HR Specialist - Benefits, Leave, and Wellness

About Apex Skin:

We are Apex Skin, and our mission is to provide the highest quality dermatology and dermatologic surgery care to patients across Northeast Ohio with promptness, compassion, and excellence. We pride ourselves on delivering exceptional patient experiences, offering same-day appointments, and serving our communities through education and meaningful care. Our team is dedicated to creating a supportive, patient-focused environment where excellence, empathy, and teamwork thrive.

Position Overview

Apex Skin is a physician-led and rapidly growing dermatology practice committed to delivering exceptional patient experiences. As we continue to scale, we are seeking a detail-oriented and proactive HR Specialist – Benefits, Leave, and Wellness. This position is responsible for administering employee benefits programs and managing all aspects of leave of absence processes. This role ensures compliance with federal and state regulations, provides exceptional employee support, and partners with internal stakeholders to maintain accurate benefits and leave records. The specialist plays a key role in delivering positive employee experience while supporting organizational goals.

Schedule:

• Full-time | Exempt
• Monday through Friday
• Hybrid schedule, must reside within a commutable distance to Beachwood, OH.

Essential Functions:

Benefits Administration

• Administer employee benefit programs including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, retirement plans, and wellness initiatives.
• Process enrollments, changes, and terminations in HRIS and benefit vendor systems.
• Serve as primary point of contact for employees regarding benefits questions, eligibility, coverage, and claims issues.
• Support annual open enrollment including planning, communication, system setup, and employee assistance.
• Audit benefits data to ensure accuracy and resolve discrepancies with carriers or payroll.
• Assist with benefits billing, invoicing, and reconciliation processes.

Leave Administration

• Administer all leave programs including FMLA, state leaves, ADA, personal leave, military leave, parental leave, and short/long‑term disability.
• Review leave requests, determine eligibility, send required notices, and maintain accurate documentation.
• Track leave balances and ensure compliance with federal and state leave laws.
• Coordinate return‑to‑work and accommodation processes with HR and leadership.
• Partner with payroll to ensure accurate pay related to intermittent or continuous leave.
• Maintain confidential employee leave files and ensure proper record retention.

Employee Support & Communication

• Provide clear and empathetic guidance to employees regarding benefits and leave policies.
• Develop and distribute benefits and leave-related communication materials.
• Facilitate new hire benefits onboarding and orientation sessions.

Compliance & Reporting

• Maintain knowledge of regulatory updates affecting benefits and leave programs.
• Prepare and manage required filings such as 1095‑C, 5500 support, and annual notices.
• Generate reports related to benefits enrollment, leave usage, and compliance audits.

Wellbeing Program Administration

• Support the development, implementation, and ongoing management of employee wellness programs and initiatives.
• Coordinate wellness activities such as health screenings, wellbeing challenges, mental health awareness campaigns, and vendor‑led sessions.
• Partner with benefits carriers, wellness vendors, and internal stakeholders to promote holistic employee wellbeing.
• Track participation and engagement for wellness programs; provide reporting and recommendations for improvement.
• Assist in communication efforts to educate employees on available wellness resources, including EAP services, financial wellness tools, and preventive care benefits.
• Monitor trends in employee wellbeing and recommend enhancements that align with organizational culture and health goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field strongly preferred; will consider experience in lieu of degree
• 2-5 years of experience in benefits administration, leave management, or HR operations
• Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work with confidential information with discretion
• Comfortable working with HR systems and benefit administration platforms
• Knowledge and understanding of HR policy, practice, benefits compliance requirements, leave laws and employment legislation strongly preferred
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and HRIS platforms (e.g., UKG, Workday, ADP, Paylocity)

Physical Requirements & Work Environment

• Prolonged periods of sitting and computer work in a home office setting
• Ability to speak and hear clearly during virtual meetings and interactions
• Ability to occasionally lift or move up to 20 pounds (materials for engagement events or office activities)
• Work is primarily remote but requires flexibility to attend in-office meetings and travel to Apex Skin locations
• May involve standing or walking during on-site visits, clinic tours, and engagement events

Apex Skin Culture
Apex Skin fosters a collaborative, patient-first environment built on compassion, clinical excellence, and teamwork. We believe in a respectful and supportive workplace where employees feel valued, trusted, and empowered to contribute to exceptional patient experiences and meaningful clinical care.

Employee Health & Safety Requirements:
All patient-facing employees are required to provide proof of a TB test within the past 12 months and an annual flu vaccination as part of Apex Skin’s employee health and safety protocols. The Hepatitis B vaccination series is also strongly recommended for clinical staff due to potential occupational exposure risks. Apex Skin complies with federal and Ohio law by providing reasonable accommodations for medical conditions or sincerely held religious beliefs that prevent vaccination. Employees seeking an accommodation should contact Human Resources for more information.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:
Apex Skin provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Apex complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.