Benefits and Leave Specialist

Olson Kundig•Seattle, WA

21d•$75,000 - $85,000•Onsite

About The Position

Olson Kundig is a design practice founded on the ideas that buildings can serve as a bridge between nature, culture and people, and that inspiring surroundings have a positive effect on people’s lives. The firm’s work can be found across the globe, with projects as wide-ranging as huts to high rises, homes—often for art collectors—to academic, cultural and civic projects, museums and exhibition design, places of worship, creative production, urban design, and interior design. The Benefits and Leave Specialist is responsible for managing and administering benefit programs inclusive of health & wellness, 401(k), and time off and leave of absence, ensuring compliance with policies and regulations. To succeed in this role, you should be an adaptable self-starter who can prioritize and complete multiple projects and tasks with little guidance in a creative and dynamic environment. This role will collaborate with internal teams to deliver exceptional results within specified deadlines.

Requirements

Education: Bachelor's degree in Human Resources or closely related field
Experience: Minimum five (5) years of demonstrated experience administering complex benefits and leave processes accurately and independently
Demonstrated competency in understanding of relevant employment laws and regulations, including FMLA, ADA HIPAA, COBRA
Experience working with benefits and leave data, enrollment and invoice audits, and system integrations
Digital Literacy: Intermediate to advanced proficiency in understanding and skills with MS 360 Office Suite and tools
Advance proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other data analysis tools, preferred
Experience working with an HRIS or benefits administration platform, with the ability to navigate, maintain, and troubleshoot employee data and workflows

Nice To Haves

SHRM, PHR, GPHR, and/or CLMS certification
Experience managing or supporting 401(k) plans, including the annual audit process
Experience using Paylocity HRIS or Bswift Benefits

Responsibilities

Health and Financial Benefits: Manage day-to-day benefits administration, ensuring accurate employee data and vendor service delivery.
Serve as an escalation point for complex employee benefits inquiries
Oversee annual compliance requirements, including ACA reporting and required filings
Administer the 401(k) program, including vendor coordination and employee education
Lead the annual open enrollment process, including planning, system updates, employee communications, and vendor coordination
Partner with benefits consultants on renewals, vendor changes, audits, and compliance across all benefit programs
Reconcile benefit invoices and enrollment records monthly
Develop, maintain, and update benefits procedures and related HR policies to ensure consistent administration
Analyze benefits utilization, costs, and trends to identify cost savings and improvement opportunities
Communicate benefits programs through presentations, written materials, and employee communication
Leave of Absence and Alternative Work Arrangements: Responsible for processing leave requests and determining eligibility for FMLA and state leaves
Track leave usage, and coordinate with payroll to ensure accurate coding
Assist with employee accommodations and employee relations
People Operations: Partners with HR and Payroll to manage the employee lifecycle data
Ensures necessary information and ensures timely audits of all data entered in the HRIS systems
Creates, runs, and distributes HRIS reports
Attends and takes notes in annual reviews
Additional duties and projects: Support the development and maintenance of company HR policies.
Assist leadership with communicating HR policies, procedures, programs, and applicable laws
Evaluate and implement improvements to HR processes, administrative efficiency, and policy development
Participate in cross-functional or organizational committees as needed
Perform other duties as assigned