION:

• The salary range for this position is $5,858.67 - $6,115.70 per month depending upon qualifications and is non-negotiable. 
• Hybrid Work Philosophy: We believe that a balanced approach to work—combining the flexibility of remote work with the collaborative energy of in-person engagement—creates the most effective and fulfilling environment for our organization. Remote work empowers individuals with autonomy, focus, and work-life balance, while in-office days foster connection, creativity, and shared purpose. Having at least two days in the office is essential to maintain strong interpersonal relationships, encourage spontaneous collaboration, and reinforce our shared culture. These in-person interactions help build trust, align teams, and spark innovation in ways that are difficult to replicate remotely. By embracing a hybrid model of two days in the office and three days remote, we enable both personal productivity and collective innovation, ensuring our culture remains strong, inclusive, and adaptable.
• Candidate must reside in California and live within a commutable distance from SDSU at time of hire.
• Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on background check results (including a criminal record check).
• San Diego State University Research Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, SDSU Research Foundation provides equal opportunity in employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin or any other categories protected by federal or state law.  
• Employment decisions are based on an individual’s qualifications as they relate to the job under consideration. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every employee has equal access to resources and support. 
• SDSU Research Foundation complies with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), and other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws including grant or contract terms and conditions related to funded program activities. Further the SDSU Research Foundation maintains a Nondiscrimination Policy that prohibits discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all programs, policies, and practices.  
• SDSU Research Foundation makes all employment decisions including, but not limited to, applicant screening, hiring, promotion, demotion, compensation, benefits, disciplinary actions, and terminations on the basis of merit.