Benefits & Leave Specialist in St Louis, Missouri at Cedarhurst Senior Living

Position Summary:

The Benefits & Leave Specialist, reporting to the Payroll Manager, is responsible for ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant administration of the Dover Company’s employee benefit programs and leave administration. This role serves as a primary point of contact for benefits, COBRA, and 401(k). The Specialist also manages all aspects of leave administration, including FMLA, state-specific leave policies, and internal policies, ensuing proper documentation, communication and compliance with applicable regulations. This position ensures adherence to federal, state, and local regulations; collaborates with HR, Finance, and external vendors; and supports employees with a high level of customer service. Additionally, the position contributes to process improvements, audits, reporting, and the overall effectiveness leave and benefits operations.

Why Work for Cedarhurst:

• At Cedarhurst, our core values guide how we work together and how we care for those we serve. We expect every team member to be passionate, trustworthy, empathetic, positive, respectful, and approachable. Being part of Cedarhurst means making a meaningful difference every day.
• We believe our team is our greatest strength. That’s why we invest in comprehensive training, as well as opportunities for both personal and professional growth. We’re committed to promoting from within and supporting team members who want to build their careers with us.
• Cedarhurst offers a competitive benefits package, including medical insurance, life insurance, long-term disability coverage, and a 401(k) plan with company match (after one year of service) for eligible employees.
• Additional Benefits Include:
• Work that makes a difference in the lives of our residents and community
• An on-site gym with brand-new equipment
• A personal trainer offering daily group classes, stretching sessions, and one-on-one training
• Catered lunches twice a week, prepared by our on-site chef
• Monthly team events and more

Essential Duties:

The following duties are normal for this position. This list is not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Manage the day-to-day administration of health, wellness, retirement, and other employee benefit programs
• Oversee new hire enrollments, life event changes, and open enrollment activities
• Assist employees with benefit and leave questions
• Conduct routine benefits audits to ensure accuracy in payroll and the HRIS systems
• Support compliance with ACA, ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, and other regulatory requirements
• Administer all employee leave programs, including FLMA, parental leave, and state specific paid leave
• Partner with Third Party Administrator and coordinate the full leave lifecycle: intake, eligibility verification, documentation collection, tracking, communication, and return to work coordination.
• Partner with managers to ensure compliance and provide training, as necessary
• Serve as the primary point of contact for employees regarding leave rights, responsibilities, and timelines
• Manage disability claims in partnership with carriers and third-party administrators
• Maintain deduction records and reconcile payables
• Partner closely with payroll to ensure accurate deductions, premium payments, and leave-related pay
• Oversee the COBRA process and serve as a point of contact for questions
• Reconcile benefit deductions and resolve payroll discrepancies
• Maintain benefits and leave data in HRIS and related systems
• Coordinate with third-party vendors and brokers Prepare necessary reports
• Identify opportunities to streamline processes, increase accuracy, and improve the employee experience
• Develop employee educational opportunities to help create awareness about opportunities provided through benefits
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications, Education and/or Experience:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required.

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, finance, or related field is required
• Two (2)+ years of hands-on experience administering employee benefits in an HR, People Ops, or Payroll environment
• Direct experience managing leave of absence programs, including FMLA and state-specific leaves
• Experience supporting Open Enrollment, including employee communications and issue resolution
• Experience partnering with payroll to ensure accurate benefit deductions, premiums, and leave-related pay
• Proven ability to troubleshoot and resolve benefit and LOA issues with vendors, carriers, and employees
• Experience working in a high-volume or high-growth environment with frequent new hires
• Experience administering multi-state benefits and leave programs
• Familiarity with HRIS and payroll systems, Paylocity is a plus
• Experience working with third-party administrators and benefit brokers
• Exposure to compliance requirements (FMLA, ADA, ERISA, COBRA, state paid leave programs)
• Experience conducting benefit reconciliations and audits
• Strong customer service background handling sensitive employee issues
• High attention to detail with the ability to manage competing priorities
• Ability to work cross-functionally with HR Ops, Payroll, Finance, and managers
• Comfortable documenting processes and improving workflows
• Experience in senior living, construction, home health, hospice, and/or pharmacy is a plus
• Proficiency in Microsoft Suite is required, including Microsoft Excel

Working Conditions:

As part of The Dover Company’s commitment to providing outstanding care and support, the company ensures that staff work under conditions that prioritize safety, collaboration, and professional growth. The conditions listed below define the experience of working in the Home Office or remotely.

• This position may involve a range of physical activities, including those outlined in the Essential Duties, but is not limited to them. This position may need to walk or stand for extended periods, especially when conducting safety inspections, audits or incident investigations.
• This position may need to lift to twenty (20) pounds.
• This position may need to move through areas of the corporate office or other worksites of the organization.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to build relationships at all levels of the organization is required of this role.
• The individual in this position is responsible for maintaining a safe work environment by actively preventing accidents, preserving equipment, and promoting safe working practices.
• This role involves actively participating in all staff activities aimed at fostering teamwork, unity, and morale. The individual will contribute as a collaborative team player, working alongside colleagues to create a supportive and cohesive work environment.
• Individuals in this position are required to stay current on all training and ongoing education initiatives. They are expected to actively pursue self-improvement and embrace opportunities for continuous learning to enhance their skills and knowledge.
• This position is required to work onsite at the St. Louis Dover Companies headquarters at 300 Hunter Ave, Suite 200, St. Louis, MO 63124.
• While travel for this role is not anticipated, there may be situations that arise that require this role to travel to an offsite company location. Anticipated potential travel does not exceed 10% of the annual work of this position.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, we will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages prospective employees and incumbents to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.