Human Resources Benefits Administrator

Job Description

Job Description

1) PRIMARY PURPOSE

The HR Benefits Administrator is responsible for the accurate, timely, and employee-focused administration of Little Bear’s health and welfare benefits, retirement plan, leave programs, and related compliance activities. This position serves as a primary resource for employees, maintains benefit data and documentation, reconciles enrollments and invoices, coordinates with carriers and vendors, supports annual renewals and open enrollment, and assists the Human Resources Department with additional HR programs and projects.

2) QUALIFICATIONS

a. :

i. High school diploma or equivalent. (Required)

ii. Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field. (Preferred)

iii. SHRM-CP, PHR, or benefits-related certification. (Preferred)

b. : Bilingual English and Spanish. (Required)

c. :

i. Three to five years of progressively responsible employee benefits administration experience. (Required)

ii. Experience administering medical, dental, vision, life, disability, retirement, COBRA, and leave programs. (Required)

iii. Experience with an HRIS/benefits platform and Microsoft Office, including Excel. Paylocity experience is preferred.

iv. Experience in produce, agriculture, manufacturing, distribution, warehousing, or another fast-paced multi-site environment. (Preferred)

3) SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

a. Working knowledge of ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, Section 125, FMLA, and applicable retirement-plan requirements.

b. Knowledge of benefit eligibility, enrollment, qualifying life events, evidence of insurability, deductions, carrier feeds, and required notices.

c. Ability to explain complex benefit information clearly, accurately, and respectfully to employees at all levels.

d. Strong reconciliation, auditing, analytical, and problem-solving skills; advanced attention to detail.

e. Ability to maintain confidentiality and appropriately handle medical, financial, and other sensitive information.

f. Strong customer-service, organization, time-management, follow-through, and interpersonal skills.

g. Ability to prioritize competing deadlines and work independently in a fast-paced, seasonal environment.

h. Ability to collaborate with employees, managers, payroll, finance, brokers, carriers, and third-party administrators.

i. Proficiency with HRIS systems, benefits administration technology, Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, and reporting tools.

j. Commitment to compliance, data integrity, continuous improvement, and a high level of employee support.

4) ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

a. : Administers employee benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, wellness, voluntary benefits, and other company-sponsored plans. Processes enrollments, changes, terminations, beneficiary updates, and supporting documentation accurately and within required deadlines.

b. : Serves as a primary benefits contact for employees and eligible dependents. Responds promptly to questions, explains plan provisions and employee responsibilities, assists with claims or access issues, and escalates complex matters to the appropriate carrier, broker, or Human Resources leader.

c. : Conducts benefits orientations and supports onboarding. Coordinates annual open enrollment activities, communications, meetings, employee elections, system testing, carrier submissions, confirmation statements, and post-enrollment audits.

d. : Verifies eligibility and required documentation; processes new-hire, status-change, dependent, and qualifying life-event transactions. Monitors waiting periods, coverage effective dates, evidence-of-insurability requirements, and timely termination of coverage.

e. : Audits employee elections, payroll deductions, carrier files, and vendor invoices. Researches and resolves discrepancies; coordinates corrections with payroll, finance, carriers, and vendors; and maintains clear reconciliation records and approvals.

f. : Supports administration of the company’s 401(k) plan, including eligibility, enrollment, contribution changes, beneficiary guidance, employee questions, vendor coordination, required communications, audits, testing, and correction of data or contribution discrepancies.

g. : Coordinates timely COBRA qualifying-event notifications and data with the third-party administrator. Reviews participant status, payments, carrier enrollment, and termination activity and resolves discrepancies.

h. : Coordinates FMLA and other applicable leave programs in accordance with company policy and law. Provides required notices, tracks documentation and deadlines, coordinates benefit premium payments, maintains confidential records, and communicates status appropriately with employees and management.

i. : Maintains benefits records and required notices; assists with ACA reporting, ERISA disclosures, Summary Plan Descriptions, Section 125 administration, benefit audits, nondiscrimination testing, required filings, and other compliance activities. Stays informed of regulatory and plan changes and recommends updates.

j. : Maintains productive relationships with benefit brokers, carriers, and third-party administrators. Tracks service issues, participates in renewal planning, evaluates plan and utilization information, supports vendor meetings, and helps implement approved benefit changes.

k. : Maintains accurate benefit elections, dependent information, deductions, eligibility data, documents, and workflow statuses in Paylocity and related systems. Performs routine data audits and prepares reports and metrics for management, payroll, finance, and compliance purposes.

l. : Assists with onboarding, employee records, HR communications, policy and procedure updates, audits, recruiting, training, workers’ compensation coordination, employee events, and other HR initiatives or special projects as assigned.

m. Follows all safety procedures and maintains a clean and safe work environment.

n. Reports employee accidents, safety hazards, equipment issues, and quality concerns promptly.

o. Must be willing to work flexible hours, including occasional evenings or weekends during open enrollment, audits, renewals, or urgent employee-support needs.

p. Performs other duties as assigned or requested.

5) NON-ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

a. Assists with employee engagement, wellness, recognition, and educational events.

b. Supports recruiting, onboarding, offboarding, employment verifications, training records, and general HR communications.

c. Assists with required workplace postings, employee file audits, and other administrative projects.

d. Provides back-up support for other Human Resources functions as trained and assigned.

\nCompany Description

A family-owned company that has been in operation for over 40 years. We are growers, packers and shippers of various greens, onions and melons.

Company Description

A family-owned company that has been in operation for over 40 years. We are growers, packers and shippers of various greens, onions and melons.