Benefits & HR Specialist

Nth Generation•San Diego, CA

5d•$74,000 - $84,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Benefits & HR Specialist is an integral part of the Human Resources team, with primary responsibility for administering Nth Generation's employee benefit programs and serves as the primary contact for benefit-related questions. The role is a functional subject matter expert for benefits administration in ADP Workforce Now and supports accurate, timely and compliant HR operations. This position also provides backup payroll support; coordinates employee recognition, events, and business travel; and provides limited business-related administrative support to executive team members, as the need arises. This role handles confidential information and is expected to demonstrate sound judgment, service orientation, continuous improvement. All essential duties and responsibilities are to be performed while always maintaining the Nth Corporate Culture (see Appendix A).

Requirements

A bachelor's degree in human resources management, finance, accounting, or related field.
5+ years of progressively responsible experience in benefits and HR administration, including hands-on HRIS experience, as well as experience administering HRA and/or HSA plans.
Advanced proficiency in ADP Workforce Now is strongly preferred.
Demonstrated experience reconciling benefit and payroll data, producing reports, and analyzing data in Excel or comparable tools.
Experience supporting open enrollment, leave administration, benefit billing, vendor files, and employee inquiries.
An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
Advanced proficiency in ADP Workforce Now benefits functionality and strong working knowledge of HRIS data, workflows, and reporting.
Working knowledge of employee benefit plans and applicable compliance requirements; ability to identify issues and escalate complex legal, tax, fiduciary, or medical questions appropriately.
Strong numerical aptitude, reconciliation skills, and attention to detail and accuracy.
Ability to prioritize competing work, manage recurring compliance calendars, and meet strict deadlines.
Organized, logical, and methodical approach with strong process-documentation skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication and a service-oriented approach to employee support.
Advanced working knowledge of Microsoft 365, including Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and company-approved Copilot capabilities.
Ability to use approved AI tools responsibly, validate outputs, protect confidential data, and preserve human oversight in employment-related work.
Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and handle personal, health, payroll, and business information with discretion.
Ability to exercise sound judgment, remain calm under pressure, adapt to changing business needs, work independently, and collaborate effectively.
Valid driver's license and acceptable driving record when driving is required for assigned business duties.

Nice To Haves

Benefits or HR certification, such as CEBS, SHRM-CP, PHR, or an equivalent credential, is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Administers employee benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, life, accident, disability, 401(k), health reimbursement arrangements (HRA's), health savings accounts (HSA's), and flexible spending accounts (FSA's), as applicable.
Manages the annual open enrollment process, including system configuration, testing, employee communications, enrollment support, data validation, and completion of required deadlines, in a smooth and user-friendly manner.
Provides responsive, accurate employee support regarding eligibility, enrollment, qualified life events, claims escalation, and use of benefit programs, while avoiding individualized tax, legal, or medical advice.
Serves as liaison among employees, benefit providers, brokers, consultants, payroll, and accounting to resolve issues; validate plan and billing data; and support accurate administration of plan documents.
Develops and maintains positive relationships with employees, provides excellent customer service, addresses employee benefit inquiries, assists with benefit claims, and provides guidance on benefit options in a timely manner.
Administers 401(k) operational processes, including employee elections, loans, contribution files, required communications, reconciliation support, and annual reporting, in coordination with the plan recordkeeper and other fiduciaries.
Coordinates leaves of absence and workplace accommodation processes from initial notice through return to work, in partnership with the VP, HR and managers, and in accordance with applicable policies and law.
Coordinates with third party administrators and carriers regarding disability and other benefit claims, consistent with plan terms and privacy requirements.
Administers COBRA events and enrollment changes and supports responses to unemployment and workers' compensation matters.
Supports compliance activities associated with applicable federal, state, and local requirements, including ACA, ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA privacy and security, Section 125, and requirement notices and filings.
Processes and audits benefits enrollments, terminations, life-event changes, deductions, vendor eligibility files, invoices, and carrier reconciliations; escalates discrepancies promptly.
Conducts benefit portions of new-hire orientation and develops clear employee communications, guides, procedures and reference materials.
Produces recurring and ad hoc HR and benefit reports, validates data integrity, documents corrections, and maintains appropriate records in accordance with company retention and privacy requirements.
Monitors vendor releases, regulatory updates, market practices, and process performance; recommends cost-effective, compliant, and employee-centered improvements.
Maintains benefits procedures, calendars, checklists, forms, and electronic records to support continuity, audit readiness, and cross-training.
Maintains Nth's employee recognition program and policy documentation and coordinates clear employee communications.
Administers the recognition platform, including configuration, user accounts, rewards and awards, vendor updates, issue resolution, and user training.
Monitors program usage and recommends communication and engagement strategies.
Provides timely quarter-end reporting regarding redeemed rewards and taxable fringe benefits to accounting and payroll.
Maintains appropriate controls, documentation, and reconciliation records for recognition awards.
Provides administrative and project support across the employee lifecycle, which may include: HRIS administration and data integrity, Workforce planning and HR reporting, Talent acquisition and selection, Compensation and benefits administration, Health, safety, and labor-law compliance, Onboarding, offboarding, learning and development, Employee and well-being support, Culture, engagement, and job evaluation, HR records, correspondence, and general administration.
Serves as backup to payroll, as needed.
Maintains process documentation and cross-training materials for assigned HR and payroll backup responsibilities.
Coordinates internal employee events and celebrations, such as birthdays, anniversaries, team-building activities, holiday events, retirements, and/or well-being and volunteer activities, etc.
Coordinates business travel and event registration for executive, technical and sales staff, as assigned, including air, lodging, ground transportation, and itinerary changes.
Provides limited business-related administrative support to executive team members, including records maintenance, correspondence, scheduling, research, logistics, and special projects.
Prepares correspondence, reports, presentations, and confidential materials using Microsoft 365 applications and other approved business systems.
Represents company executives with tact, diplomacy, responsiveness, and sound judgment.
Protects confidential, personal, health, and proprietary information and follows approved access, retention, and secure-disposal practices.
Uses company-approved AI and automation tools to improve efficiency and quality in benefits administration, employee communications, reporting, research, procedure development, and routine HR workflows.
Protects employee and company information by entering data into AI tools only when the use is authorized and consistent with company privacy, security, confidentiality, records-retention, and acceptable-use requirements.
Independently verifies AI-generated calculations, summaries, communications, recommendations, citations, and other outputs before relying on or distributing them.
Uses professional judgment and maintains meaningful human oversight. AI may support, but does not replace, decisions involving benefit eligibility, employee relations, accommodations, leave, pay, performance, selection, or other employment actions.
Monitors AI-assisted work for inaccuracies, inappropriate disclosure, bias, inconsistent treatment, and accessibility concerns; corrects or escalates issues promptly.
Documents material AI-assisted processes when needed for auditability, repeatability, or compliance, and discloses AI use when required by company policy or law.
Participates in training on approved AI tools, prompt practices, data protection, and responsible AI use; shares practical improvements with the HR team.
Identifies suitable opportunities for workflow automation while preserving required approvals, segregation of duties, employee service, and HR recordkeeping controls.