Employee Relations & Benefits Specialist

B & D Industries•Albuquerque, NM

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Employee Relations & Benefits Specialist is responsible for leading employee relations efforts and supporting benefit enrollments. This role handles complex and sensitive employee matters, conducts investigations and terminations, resolves workplace conflicts, and ensures consistent application of employment laws and company policies to foster fair, compliant, and positive outcomes. The Employee Relations & Benefits Specialist also serves as a key partner to the HR Director, assisting with benefits enrollment, audit support, and other HR initiatives as assigned. This role is based in-office and follows a standard Monday-Friday schedule, working hours of 7:00 AM - 3:30 PM.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Human Resources, Business, Organizational Development, and/or equivalent industry training; Relevant work experience may substitute for the degree
Minimum 5 years of directly related experience required
Must demonstrate advanced multi-disciplinary knowledge of human resource principles and best practices
Experience in working collaboratively and effectively to solve problems
Intermediate computer proficiency
Advanced critical thinking skills

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary point of contact for complex or sensitive employee/management concerns (performance, conduct, policy violations, interpersonal conflict, harassment/discrimination, etc.)
Conduct prompt, thorough, and well-documented investigations; interview involved parties; gather evidence; assess credibility; and prepare findings and recommendations
Partner with leaders to implement corrective action, performance improvement plans, and behavior coaching while ensuring consistency and fairness
Provide guidance to managers and employees on workplace issues, best practices, and policy interpretation
Facilitate conflict resolution (mediation, coaching, informal resolution) and help restore productive working relationships
Conduct regular stay interviews (employee check-ins) to evaluate employee engagement, identify potential retention risks, and collect actionable insights to enhance team culture, leadership effectiveness, and day-to-day work experiences
Support and conduct termination decisions and offboarding processes, including exit interviews to reduce legal risk and ensure documentation meets compliance standards
Recommend systemic improvements to the HR Director and Recruiting & Retention Manager to reduce risk and improve culture
Administer and manage timely employee healthcare and 401(k) benefits processes, including new hire enrollment, qualifying life event changes, and employee/dependent terminations from benefit plans
Maintain accurate benefits documentation, employee communication, and audit-ready records
Provide benefits guidance to employees and assist with claims or other issues by directing them to our benefits broker for processing and resolution
Support and execute HR initiatives and priorities as assigned by the HR Director
Assist with or execute in the administration of HR and Employee Programs
Assist with employee recognition and celebrations as needed
Contribute to HR communications, templates, and standard work to ensure consistency and efficiency
Assist with any workers' compensation claims as needed
Support HR reporting and recordkeeping accuracy across HR systems to ensure audit readiness
Keep abreast of general knowledge of employment laws and practices
Create and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for assigned tasks/areas
Participate in team cross-training and serve as a backup for various HR roles and responsibilities
Maintain a high level of organization and attention to detail