People Operations Senior Specialist, Benefits

Accountabilities:: Administer health and welfare, 401(k), wellness, leave of absence, workers’ compensation, and related employee benefits programs. Partner with People leadership, brokers, insurance carriers, third-party administrators, and internal stakeholders to maintain competitive, compliant, and effective total rewards programs. Lead the annual open enrollment process, including project planning, vendor coordination, employee communications, system configuration, testing, and post-enrollment reconciliation. Develop clear and engaging benefits communications, educational materials, and employee-facing resources. Facilitate benefits orientation for new hires and support employees becoming benefits-eligible or experiencing qualifying life events. Act as an escalation point for complex benefits inquiries, applying sound judgment and balancing employee needs with plan requirements and company policies. Collaborate with Payroll, HRIS, Finance, and external vendors to ensure accurate deductions, eligibility files, enrollments, invoices, and reconciliations. Conduct regular benefits audits, investigate discrepancies, identify root causes, implement corrective actions, and recommend process improvements. Manage leave administration and workers’ compensation processes for headquarters employees, ensuring employees and managers receive clear guidance and support. Maintain benefits documentation and employee resources, including summary plan descriptions, required notices, and intranet content. Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations, including ERISA, COBRA, ACA, HIPAA, FMLA, state leave laws, and retirement-plan requirements. Coordinate Form 5500 filings, nondiscrimination testing, and other required plan reporting with vendors and internal stakeholders. Analyze benefits data, utilization trends, costs, and employee feedback to recommend improvements to program effectiveness and the employee experience. Support broader compensation and benefits initiatives as needed. Requirements: 5+ years of multi-state benefits administration experience, including health and welfare benefits and 401(k) administration. Experience supporting a variable-hour workforce is an advantage. 3+ years of experience administering employee leaves and workers’ compensation. Demonstrated experience managing open enrollment, benefits audits, vendor relationships, employee communications, and employee inquiries. Strong knowledge of federal, state, and multi-state employment and benefits regulations. Advanced Excel or Google Sheets skills, including pivot tables, lookups, data analysis, and reconciliation. Experience with HRIS and benefits administration platforms; Dayforce experience is a plus. Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex benefits information clearly and empathetically. Strong customer-service orientation and the ability to build trusted relationships with employees, leaders, vendors, and cross-functional partners. Strong attention to detail and operational discipline, particularly when managing eligibility, payroll deductions, vendor files, audits, and compliance documentation. Analytical problem-solving skills, including the ability to investigate discrepancies, identify root causes, assess risks, and recommend practical solutions. Sound judgment when interpreting policies and balancing employee experience, compliance, operational requirements, and cost considerations. Ability to manage multiple priorities independently and perform effectively in a fast-paced, evolving environment. Collaborative and inclusive approach, with the ability to work effectively with a culturally diverse workforce. Commitment to building trust through ethical conduct, transparent communication, accountability, and thoughtful decision-making. Benefits: Annual base salary range of $100,000–$115,000 USD, with individual compensation determined by qualifications, skills, experience, education, and training. Equity as part of the total rewards program. 401(k) plan with an employer match of up to 4%. Medical, dental, and vision coverage, including zero-cost plan options for employees. Employer-paid short-term disability, long-term disability, and life insurance. Option to purchase additional voluntary life insurance. Generous paid time off program. Mental health benefits and wellness program. Employee discount program. Remote-first work environment.