HR Benefits Specialist

HR Benefits Specialist
Platte Valley Companies - Scottsbluff, NE
JOB SUMMARY:
The Benefit Specialist administers Platte Valley Companies employee health and welfare benefit programs and serves as a knowledgeable resource for Associates and leaders. This role ensures accurate enrollment, maintenance, and termination of benefit plans, maintains compliance with regulatory requirements, and provides clear communication regarding benefit options and processes. The Benefit Specialist also supports payroll functions and contributes to a positive employee experience during onboarding, throughout employment, and at separation.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
a. Administer health and welfare benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability plans, COBRA, flexible spending, supplemental coverage, retirement plans (401(k)), and other benefit offerings.
b. Participate in new hire onboarding by presenting benefit information, assisting with timely enrollment, and providing guidance on available plan options.
c. Process benefit enrollments, changes, and updates promptly to ensure accurate and timely coverage for Associates.
d. Manage leave and absence programs, including FMLA, short- and long-term disability, and workers’ compensation; ensure compliance with federal and state regulations while supporting a positive Associate experience.
e. Manage benefit billing, including reconciliation of invoices, resolution of discrepancies, and communication of plan updates or premium changes to Associates.
f. Initiate, document, and process terminations in the HRIS; coordinate offboarding activities including benefit plan updates, company notification and conducting exit interviews.
g. Maintain accurate and confidential Associate benefit and employment records in the HRIS and vendor applications, ensuring compliance with HIPAA and other applicable regulations.
h. Perform annual updates to benefit deductions and coordinate open enrollment activities, including system setup, employee communications, and enrollment processing.
i. Serve as back-up to payroll, maintaining knowledge of HR, payroll, and timekeeping systems to ensure continuity of service.
j. Support compliance activities by ensuring proper documentation, maintaining accurate records, and assisting with audits or reporting as needed.
k. Perform other duties as assigned to support other HR functions.
REQUIREMENTS:
Minimum Qualifications:
1. High School diploma required with some college education preferred.
2. Two to three years’ experience in benefits field preferred.
3. Demonstrated knowledge of benefits administration, COBRA and retirement plans or ability and desire to learn.
4. Demonstrated analytical and detail-oriented work experience with benefit usage, plan design and problem solving preferred.
5. The ability to detect exceptions and problem trends or issues. Must be able to understand and explain complex benefit issues with tact and diplomacy.
6. Demonstrated interpersonal skills and ability to work with other departments.
7. Demonstrated ability to effectively present and communicate information both in writing and verbally in-person and in virtual environments.
8. Intermediate experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams and Zoom.
9. Ability to handle special projects.
10. General areas of competency: decision making, dependability, development, environmental safety, evaluation skills, interpersonal skills, prioritizing, problem solving, selling skills, team skills and time management.
11. Must be capable of working with and maintaining the confidentiality of sensitive information.
Physical Requirements:
Light Work - exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Reaching, fingering, grasping, repetitive motions, stooping, crouching, standing, walking, lifting, climbing, kneeling, talking, hearing, pulling, pushing, thinking, concentrating and interacting with others.
You should be capable of performing in a reasonable manner, with or without reasonable accommodation, the activities involved in this job. A description of the activities involved in this job is listed above.
Machines Used:
Computer, PC (with full competence of Microsoft office skills), scanner, fax, copier, telephone, calculators and phone system.
Note: The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.

An Equal Opportunity Employer, Including Disability/Vets