Leave & Benefits Specialist

Division: Human Resources • Location Type: Hybrid • Job Location: Macedon, NY, USA, 14502

About the role

The Leave & Benefits Specialist processes and supports benefit enrollments, changes, and employee requests, tracks all leave of absence cases, and acts as a backup to the payroll lead. This role ensures compliance with federal and state employment laws, provides exemplary customer service, and supports associates, executives, and HR business partners.

Responsibilities

• Benefits Administration – 45%
  • Administer daily employee benefits operations, including new hire enrollments, qualifying life events, annual open enrollment, and terminations.
  • Process and audit benefit enrollments to ensure accurate and timely participation in benefit plans.
  • Verify employee enrollment status with insurance carriers and troubleshoot discrepancies to ensure employees are active and receiving coverage as expected.
  • Conduct regular carrier eligibility audits to reconcile enrollment data between the HRIS/benefits administration system and carrier portals.
  • Ensure the timely transmission of eligibility files to insurance carriers and vendors, resolving file errors and enrollment issues.
  • Perform routine audits of benefit deductions and coordinate with Payroll to ensure accurate employee and employer contributions.
  • Assist with vendor implementation projects, benefit plan changes, and system enhancements to improve operational efficiency.
  • Develop, document, and maintain standard operating procedures for benefits administration processes.
  • Deliver new hire benefit orientation presentations to support understanding and encourage utilization of the benefits package.
  • Review and ensure COBRA and other post-employment benefits are processed.
  • Ensure 401(k) employee enrollments and changes are processed.
  • Ensure all new hire and benefit programs comply with federal and state regulations.
  • Provide support to employees enterprise-wide to answer questions and assist in issue resolution related to benefits, delivering excellent customer service.
  • Participate in employee information sessions, workshops, company screening programs, and educational presentations to promote benefit programs. May require shifting hours to support multi-plant, multi-shift operations.
  • Complete HCM system tasks and workflow actions, review and prepare reports, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
  • Engage at all levels in the organization and be available to support 24/7, multi-plant, multi-state operations.
• Leave of Absence Administration – 45%
  • Serve as a day-to-day subject matter expert for leave and workers’ compensation programs and accommodation requests.
  • Interpret and administer leave programs and policies in accordance with applicable federal and state employment laws (FMLA, ADA, USERRA, Pregnancy Discrimination Act, etc.).
  • Administer all aspects of leave programs in partnership with Manager HR Benefits and Compliance, including case management, tracking, and program compliance.
  • Support Manager HR Benefits & Compliance to conduct investigations into reported claims.
  • Work closely with the Manager, HR Benefits & Compliance and a 3rd party leave administration vendor who approves or denies leave cases based on relevant medical or other information.
  • Coordinate, organize, and retain all medical information, in collaboration with the 3rd party leave administration vendor, ensuring HIPAA, employee privacy, and retention guidelines are followed.
  • Maintain communication with employees prior to and while on leave to facilitate a smooth and timely return to work.
  • Communicate to employees in advance of their leave regarding their responsibilities for continuation of benefit payments, arrange for collection of monthly payments, and collaborate with payroll.
  • Update HCM in a timely fashion to change Active and Leave status to ensure timely coordination with payroll.
  • Support Manager HR Benefits & Compliance to advise managers on the interaction of leave laws with paid time off, workers’ compensation, and short-term and long-term benefits.
  • Coordinate the return-to-work process for employees returning from extended leave.
• Payroll & Compliance Support – 10%
  • Act as backup to payroll lead/specialist to process payroll when coverage is required and support end-of-year processes.
  • Partner with payroll specialist to reconcile monthly benefits invoices and reconcile payroll and benefits owed by the employee related to leaves of absence.
  • Lead the new employee I-9 process in partnership with the Employee Experience team and HRBPs enterprise-wide.
  • Support compliance requirements related to documentation, employee notices, and reporting.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree (BA/BS) from a four-year college or university preferred.
• SPHR or SHRM-SCP certification strongly preferred.
• Three (3) years of experience in Human Resources directly supporting leave administration and benefits administration.
• Strong knowledge of legal requirements within a multi-state operation related to leave and benefits.
• Manufacturing, production, or related experience (multiple shifts and locations) highly desired.

Pay

75,000.00 – 85,000.00 USD