Benefits Analyst II

Benefits Analyst, Total RewardsAt Slate, we're building safe, reliable vehicles that people can afford, personalize and love—and doing it here in the USA as part of our commitment to reindustrialization. The spirit of DIY and customization runs throughout every element of a Slate, because people should have control over how their trucks look, feel, and represent them.Job DescriptionThe Benefits Analyst, Total Rewards is the dedicated onsite Total Rewards resource for Slate Auto's Warsaw, IN manufacturing facility. Reporting directly to the Head of Total Rewards, this role serves as the primary benefits contact for plant employees, delivers benefits education and enrollment support, leads new hire orientations, owns leave of absence administration for the plant population, and acts as the embedded TR liaison for the Warsaw workforce. The role works in close partnership with the Head of Plant HR to ensure plant employees are well supported and that Total Rewards programs are consistently and effectively delivered on the ground.As Warsaw scales toward full production, this role is a critical infrastructure investment, ensuring employees understand, use, and trust their benefits and leave programs from day one, and that the central TR team has clean, automated data to manage a growing plant population.ResponsibilitiesEmployee Benefits AdvisoryServe as the first point of contact for all plant employee benefits questions, including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), leave of absence, and related programsTriage and resolve benefits inquiries in a timely manner; escalate complex claims and carrier issues to Total Rewards or Gallagher as appropriateMaintain current working knowledge of plan documents, program terms, and eligibility rules to provide accurate, confident guidance to employeesLeave of Absence AdministrationOwn day to day administration of leave of absence cases for Warsaw plant employees, including FMLA, state specific leave, ADA accommodation requests, short term and long term disability, and personal leaveServe as the primary point of contact for employees and managers throughout the leave lifecycle, from intake through return to workCoordinate with the leave administration vendor and Total Rewards to ensure accurate case tracking, timely determinations, and compliant documentationPartner with Plant HR and Legal as needed on complex accommodation, intermittent leave, and return to work scenariosMonitor leave case status and flag aging or at-risk cases to the Head of Total RewardsNew Hire Onboarding and OrientationDeliver benefits orientation sessions for all Warsaw new hires, including hourly and salaried employeesEnsure all new hires complete benefits enrollment within required windows; follow up on missing electionsPartner with Plant HR on onboarding logistics and scheduling to embed TR touchpoints into the new hire experienceOpen EnrollmentLead plant level open enrollment communications, Q&A sessions, and decision supportCoordinate with Total Rewards and benefits vendors to ensure Warsaw employees have adequate information and assistance during OE windowsTrack enrollment completion rates and surface gaps to the central TR teamTotal Rewards LiaisonTranslate central Total Rewards policies, programs, and communications into plant level language and contextEscalate policy questions, employee concerns, and systemic issues to the Head of Total Rewards with full contextParticipate in TR team meetings and stay current on program changes, new initiatives, and policy updatesData Integrity, Automation, and AdministrationMonitor and flag enrollment errors, missed elections, and discrepancies in WorkdayBuild and maintain Excel based tools to automate recurring benefits and leave reporting, including enrollment tracking, leave case dashboards, and data reconciliation between Workday and vendor filesUse pivot tables, lookup formulas, and advanced Excel functions to reduce manual data handling and improve turnaround on recurring reportsSupport benefits vendor and broker communications as directed by Total RewardsAssist in tracking and resolving plant level leave of absence cases in partnership with Plant HRQualificationsRequired2 to 5 years of experience in benefits administration, HR, or a related Total Rewards functionDirect experience administering leave of absence programs, including FMLA and state specific leave requirementsWorking knowledge of group health, dental, vision, and 401(k) programsAdvanced Excel skills, including pivot tables, lookup formulas (VLOOKUP or INDEX MATCH), and experience building automations or templates to streamline reportingDemonstrated ability to communicate complex benefits and leave information clearly to a diverse employee populationExperience with HRIS and benefits administration platforms (Workday or equivalent)Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environmentPreferredExperience supporting a manufacturing or operations workforceFamiliarity with open enrollment coordination and new hire onboarding deliveryAdvanced Excel certification or demonstrated portfolio of automation work (macros, VBA, or similar)CEBS, PHR, or similar certification is a plusSalary RangeThe compensation for this position is the range Slate reasonably and in good faith expects to pay for the position taking into account the wide variety of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including job-related knowledge; skillset; experience, education and training; certifications; work location; and other relevant business and organizational factors.Annual Base Pay Range: $85,000 - $106,000Additional Compensation and BenefitsSlate offers a wide range of competitive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability insurance, vacation, and 401k. The successful candidate may also be eligible to participate in the equity program and/or a discretionary annual incentive program, subject to the rules governing such programs.Work Authorization RequirementApplicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a permanent basis. We are unable to offer visa sponsorship at this time.Why Join Team Slate?At Slate, we're fueled by grit, determination, and attention to detail. The start-up spirit of ingenuity and resourcefulness move our business forward. Team Slate fosters a culture of excellence, innovation, and mutual respect, and is motivated by shared principles.Safety FirstDelight CustomersOne TeamRelentless ImprovementFast, Frugal, and ScrappyRespectful CollaborationPositive LegacyWe want to work with people that reflect the communities in which we operate.Slate is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, marital status, parental status, cultural background, organizational level, work styles, tenure and life experiences. Or for any other reason.Slate is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at View email address on click.appcast.io.