Contract - Benefits Associate

Benefits Associate

Itron is innovating new ways for utilities and cities to manage energy and water. We create a more resourceful world to protect essential resources for today and tomorrow. Join us.

We are seeking a detail-oriented and service-driven Benefits Associate to join our team and support the delivery of a seamless, employee-centered benefits experience. In this role, you will play a key part in administering U.S. employee benefits programs, responding to employee inquiries with empathy and professionalism, and collaborating with cross-functional partners to ensure accurate, compliant, and efficient operations. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and is passionate about supporting employees through clear communication, attentive service, and innovative solutions in a technology-driven Utilities & Energy organization.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Provide responsive, customer-centric day-to-day support for U.S. employee benefits programs, helping deliver a positive, inclusive, and compliant employee experience.
• Monitor and respond to employee benefit inquiries through Workday Help, shared email inboxes, phone, and Teams, using sound judgment, empathy, and professionalism.
• Answer questions related to medical, dental, vision, pharmacy, life insurance, qualifying life events, leave of absence processes, benefits continuation, and beneficiary updates.
• Acknowledge employee inquiries within one business day and track cases through resolution with accuracy, accountability, and attention to detail.
• Research and resolve questions using benefit booklets, Summary Plan Descriptions (SPDs), Workday knowledge articles, and SharePoint resources.
• Escalate complex, sensitive, compliance-related, or policy interpretation matters to Benefits leadership when appropriate.
• Support employee life event processing and benefits changes in Workday or similar HR systems.
• Assist with COBRA-related inquiries by providing high-level guidance and directing employees to appropriate vendor communications and resources.
• Complete employer sections of Medicare-related forms accurately and in a timely manner.
• Support Education Assistance Reimbursement (EAR) requests by validating eligibility and routing reimbursements through internal processes.
• Maintain accurate and organized case documentation in Workday Help and other tracking tools to support operational excellence and audit readiness.
• Review and process monthly pharmacy invoices, ensuring accuracy and timely submission through Accounts Payable.
• Perform initial triage of employee issues related to benefits vendors, including medical, pharmacy, and retirement providers, and coordinate with internal partners to resolve issues.
• Track open vendor issues and follow through to resolution with an accountable and service-oriented approach.
• Draft, adapt, or reuse approved benefits and wellbeing communications across channels such as Viva Engage, SharePoint, internal portals, and email.
• Ensure communications are clear, inclusive, authentic, and aligned with organizational priorities and employee needs in a technology-driven Utilities & Energy environment.
• Support employee wellbeing and benefits campaigns, including Open Enrollment, year-end benefits communications, mental health awareness initiatives, and other global wellbeing programs.
• Coordinate timing and messaging with Benefits, Payroll, HR, and Corporate Communications partners to ensure a collaborative and consistent employee experience.
• Support continuity of employee wellbeing programs by posting approved communications, answering basic participation questions, and routing employees to the appropriate resources.
• Partner with site leaders and internal stakeholders to support onsite events and employee engagement activities as needed.
• Attend and contribute to team meetings, vendor meetings, payroll meetings, and other cross-functional discussions to share updates on open cases, deadlines, and employee impact.
• Contribute to continuous improvement by identifying process efficiencies, documentation needs, and opportunities to enhance the employee experience in an agile and innovative way.

Required Skills & Experience

• Prior experience in Human Resources, Benefits Administration, Employee Services, or a related field.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate clearly, respectfully, and empathetically with diverse employee populations.
• Demonstrated customer-centric mindset and commitment to delivering high-quality service with authenticity and professionalism.
• Ability to manage sensitive employee situations with discretion, sound judgment, and confidentiality.
• Strong organizational skills and high attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and follow established processes accurately.
• Experience working with HR systems, such as Workday or similar platforms.
• Ability to work independently while also partnering effectively with cross-functional and distributed teams.
• Ability to identify risks, apply judgment, and escalate issues appropriately.
• Commitment to accuracy, accountability, and consistent follow-through in a fast-paced environment.
• Comfort working in a collaborative, agile, and evolving workplace that supports employees serving customers in the Utilities & Energy sector.

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Experience supporting U.S. employee benefits programs.
• Familiarity with Workday, Workday Help, or related HR case management tools.
• Experience supporting employee communications, engagement, or wellbeing initiatives.
• Exposure to vendor coordination, invoice processing, or benefits operations administration.
• Experience working in a technology company or supporting employees in a regulated, service-oriented industry such as Utilities & Energy.
• Demonstrated ability to contribute ideas that improve processes, employee understanding, and service delivery in an innovative and collaborative way.

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field or equivalent experience.

Physical Demands

This is a typical office job, with no special physical requirements or unusual work environment.

The successful candidate's starting salary will be determined based on permissible, non-discriminatory factors such as skills and experience and may vary by location. Liberty Lake, WA: The base salary is $33.65-$ 55.28 per hour.

Itron is committed to building an inclusive and diverse workforce and providing an authentic workplace experience for all employees. If you are excited about this role but your past experiences don't perfectly align with every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway. In the end, you may be just who we are looking for! The successful candidate's starting wage will be determined based on permissible, non-discriminatory factors such as skills and experience. Itron is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. If you require an accommodation to apply, please contact a recruiting representative at View phone number on click.appcast.io or email View email address on click.appcast.io.

Itron is transforming how the world manages energy, water and city services. Our trusted intelligent infrastructure solutions help utilities and cities improve efficiency, build resilience and deliver safe, reliable and affordable service. With edge intelligence, we connect people, data insights and devices so communities can better manage the essential resources they rely on to live. Join us as we create a more resourceful world: