Benefits Specialist

Beacon Hill's client is seeking a detail-oriented and employee-focused Benefits Specialist to join their Human Resources team. This role is responsible for administering and enhancing employee benefits programs while supporting key HR operations, including leave administration, HRIS management, onboarding, compliance reporting, employee communications, and HR data integrity. As a trusted HR partner, the Benefits Specialist collaborates with employees, leaders, vendors, and external partners to deliver a positive employee experience and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. This position also plays an important role in driving HR operational excellence through process improvement initiatives, HR reporting and metrics, HRIS maintenance, and cross-functional support, including serving as a backup resource for payroll processing. This is an excellent opportunity for an HR professional who thrives in a collaborative environment and is passionate about improving systems, processes, and employee support services. Key Responsibilities Administer and support employee benefit programs including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, FSA, HSA, voluntary benefits, and retirement plans. Process enrollments, life event changes, terminations, beneficiary updates, and eligibility changes while maintaining accurate records and ensuring compliance with plan provisions. Coordinate open enrollment activities, employee communications, benefit education sessions, and post-enrollment audits and reconciliations. Manage leave administration processes including FMLA, ADA accommodations, workers' compensation, parental leave, military leave, and company-sponsored leave programs. Coordinate documentation with employees, managers, healthcare providers, and third-party administrators while ensuring compliance with federal, state, and company policies. Serve as the primary HRIS administrator for employee data, benefits, and HR records within Paycom and related HR systems. Maintain employee demographic, employment, compensation, and benefit information; conduct system audits; support upgrades, testing, and process improvements; and create workflows, electronic forms, and system documentation. Provide day-to-day HR operational support by coordinating onboarding activities, new hire paperwork, benefit enrollment, orientation, employee offboarding, COBRA administration, employment verifications, unemployment claims, and HR correspondence. Maintain electronic personnel files and ensure compliance with record retention requirements. Support payroll operations by serving as a backup resource for payroll processing, verifying benefit deductions, pay changes, and leave-related adjustments, assisting with payroll audits and reconciliations, and partnering with payroll to ensure accurate reporting and compliance. Act as the primary liaison between employees and external vendors including benefit carriers, brokers, third-party administrators, wellness partners, and leave management providers. Resolve enrollment discrepancies, billing issues, eligibility concerns, and service-related questions while supporting vendor evaluations and new program implementations. Assist with compliance initiatives related to ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, ERISA, Section 125, FMLA, ADA, workers' compensation, and other employment regulations. Support reporting requirements, benefit invoice reconciliation, monthly billing accuracy, audit preparation, and maintenance of compliance documentation. Develop and maintain HR reports, dashboards, and analytics related to benefits, leave administration, employee demographics, and HR operations. Monitor key performance indicators, identify trends, recommend process improvements, and provide reporting support for HR leadership, executive teams, and board-level stakeholders. Serve as a trusted resource for employee questions regarding benefits, leave programs, policies, and wellness initiatives. Develop and distribute employee communications, conduct benefit orientation sessions, and promote employee awareness and utilization of available programs and resources. Benefits Specialist Location: Maple Grove, MN (100% Onsite) Pay Rate: $70,000- $80,000 a year Position Type: Permanent employee Start Date: Determined once filled Beacon Hill's client is seeking a detail-oriented and employee-focused Benefits Specialist to join their Human Resources team. This role is responsible for administering and enhancing employee benefits programs while supporting key HR operations, including leave administration, HRIS management, onboarding, compliance reporting, employee communications, and HR data integrity. As a trusted HR partner, the Benefits Specialist collaborates with employees, leaders, vendors, and external partners to deliver a positive employee experience and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. This position also plays an important role in driving HR operational excellence through process improvement initiatives, HR reporting and metrics, HRIS maintenance, and cross-functional support, including serving as a backup resource for payroll processing. This is an excellent opportunity for an HR professional who thrives in a collaborative environment and is passionate about improving systems, processes, and employee support services. Key Responsibilities Administer and support employee benefit programs including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, FSA, HSA, voluntary benefits, and retirement plans. Process enrollments, life event changes, terminations, beneficiary updates, and eligibility changes while maintaining accurate records and ensuring compliance with plan provisions. Coordinate open enrollment activities, employee communications, benefit education sessions, and post-enrollment audits and reconciliations. Manage leave administration processes including FMLA, ADA accommodations, workers' compensation, parental leave, military leave, and company-sponsored leave programs. Coordinate documentation with employees, managers, healthcare providers, and third-party administrators while ensuring compliance with federal, state, and company policies. Serve as the primary HRIS administrator for employee data, benefits, and HR records within Paycom and related HR systems. Maintain employee demographic, employment, compensation, and benefit information; conduct system audits; support upgrades, testing, and process improvements; and create workflows, electronic forms, and system documentation. Provide day-to-day HR operational support by coordinating onboarding activities, new hire paperwork, benefit enrollment, orientation, employee offboarding, COBRA administration, employment verifications, unemployment claims, and HR correspondence. Maintain electronic personnel files and ensure compliance with record retention requirements. Support payroll operations by serving as a backup resource for payroll processing, verifying benefit deductions, pay changes, and leave-related adjustments, assisting with payroll audits and reconciliations, and partnering with payroll to ensure accurate reporting and compliance. Act as the primary liaison between employees and external vendors including benefit carriers, brokers, third-party administrators, wellness partners, and leave management providers. Resolve enrollment discrepancies, billing issues, eligibility concerns, and service-related questions while supporting vendor evaluations and new program implementations. Assist with compliance initiatives related to ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, ERISA, Section 125, FMLA, ADA, workers' compensation, and other employment regulations. Support reporting requirements, benefit invoice reconciliation, monthly billing accuracy, audit preparation, and maintenance of compliance documentation. Develop and maintain HR reports, dashboards, and analytics related to benefits, leave administration, employee demographics, and HR operations. Monitor key performance indicators, identify trends, recommend process improvements, and provide reporting support for HR leadership, executive teams, and board-level stakeholders. Serve as a trusted resource for employee questions regarding benefits, leave programs, policies, and wellness initiatives. Develop and distribute employee communications, conduct benefit orientation sessions, and promote employee awareness and utilization of available programs and resources. Qualifications Required High school diploma or equivalent required; Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field preferred. Experience managing benefits for a company size of 1000+ headcount or more. 3-5 years of progressive experience in benefits administration and HR operations. Experience administering leave programs including FMLA, ADA accommodations, and workers' compensation. Strong HRIS experience with systems such as Paycom, Workday, UKG, ADP Workforce Now, or similar platforms. Experience supporting employee benefits programs and open enrollment activities. Working knowledge of ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, ERISA, and related employment regulations. Advanced Microsoft Excel skills with the ability to analyze data, generate reports, and perform reconciliations. Preferred CEBS, SHRM-CP, PHR, or related HR certification. Experience in a manufacturing or multi-site environment. Experience supporting HRIS implementations, system enhancements, or optimization projects. Prior payroll processing or payroll administration experience. Beacon Hill is an equal opportunity employer and individuals with disabilities and/or protected veterans are encouraged to apply. California residents: Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act. Company Profile: Founded by industry leaders to set a new standard in search, career placement and flexible staffing, we deliver coordinated staffing solutions with unparalleled service, a commitment to project completion and success and a passion for innovation, creativity and continuous improvement. Our niche brands offer a complete suite of staffing services to emerging growth companies and the Fortune 500 across market sectors, career specialties/disciplines and industries. Over time, office locations, specialty practice areas and service offerings will be added to address ever changing constituent needs. Learn more about Beacon Hill and our specialty divisions, Beacon Hill Associates, Beacon Hill Financial, Beacon Hill HR, Beacon Hill Legal, Beacon Hill Life Sciences and Beacon Hill Technologies by visiting Benefits Information: Beacon Hill offers a robust benefit package including, but not limited to, medical, dental, vision, and federal and state leave programs as required by applicable agency regulations to those that meet eligibility. Upon successfully being hired, details will be provided related to our benefit offerings. We look forward to working with you. Beacon Hill. Employing the Future (TM) #J-18808-Ljbffr