Benefits Specialist in Westminster, Colorado at MISSION YOGURT INC

At Mission Yogurt, we're passionate about creating exceptional dining experiences that showcase the best of our communities. As a leading airport hospitality company, we partner with beloved local and national brands to bring unique restaurant and retail concepts to travelers across the country. Our success is driven by talented people who embrace innovation, hospitality, and teamwork.

We are seeking a detail-oriented, knowledgeable, and service-focused Benefits Specialist to support the administration of our employee benefits programs. This role is responsible for ensuring a seamless benefits experience by managing enrollments, maintaining compliance, answering employee questions, and partnering with vendors to deliver accurate and timely benefits administration.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Benefits Specialist is responsible for delivering a best-in-class employee benefits experience by administering the Company's health and welfare programs, retirement plans, workers' compensation, and leave programs with accuracy, responsiveness, and a strong commitment to customer service.

The Benefits Specialist partners closely with Human Resources, Payroll, Finance, brokers, carriers, and third-party administrators to deliver a seamless employee experience while supporting the Company's total rewards strategy. This role is highly collaborative and detail-oriented, requiring excellent customer service, organization, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

• Administer the Company's health, dental, vision, life, disability, retirement, voluntary, and wellness benefit programs.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for employees regarding benefit eligibility, enrollment, life events, claims, and general benefit questions.

• Process benefit enrollments, qualifying life events, terminations, dependent changes, and COBRA administration accurately and timely.

• Maintain accurate benefit records within ADP and vendor systems while conducting regular audits to ensure data integrity.

• Partner with Payroll to ensure accurate benefit deductions and resolve discrepancies.

• Support new hire onboarding by educating employees on benefit programs and enrollment deadlines.

• Maintain benefit documentation in accordance with Company policy and regulatory requirements.

OPEN ENROLLMENT

• Coordinate the annual Open Enrollment process from planning through implementation.

• Partner with brokers and carriers to prepare enrollment materials and employee communications.

• Schedule and facilitate employee education sessions while assisting employees throughout the enrollment process and answering benefit-related questions.

• Audit enrollment elections and ensure timely submission to carriers.

• Evaluate employee feedback and recommend improvements to future Open Enrollment processes.

LEAVE OF ABSENCES

• Oversee all leave of absence programs, including FMLA, Colorado FAMLI, California leave programs, and personal leaves.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for employees throughout the leave lifecycle, providing proactive communication regarding leave status, expectations, and return-to-work processes.

• Manage leave documentation, certifications, timelines, and HRIS records to ensure compliance with federal, state, and Company requirements.

• Coordinate with Payroll, Benefits, and managers to ensure accurate leave tracking, pay continuation, and benefits administration.

• Partner with HR Leadership on complex or high-risk leave and accommodation matters.

WORKERS' COMPENSATION SUPPORT

• Administer the Company's workers' compensation program.

• Coordinate claim reporting with insurance carriers and third-party administrators.

• Communicate with employees, managers, medical providers, and carriers throughout the claims process.

• Maintain accurate claim documentation, monitor claims activity, and identify trends for leadership review.

• Assist with return-to-work coordination and transitional duty tracking.

VENDOR & BROKER RELATIONSHIPS

• Serve as the day-to-day contact for benefit carriers, brokers, and third-party administrators.

• Assist with issue resolution and employee claim escalations.

• Monitor vendor performance and recommend service improvements.

• Support annual benefit renewals and implementation activities.

COMPLIANCE & AUDIT SUPPORT

• Maintain compliance with ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, ACA, Section 125, Medicare Part D, and other applicable regulations.

• Maintain required benefit notices and documentation.

• Prepare documentation for internal and external audits.

• Monitor regulatory changes and recommend updates to benefit administration practices.

HRIS & REPORTING

• Maintain accurate employee benefit information within ADP and other HR systems while conducting regular audits to ensure data integrity.

• Generate reports related to enrollment, participation, eligibility, claims, and benefits utilization.

• Identify opportunities to improve HR systems, reporting, and administrative processes.

PAYROLL SUPPORT

• Serve as the primary backup to the Payroll Specialist, providing coverage during planned and unplanned absences.
• Assist with payroll processing activities, including data entry, auditing employee information, and validating payroll changes to ensure accuracy.
• Support the administration of payroll-related transactions, including new hires, terminations, status changes, benefit deductions, garnishments, and leave-related pay adjustments.
• Partner with Payroll and Human Resources to research and resolve payroll discrepancies, employee inquiries, and benefit deduction issues.
• Maintain confidentiality of payroll records and ensure compliance with federal, state, local, and Company payroll policies and procedures.
• Assist with payroll reporting, reconciliations, year-end activities, and other payroll-related projects as assigned.

EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE

• Deliver exceptional customer service by responding promptly to employee inquiries and educating team members on available benefit programs.

• Create benefit communication materials, FAQs, and educational resources.

• Promote employee wellness initiatives and increase awareness and utilization of Company benefits.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assist with special HR projects related to total rewards.

• Support annual benefit budgeting by providing enrollment, utilization, and trend data while identifying opportunities to improve benefit administration.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 3–5 years of progressive benefits administration experience.

• Strong understanding of health and welfare benefit plans.

• Experience administering retirement plans.

• Experience coordinating Open Enrollment.

• Knowledge of COBRA, ACA, HIPAA, ERISA, Section 125, and related regulations.

• Experience with workers' compensation administration preferred.

• Experience with ADP Workforce Now or similar HRIS.

• Exceptional customer service and communication skills.

• High attention to detail and organizational skills.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities independently.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and reporting tools.

What Mission Offers You:

• Comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, FSA/HSA, and optional life, disability, accident, critical illness, hospital, and pet insurance—effective the first of the month after 60 days of full-time employment.
• 401K plus company match*
• Paid Time Off
• Employee Discount
• Company-paid Airport Employee Parking and RTD EcoPass

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Position requires prolonged sitting, walking, standing, climbing, kneeling, twisting, repetitive use of hands, simple and power grasping with hands, pushing, pulling, reaching, lifting, and carrying up to 50 pounds.

ADDITIONAL NOTES: This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities or qualifications associated with this job and can be updated at anytime with or without notice. Scheduled hours vary by training and recruitment needs, including necessary adjustments made during high and low seasonal changes. Travel up to 30% to field locations and corporate office. Potentially including late nights, weekends, and holidays. On-call required. The successful candidate must be able to pass a background check with our company, with the TSA, a drug screen, and be insured with a valid driver’s license.