Benefits Data Specialist - Costa Rica

Job Description

As part of the Benefits Operations team, you will play a key role in the exceptional delivery of our company Total Rewards program to employees and their families.

The Specialist, Benefits Operations provides ongoing support to US Retirement and Health & Welfare administration through the maintenance of our data exchanges with benefits recordkeepers. This candidate will have a deep understanding of technology and data files and is open to new challenges and forward-looking initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Monitor the primary US benefits data integration used for health & welfare and retirement benefits recordkeeping
• Review and research the output of various data audit activities to enable a seamless participant experience
• Participate in the swift resolution of escalated retirement and health & welfare data issues that impact benefits enrollment and eligibility
• Conduct and build upon year-round data audits in support of the Company’s US benefits programs
• Influence suppliers through ongoing data management initiatives and continuous improvement activities to reduce downstream risks for our benefits providers
• Partner with the global mobility team to coordinate around monthly assignee and one-way transfer activity impacting benefits eligibility
• Support the rollout of new processes/programs and required data feeds
• Support implementation and testing efforts for provider changes and system upgrades
• Support annual plan audit and SOX compliance activities
• Support cyclical data validation and reconciliation processes
• Partner with other team members in Payroll, Finance, CoE, and the HRBP community in supporting various benefits activities

Qualifications

• Experience in benefit program administration, including pension, 401(k) and Health & Welfare programs.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
• Ability to assimilate large quantities of sensitive & confidential datasets to identify data integrity gaps and perform various complex analysis
• Ability to work independently to identify process gaps and continuous improvement opportunities
• Understanding data processes and integrations that support effective program administration.
• Strong judgment, analytical, and problem-solving skills
• Understanding of the linkage between benefits administration and payroll processes
• Proficient in MS Office and various complex Excel functions
• Knowledge of SQL and Access DB is a plus
• Fluent English

Education & Experience

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree is required
• Minimum of 4 years of work experience in benefits administration, HRIS & data management, workforce analytics, or related fields
• Workday, ADP experience is a plus

Required Skills:

Adaptability, Adaptability, Benefits Management, Compliance Reporting, Conceptual Thinking, Critical Thinking, Data Administration, Data Analysis, Data Auditing, Database Queries, Data Feeds, Data Integrity, Data Management, Data Modeling, Data Validation, Employee Development, HR Analytics, HR Shared Services, HR Systems Implementation, Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS), Human Resource Tools, Lateral Thinking, Logical Thinking, Microsoft Excel Functions, Payroll Tax Compliance {+ 8 more}

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

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:

09/30/2026

*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.