Benefits Specialist

As a member of the Benefits team, you will administer the company’s U.S. benefit and retirement plans related to plan options, policy features, enrollment, reporting, auditing, and other requirements ensuring benefits are delivered timely and communicated clearly.  You will coordinate, administer, research, analyze, and resolve issues, providing top-notch, employee-focused customer service, and recommend improvements in benefit and retirement plans, programs, and processes.   What You’ll Work On • Administer the benefit plans, programs, and systems. • Resolve issues timely with employees, vendors, and systems, escalating as needed.  This includes researching, responding to, and following up on employee questions. • Support employees with new hire, life event, and annual enrollment benefits and 401(k) selections. • Communicate benefits information in a clear and timely manner; may be involved in training, email/phone communication, and in-person discussions, along with supporting benefits and 401(k) questions from the HR front desk. • Ensure that employee databases and records for benefits are accurate and up to date in the Company’s HR/benefit and vendor systems, maintaining strict confidentiality as required.  May resolve issues with vendor file feeds. • Review and coordinate benefit deduction information with the Payroll team.  This includes ensuring employee changes and benefit deductions are approved, entered, and audited before payroll processing, calculating adjustments, auditing medical waivers, preparing import files, etc. • Review, reconcile, audit, and submit payment requests to A/P for invoices.  Partner with A/P to validate cost center allocations as needed.  Serve as liaison with vendor billing contacts to ensure payments are allocated correctly.  May reconcile funding for certain benefits. • Support internal communications and other benefits and retirement initiatives. • Support compliance efforts for benefit and retirement programs, including recordkeeping, reporting, materials, etc. • Create and maintain procedure and process documentation, including checklists. • Adhere to the Company’s Quality Management System (QMS) as well as domestic and global quality system regulations, standards, and procedures. • Understand relevant security, privacy and compliance principles and adhere to the regulations, standards, and procedures that are applicable to the Company. • Ensure other members of the department follow the QMS, regulations, standards, and procedures. • Perform other work-related duties as assigned   What You Contribute • Associate degree with 3+ years of Human Resources, Payroll or Benefits experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.  Bachelor’s degree preferred. • Knowledge of key concepts and regulations in human resources, benefits, etc. A plus to have background in retirement, wellness, leave of absences, Workers’ Compensation, time and attendance, and payroll.  • Strong oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.   • Strong customer service skills and ability to handle issues with sensitivity, empathy, patience, and confidentiality.  • High degree of accuracy, thoroughness, and attention to detail.  • Excellent organizational and follow up skills with ability to prioritize assignments and meet deliverables while handling various projects of moderate difficulty simultaneously. • Good research, analytical, and problem-solving skills. Ability to analyze large amounts of benefits data for invoice reconciliation, auditing, etc.  • Ability to exercise good judgment within defined procedures and practices to determine appropriate action and follow general instructions on a wide range of tasks. Proactive and self-driven to figure out and recommend solutions or process improvements, knows when to ask questions or escalate, and provides regular updates. • Strong work ethic and integrity. • Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Teams and SharePoint knowledge a plus. • Experience with payroll, benefit, or HR systems. UKG Pro experience a plus.   Working Conditions General office environment. Willingness and ability to work on site in Alameda, CA. Requires some lifting and moving of up to 20-30 pounds. Must be able to move between buildings and floors. Must be able to remain stationary and use a computer or other standard office equipment, such as a printer or copy machine, for an extensive period of time each day. Must be able to read, prepare emails, and produce documents and spreadsheets. Must be able to move within the office and access file cabinets or supplies, as needed. Must be able to communicate and exchange accurate information with employees at all levels on a daily basis.   Base Pay Range Per Hour:  $31.00 - $42.00 Individual compensation will vary based on factors such as qualifications, skill level, competencies, work location and shift, and will increase over time based on meeting performance and business needs.