Payroll & Benefits Specialist

FarmaceuticalRX•Dayton, OH

6d•$60,000 - $70,000•Remote

About The Position

The Payroll and Benefits Specialist is responsible for processing payroll and administering and supporting employee benefit programs and leave management for a diverse cannabis workforce across multiple states. This role serves both hourly and salaried employees and provides day-to-day payroll processing along with guidance on benefits eligibility, enrollments, life events, LOA requests, ADA accommodations coordination, worker’s compensation and return-to-work processes. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, service-minded, and experienced in high-volume employee support environments, with strong knowledge of compliance requirements and the ability to communicate clearly with employees, managers, HR partners, and vendors.

Requirements

3+ years of experience in benefits administration and/or LOA management (HR, HR Ops, shared services, or similar)
Experience supporting hourly employees and high-volume employee populations
Working knowledge of benefits eligibility, enrollments, life events, and leave management best practices
Strong understanding of compliance concepts related to benefits and LOA (FMLA/ADA/COBRA)
Proficiency with HR systems (HRIS, benefits platforms) and Excel
Excellent communication skills, customer service skills and ability to explain complex policies in plain language
Strong attention to detail, organization, and documentation discipline
Experience processing multi-state payroll, including familiarity with wage and hour compliance, payroll tax requirements, and payroll systems (UKG/Wurk or similar platforms)

Nice To Haves

Experience in a multi-state workforce (especially in regulated industries like cannabis, manufacturing, distribution, retail, or healthcare)
Knowledge of state paid leave programs (e.g., PA, OH)
Located in one of our current markets including PA and OH

Responsibilities

Administer health and welfare benefits programs, including medical, dental, vision, life/AD&D, disability, FSA/HSA, EAP, voluntary benefits, and retirement plans (as applicable)
Support benefits eligibility and enrollments for new hires, annual open enrollment, qualifying life events, and status changes for hourly and salaried populations
Maintain accurate benefit records and employee elections in HRIS/benefits administration platforms, ensuring alignment with vendor files and payroll deductions
Provide benefits education and support to employees, answering questions in a clear, respectful, and compliant manner
Partner with payroll to ensure accurate deductions, retroactive adjustments, and reconciliation of benefit billing and premium payments
Serve as the primary point of contact for leave requests and administration, including: FMLA, state paid family/medical leave programs, ADA accommodations (process coordination), workers’ compensation coordination (with Risk/Safety), parental leave, personal leave, military leave, and company-specific leave policies
Coordinate with third-party worker’s comp vendor to ensure leave cases are opened, documented, tracked, and closed appropriately
Manage leave-related communications with employees and managers, including timelines, required documentation, benefit impacts, return-to-work requirements, and job protection parameters
Track and update leave statuses accurately in HRIS and communicate with payroll regarding pay status, benefits continuation, and leave coding
Support employees through the leave lifecycle, including intermittent leave tracking, extensions, and return-to-work planning
Assist with COBRA administration support, terminations, and employee inquiries (either directly or through a vendor)
Support audits, open enrollment testing, vendor file feeds, and reporting needs
Maintain SOPs, job aids, and internal documentation for benefits and LOA processes
Process bi-weekly/semi-monthly payroll for a multi-state workforce, ensuring accurate calculation of hours, wages, deductions, and tax withholdings for hourly and salaried employees
Review and reconcile payroll data against timekeeping, benefits deductions, and leave/LOA coding to ensure accurate pay status and compliance with wage and hour laws
Process payroll adjustments, including retroactive pay, off-cycle payments, garnishments, and terminations, in coordination with HR, Benefits, and Finance
Maintain payroll records and respond to employee inquiries regarding pay, deductions, and discrepancies, escalating and resolving issues in a timely manner