People Operations Generalist

INFICON•East Syracuse, NY

13h•$70,000 - $80,000

About The Position

The HR Generalist is a pivotal member of the People & Culture team, owning the day-to-day administration of INFICON’s employee benefits programs while supporting a broader range of HR operations. Benefits is the heart of this role — from managing enrollments and vendor relationships to leading Annual Enrollment and ensuring ongoing compliance — and the ideal candidate brings both the technical knowledge and the people skills to do it exceptionally well. This role partners closely with Payroll on benefit processing, onboarding and offboarding, supports Affirmative Action compliance, and contributes to the operational backbone of the People & Culture function. The HR Generalist also leads the onboarding and offboarding process, ensuring a seamless and consistent experience for every employee from day one through their last day. We are looking for someone who takes ownership of their work, communicates proactively, and genuinely cares about delivering a great experience for every employee they serve.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field — or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
3–5 years of progressive HR experience, with at least 2 years in a benefits administration role.
Solid working knowledge of benefits plan types (medical, dental, vision, FSA/HSA, COBRA, disability, life insurance, 401(k)) and applicable regulations (ACA, ERISA, HIPAA, FMLA).
Experience managing Open Enrollment end-to-end, including employee communication and HRIS configuration.
Proficiency with HRIS platforms (Workday, ADP, UKG, or similar); experience with benefits carrier portals.
Exceptional attention to detail and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills; ability to explain complex benefits information clearly and empathetically to employees at all levels.
High degree of discretion and ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with integrity.

Nice To Haves

PHR, SHRM-CP, or CEBS (Certified Employee Benefit Specialist) certification, or ability to obtain certification within one year of employment.
Experience with Workday HCM, including benefits module configuration.
Familiarity with multi-state leave administration.
Experience in a manufacturing, engineering, or technology environment.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary point of contact for all employee benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, FSA/HSA, and 401(k) plans.
Administer the full benefits lifecycle — new hire enrollment, qualifying life events, annual Open Enrollment, and off-cycle changes — with accuracy and timeliness.
Lead Open Enrollment planning and execution, including system configuration, employee communications, informational sessions, and post-enrollment audits.
Manage day-to-day carrier and vendor relationships; resolve eligibility, billing, and claims escalations in a timely manner.
Partner with Finance to review, reconcile, and process monthly benefits invoices, ensuring accuracy and timely resolution of any discrepancies.
Administer leave of absence programs (FMLA, short- and long-term disability, parental leave, and state-mandated leaves) in partnership with our third-party leave vendor; serve as the primary liaison between employees, managers, and the vendor to ensure a smooth and compliant leave experience.
Ensure COBRA administration is handled accurately and in accordance with federal requirements; coordinate with the third-party administrator as applicable.
Maintain accurate benefits enrollment data in the HRIS; perform regular audits to ensure data integrity across HRIS, payroll, and carrier systems.
Partner with our broker to develop and distribute employee-facing benefits communications — plan summaries, enrollment guides, and policy updates — in plain, accessible language.
Support the annual benefits renewal process, including gathering utilization data, coordinating with the broker, and presenting renewal options to HR leadership.
Administer wellness programs and the Employee Assistance Program (EAP); promote awareness and utilization across the employee population.
Ensure benefits plans remain compliant with ACA, ERISA, HIPAA, and other applicable federal and state regulations; lead the annual ACA reporting process and support Form 5500 filings.
Own the full employee lifecycle from onboarding through offboarding, including new hire orientation, I-9 verification, and exit interviews.
Maintain employee records and ensure HRIS data accuracy; process changes related to new hires, terminations, promotions, and status updates.
Partner closely with Payroll on benefits, onboarding, and offboarding activities, ensuring accurate and timely processing across all related workflows.
Support the company’s Affirmative Action Program (AAP), including data collection and analysis, maintenance of required records, coordination of annual AAP updates, and assistance with audit preparation.
Assist in the development, communication, and maintenance of HR policies.
Support compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws; assist with HR-related audits and reporting requirements.
Contribute to People & Culture projects and initiatives as assigned, including process improvement, system implementations, and employee engagement programs.