Benefits Specialist

Benefits Specialist

Built on over a century of dedication, Maola is always looking aheadinvesting in our people, strengthening our communities, and securing fresh, local dairy for the future.

Join a farmer-owned cooperative rooted in integrity, sustainability, and a passion for providing fresh, high-quality Maola dairy products.

We prioritize your well-being with competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits package, including Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k) with employer match, Life Insurance, paid time off, and moreavailable within your first month.

Our employees are an integral part of who we are what you do and what you think matters.

Starting Annual Salary Range : $65,000 to $75,000

As a Benefits Specialist this individual is responsible for a broad range of activities to support the wider organization. This individual must be able to apply HR / Benefits best practices aligned with organizational policies and standards. This is a fast-paced environment with multiple priorities, which requires an individual who can maintain a high level of professionalism and confidentiality while meeting the needs of employees, managers, and the organization. This position's primary function is benefits administration.

As a Benefits Specialist, this individual will work with the Benefits Manager to provide full Benefits lifecycle support to employees, managers, and leadership. This individual will be responsible for assisting the Benefits Manager with administration of all benefits and retirement programs, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance and disability programs, leave management programs such as FMLA, short- and long-term disability and 401(k) plans, including employee deferrals, employer match and loan maintenance. This position will also assist with benefit vendor management and HRIS / UKG maintenance.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and / or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Performs routine tasks required in support of all benefit programs including but not limited to health and welfare benefits, life and disability, leave management, and retirement benefits.
• Assists with benefits administration, open enrollment, and providing information to employees as questions arise.
• Assists the Benefits Manager with administering health, welfare, and other benefits programs by determining eligibility, completing enrollments and life event changes, communicating to employees and vendors, coordinating with payroll where needed, completing and submitting claim forms, assisting employees in resolving claim issues and ensuring compliance and all other benefits related processes.
• Assists with the design, recommendation, and implementation of benefits programs.
• Documents and maintains administrative procedures for assigned benefit processes.
• Develops and implements effective and easy to understand benefits resources for employee use.
• Develops an excellent working knowledge of the employee benefits guide, employee handbook and effectively administers new and modified policies / procedures.
• Assists with FMLA / ADA / STD / LTD administration.
• Assist with new hire orientation and new hire benefit enrollment.
• Maintains compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations, and recommended best practices; reviews policies and practices to maintain compliance.
• Maintains knowledge of trends, best practices, regulatory changes, and new technologies in human resources, benefits compliance, and employment law.
• Work as the primary point of contact on special projects as needed.
• Acts as liaison with accounting for benefits matters relating to invoicing, account set up or other fiscal obligations.
• Maintains 401(k) Employee Deferrals, Employer Match, and Loans.
• Writes and revises, as needed, Benefits Audit Procedures, and maintains a current manual / binder of these procedures.
• Receives and tracks HR Benefit Premium Payments from Retirees.
• Maintains benefit files housed in our HRIS / UKG system.
• Assembles and maintains binders for all benefit plans, as necessary.
• Assist with benefit compliance audits, including retirement plan audits.
• Maintains confidentiality and exercises discretion.
• Please note this position description is not designed to cover all or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.
• Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time.

Basic Requirements

Competencies

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to stand and walk. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision for computer work and ability to adjust focus. The employee may occasionally lift and / or move up to 10 pounds.

Work Environment

Maola Local Dairies is a farmer-owned cooperative sustainably producing a full suite of nutritious dairy products. Maola processes milk, cream, butter, and dry milk powders through our network of six dairy processing plants. With a keen eye on quality, freshness, and love for the environment, Maola delivers dairy products that are both nutritious and sustainable to our local communities.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected status.