Global Benefits Specialist - London

Global Benefits Specialist - London

London Full-Time 55000 - 65000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
Smarsh

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Manage global benefits and leave programs while ensuring compliance and enhancing employee experience.
  • Company: Join Smarsh, a leader in digital communication risk management with a vibrant culture.
  • Benefits: Enjoy healthcare insurance, stock options, flexible time off, and a 401K match.
  • Other info: Be part of a diverse team that values collaboration and continuous learning.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on employee wellbeing in a fast-paced, innovative environment.
  • Qualifications: 4+ years in benefits administration and strong knowledge of global HR practices.

The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 £ per year.

Smarsh empowers its customers to manage risk and unleash intelligence in their digital communications. Our growing community of over 6500 organizations in regulated industries counts on Smarsh every day to help them spot compliance, legal or reputational risks in 80+ communication channels before those risks become regulatory fines or headlines. Relentless innovation has fueled our journey to consistent leadership recognition from analysts like Gartner and Forrester, and our sustained, aggressive growth has landed Smarsh in the annual Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing American companies since 2008.

The Global Benefits & Leave Specialist supports the design, administration, and continuous improvement of Smarsh's global benefits, wellness, and leave programs across multiple countries. This role serves as a key operational partner within the Total Rewards function, ensuring employees receive a high-quality experience while maintaining compliance with country-specific regulations and company policies.

This position requires strong knowledge of benefits and leave administration, experience supporting global employee populations, sound judgment, attention to detail, and the ability to manage sensitive and confidential information in a fast-paced environment.

How will you contribute?

  • Global Benefits Administration
    • Administer global employee benefits programs including medical, dental, vision, retirement, life insurance, disability, wellness initiatives, and supplemental benefit offerings across multiple countries.
    • Support benefit operations in the US and international regions, including coordination with country-specific vendors, brokers, and administrators.
    • Serve as a subject matter resource for employees regarding benefit eligibility, enrollment, life event changes, and plan utilization.
    • Manage benefits onboarding and annual open enrollment processes, including employee communications, education sessions, and system coordination.
    • Ensure accurate benefits data management and payroll deductions through HRIS and payroll systems.
    • Partner with the Global Benefits/Total Rewards Manager to support program enhancements, renewals, benchmarking, and process improvements.
    • Identify opportunities to improve employee experience, operational efficiency, and scalability of global benefits processes.
  • Leave of Absence Administration
    • Administer leave of absence programs including FMLA, statutory leave programs, disability, parental leave, sick leave, and country-specific leave requirements.
    • Coordinate directly with employees, managers, HR partners, and third-party administrators regarding leave eligibility, documentation requirements, timelines, and return-to-work processes.
    • Track employee leave status and maintain accurate documentation while ensuring confidentiality and compliance.
    • Support international leave administration and coordinate with regional partners to ensure alignment with local regulations and practices.
    • Escalate complex or high-risk leave matters appropriately while exercising sound judgment in routine case management.
  • Wellness & Employee Experience
    • Coordinate and support global wellness initiatives and employee wellbeing programs in partnership with Total Rewards and People teams.
    • Assist in the development and execution of employee education and engagement efforts related to benefits and wellness offerings.
    • Support communication strategies that improve employee understanding and utilization of available programs and resources.
    • Gather employee feedback and identify opportunities to enhance participation and overall employee experience.
  • Compliance & Governance
    • Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and international regulations related to benefits and leave administration, including ACA, ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, and applicable country-specific requirements.
    • Maintain accurate records, documentation, and reporting for audits, renewals, and regulatory compliance activities.
    • Support annual compliance filings, benefits audits, and vendor reporting requirements.
    • Monitor changes in legislation and elevate potential impacts to leadership.
  • Vendor & Stakeholder Partnership
    • Partner with brokers, insurance carriers, leave administrators, and external vendors to ensure timely issue resolution and quality service delivery.
    • Assist with vendor management activities including enrollment accuracy, billing reconciliation, reporting validation, and operational issue resolution.
    • Collaborate cross‐functionally with Payroll, HR Operations, Legal, Finance, and People Business Partners to support effective program administration.
    • Contribute to ongoing process documentation and operational best practices.

What will you bring?

  • Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field preferred.
  • 4+ years of experience in benefits, leave administration, HR operations, or Total Rewards.
  • Experience supporting global employee populations and/or benefits administration outside the US strongly preferred.
  • Knowledge of US benefits and leave regulations including FMLA, ACA, ERISA, COBRA, and HIPAA.
  • Familiarity with international benefits and leave practices in countries such as the UK, India, Canada, or EMEA/APAC regions preferred.
  • Experience working with HRIS, benefits administration systems, and payroll platforms.
  • Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines independently.
  • Strong analytical, problem‐solving, and communication skills.
  • Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
  • Demonstrated customer service orientation and employee support mindset.

What do we offer?

  • Healthcare insurance: We provide medical, dental, and vision insurance, and a flexible spending account that allows you to set aside pre‐tax dollars to pay for eligible out‐of‐pocket expenses.
  • Stock options.
  • Personal time off: A healthy work‐life balance is critical to your success at the office. Smarsh offers a take‐what‐you‐need time off policy as well as flexible work arrangements.
  • 401K Match: Smarsh provides a 4% 401K match for which employees are fully vested on day one.
  • Sabbatical: The Smarsh sabbatical programme provides a time to recharge, study or simply do something you are passionate about away from the workplace. Employees are eligible after six years of service.
  • Recognition: We're big on kudos for a job well done. Our employee‐recognition programme enables co‐workers to nominate their peers who best embody our core values for recognition.

About our culture

Smarsh hires lifelong learners with a passion for innovating with purpose, humility, and humor. Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do. We work closely with the most popular communications platforms and the world's leading cloud infrastructure platforms. We use the latest in AI/ML technology to help our customers break new ground at scale. We are a global organization that values diversity, and we believe that providing opportunities for everyone to be their authentic self is key to our success. Smarsh leadership, culture, and commitment to developing our people have all garnered Comparably.com Best Places to Work Awards. Come join us and find out what the best work of your career looks like.

Equal Opportunity and Inclusive Hiring

Smarsh is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Don't meet every requirement? Apply anyway! We value diverse candidates and encourage applications, even if you don't perfectly match the job description.

Global Benefits Specialist - London employer: Smarsh

Smarsh is an exceptional employer that prioritises employee wellbeing and professional growth, offering a comprehensive benefits package including healthcare, stock options, and a generous take-what-you-need time off policy. Our collaborative work culture fosters innovation and inclusivity, ensuring that every team member can thrive in their role while contributing to our mission of empowering clients in regulated industries. With opportunities for continuous learning and a commitment to recognising employee achievements, Smarsh is the ideal place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment in London.

Smarsh

Contact Details:

Smarsh Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Global Benefits Specialist - London

Join HR Networks

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Make Your Presence Known

Attend HR conferences and workshops in your area to network with potential employers. Don't be shy—introduce yourself, exchange business cards, and let them know you're keen on a full-time role in HR. Who knows, you might just land a friendly face at Smarsh!

Leverage Your University Connections

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Showcase Your HR Passion

Create content around HR topics you’re passionate about, like employee engagement or diversity initiatives. Share articles or insights on LinkedIn to demonstrate your knowledge and get noticed by recruiters. It’s a subtle yet effective way to show you’re the right fit for a full-time role at Smarsh.

We think you need these skills to ace Global Benefits Specialist - London

Communication Skills
Problem-Solving Skills
Adaptability
Organizational Skills
Time Management
Teamwork
Flexibility

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Off Your HR Skills:When you’re crafting your CV, make sure you highlight specific HR skills that are relevant to the role at Smarsh. Include any experience with recruitment processes, employee relations, or performance management, and don’t forget to mention your familiarity with HR software or tools that could give you an edge.

Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine, so tailor it to Smarsh and the specific HR role. Highlight your passion for people management and how your unique approach can help foster a positive workplace culture. Be sure to sprinkle in examples from your past experiences that illustrate your problem-solving abilities and interpersonal skills.

Include Relevant Certifications:If you’ve got any HR certifications or relevant training under your belt, be sure to showcase them! These qualifications can really set you apart from other candidates when applying for this full-time HR position at Smarsh. List them prominently on your CV to catch the hiring manager's eye.

Align with Company Culture:Make sure your application speaks to Smarsh's values and culture. Research the company and align your experiences or values with what they stand for. This will show them that you're not only a fit for the role but also for the overall vibe of the team and organisation.

How to prepare for a job interview at Smarsh

Brush Up on HR Best Practices

As you're diving into human resources, it’s crucial to be well-versed in the latest HR practices and legislation. Get familiar with key topics like employee engagement, talent acquisition, and diversity initiatives, as these could easily pop up in your interview with Smarsh.

Know Your Recruitment Tools

Most HR roles involve using various recruitment tools and ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems). Make sure you can comfortably discuss platforms like Workday or Greenhouse. If you've had direct experience, share those examples; if not, show your eagerness to learn!

Highlight Your People Skills

A full-time HR role at Smarsh will require strong interpersonal skills. Prepare to share stories that demonstrate how you’ve successfully navigated conflicts or supported team members in past experiences. Authenticity goes a long way in this field.

Stay Current with HR Trends

Being up to speed with current HR trends, like remote working protocols or mental health initiatives, can set you apart. Be ready to discuss how these trends could impact Smarsh and how you would contribute to adapting HR strategies.