Benefits & Leave Specialist

Gardner Builders • Minneapolis, MN

1d • Onsite

About The Position

At Gardner, we believe commercial construction should feel as welcoming as it is professional. That’s why we don’t just build and renovate, we build relationships, rooted in hospitality. Our mission is to set the platinum standard for our clients, partners, and team members by delivering exceptional results while embodying our core values: passion, humility, excellence, empathy, and nimbleness. We bring a hospitality-driven approach to every project, ensuring that every interaction is thoughtful, responsive, and human-centered.

Who You Are
You believe benefits and leave administration are about more than policies and compliance. Behind every leave request or benefits question is a person who deserves clarity, care, and support. You bring strong technical expertise in benefits and leave, and you pair it with genuine empathy. You're organized, detail-oriented, and trusted to handle sensitive information with discretion. Most importantly, you see this work as an opportunity to care for people during some of the most important moments of their lives.

Requirements

• 4+ years in benefits and/or leave administration or an HR role with significant responsibility in both areas.
• Bachelor's degree in HR, Business, Communications, or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrated experience with FMLA, ADA, open enrollment, ACA compliance, and TPA partnerships.
• Strong knowledge of ERISA, COBRA, 401(k), and Minnesota leave laws including PFML.
• Exceptional ability to communicate complex information clearly and compassionately.
• Proficiency with BambooHR and Google Workspace.

Nice To Haves

• Experience administering Minnesota Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFML).
• SHRM-CP, Certified Benefits Professional (CBP), or similar professional certification.
• Experience creating manager-facing tools, guides, and educational resources.
• A demonstrated ability to balance compliance requirements with a deeply human, employee-centered approach.
• A passion for creating exceptional employee experiences during life's most significant moments.

Responsibilities

• Administer Gardner's full benefits suite: medical, dental, vision, life, LTD, 401(k), HSA, and voluntary benefits.
• Manage enrollments, qualifying life events, coverage changes, and terminations.
• Serve as the primary employee contact for benefits questions and claims navigation.
• Partner with brokers, carriers, and TPAs to resolve issues and ensure accurate administration.
• Coordinate with Payroll on deductions and corrections.
• Lead annual open enrollment from planning through verification.
• Support ongoing benefits education and bring vendor and program improvement recommendations to leadership.
• Administer all leave programs including FMLA, ADA, Minnesota PFML, parental, bereavement, sabbatical, and other job-protected leaves.
• Guide employees through the leave process with compassion and clarity from request through return.
• Manage documentation, eligibility determinations, and compliance in partnership with Gardner's TPA.
• Coordinate with Payroll on paid and unpaid leave, including PFML benefit coordination.
• Support ADA accommodation discussions and return-to-work planning.
• Develop manager resources and employee-facing communications that make leave easy to navigate.
• Create employee-facing communications that make benefits and leave programs easy to understand and access.
• Monitor ACA eligibility and support 1095-C reporting; ensure timely COBRA administration.
• Maintain ERISA compliance through current plan documents and SPDs.
• Stay current on federal, state, and local regulations and recommend policy and process improvements.
• Build sustainable, documented processes that create continuity and audit-readiness.

Benefits

• Health, dental, vision, HSA with employer contribution, and 401(k) plan with employer contribution.
• Company-paid basic life & AD&D insurance, company-paid long-term disability, company-paid employee assistance program, accident insurance, and critical illness insurance.
• Paid parking or public transportation costs, company-provided phone, and laptop.
• Generous paid time off, paid sabbatical leave, paid bereavement leave, paid parental leave, free onsite fitness facility, and regular company and team outings.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level