Total Rewards Specialist - Benefits

Precision Inc•Pella, IA

About The Position

The Total Rewards Specialist – Benefits is primarily responsible for the administration, compliance, and operational execution of employee benefit and leave programs. This role serves as the day-to-day owner of benefits processing, vendor coordination, regulatory tracking, and employee support related to total rewards programs. While this position partners with Payroll and supports broader employee lifecycle transactions, the core focus is ensuring accurate, compliant, and seamless benefits administration across the organization. Through disciplined execution and strong data integrity, this role enables PPI’s total rewards strategy and reinforces a consistent, high-quality employee experience.

Requirements

High attention to detail and strong organizational skills
Proven ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion
2–4 years of hands-on benefits administration experience required
Solid understanding of total rewards concepts, including compensation, benefits, and leave administration
Working knowledge of employment laws and benefits compliance (e.g., FMLA, HIPAA, ACA)
Proficiency in HRIS systems and Microsoft Excel; ability to audit and manage employee data accurately
Strong interpersonal and communication skills; able to build relationships and collaborate across departments
Analytical mindset with ability to interpret HR data and identify trends or issues
Able to manage multiple priorities independently in a fast-paced environment
Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field
Equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered

Nice To Haves

Payroll or benefits certification (e.g., FPC, CPP, CEBS)
Additional training in payroll compliance, leave administration, or HR data management is a plus
Continually participate in additional training related to the job.

Responsibilities

Serve as primary administrator for all employee benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and voluntary plans
Process new hire enrollments, qualifying life events, benefit changes, and terminations accurately and within required timelines
Manage and monitor COBRA administration in partnership with third-party administrators to ensure regulatory compliance
Coordinate with carriers and broker partners to resolve eligibility discrepancies and enrollment issues
Perform benefit invoice reconciliation and eligibility audits to ensure data accuracy and cost alignment
Support annual open enrollment planning, execution, system configuration, and employee communications
Validate and support ACA reporting processes, including 1095 data accuracy and year-end preparation
Ensure ongoing compliance with federal and state benefit regulations, including ACA, ERISA, HIPAA, and Section 125 requirements
Partner with Employee Relations team to support leave administration, including FMLA, short-term disability, long-term disability, and other protected leaves
Monitor leave timelines, required documentation, and system tracking to ensure compliance and consistency
Support compliance-related tasks (ACA reporting, EEO, file audits, etc.)
Execute employee lifecycle transactions within the HRIS, including hires, terminations, job changes, and status updates
Ensure benefit eligibility and deduction changes align accurately with employee status updates
Maintain data accuracy across HR systems to ensure alignment between benefits, payroll, and reporting
Respond to employee inquiries related primarily to benefits, leave, and total rewards programs
Support weekly payroll processing as part of total rewards operations, with primary focus on benefits administration
Validate benefit deductions and payroll integrations for accuracy
Support payroll processing through data audits and reconciliation
Partner with Payroll to resolve discrepancies related to benefits, leave, or employee data
Assist with compensation-related data updates as needed
Ensure alignment between benefits administration and payroll integrations
Serve as the first point of contact for employee inquiries related to Total Rewards
Partner with employee relations and culture teams to support a seamless HR experience
Maintain confidentiality, professionalism, and consistency across all transactions
Identify and recommend process improvements to enhance accuracy, efficiency, and employee experience across Total Rewards
Support the implementation of new tools, processes, or policies that align with company values and strategic objectives
Partner cross-functionally to ensure operational practices reinforce organizational priorities such as compliance, culture, and retention
Participate in audits, system upgrades, or project initiatives as assigned