THE POSITIONThe Benefits Specialist is responsible for administering the LandCare's employee benefits plans, programs, policies, procedures, and processes. This is a detailed, hands-on position which will administer the benefits including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, accidental death & dismemberment, short and long term disability, legal, Paid Time Off (PTO), wellness, and 401(k) retirement plan. In addition, this position is the direct support to the branches related to benefits, leave administration, and HRIS system functionality. The Benefits Specialist will guide, educate, and provide superb customer service to our partners and employees. The Benefits Specialist will work directly within the Payroll and Benefits team to ensure benefits enrollments and deductions are processed timely and accurately.To be successful as a Benefits Specialist at LandCare you should be able to administer benefits with attention to detail and a sense of urgency while upholding federal, state and local compliance. An outstanding Benefits Specialist should have excellent people skills, strong communication ability, as well as the drive to problem solve to create a great employee experience.WHAT WILL YOU BE DOING?Administer employee benefit plans, programs, policies, procedures and processes for all group plans including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, accidental death & dismemberment, short and long term disability, legal, Paid Time Off (PTO), wellness and 401(k) retirement plan.Provide customer service to employees, management, and executives regarding benefits matters. Advise employees on eligibility, coverage, and options available to them to meet their needs.Administer day-to-day benefits processes in UKG Pro (formerly UltiPro), the human resources, benefits, and payroll (HRIS) software system. Perform data entry, audits, and adjustments.Generate internal and external reporting, as required for management reporting, compliance requirements and ad-hoc requests.Support the administration the WeCare Wellness program and related correspondence including newsletter articles.Support projects in UKG Pro and other related systems. Assist with the design, testing, and implementation of any system enhancements and upgrades. Support the resolution of system or process issues and work with Payroll, IT, Accounting, and other departments necessary to resolve and identify root cause. Stay informed of system updates.Assist with the Open Enrollment process and communicationsServe as a liaison between vendors and employees resolve enrollment related issues.Adhere to all laws, regulations, policies, procedures, and standard practices in administering plans, programs and policies. Stay abreast of current legislation and market trends affecting benefits.Process benefit payments, tuition reimbursements, and vendor invoices to ensure accurate and timely payments.Continually identify and champion ways to improve processes and create efficiencies to reduce turn-around time while achieving high expectations for accuracy.Maintain employee information confidentiality.Handle incoming calls to benefits phone line and return voicemails.Monitor and respond to inquiries to the benefits email boxReceive, scan, electronically file, and/or distribute in-coming mail.Perform other duties as assigned.COVID-19 Pandemic Related Benefits Full-time work from home ability during pandemic and as company sees fit Increased work and schedule flexibility for parents and caregivers Full home office set up offered Provided work cell phoneEducation: Associates or bachelor's degree in a related field preferred, but not requiredExperience: 2-3 years' experience in benefits administration or human resources preferred. Prior experience in a multi-site organization supporting 1,000 or more employees preferredKnowledge: Federal/state/ local laws and regulations affecting benefits, leaves, and PTO. Knowledge of HRIS systems, preferably with UKG Pro (formerly UltiPro). Certified Benefits Professional (CBP) or Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) preferred, but not requiredSkills: Proficient verbal and written communication skills. Excellent interpersonal, problem-solving, analytical, and organization and planning skills. Proficiency with Microsoft Office products (eg Word, Excel, and PowerPoint). Bilingual abilities in English and Spanish are a plusOther: Qualified candidates must be able to successfully pass a criminal background checkBenefitsBesides the great team environment, we also have a strong benefits package for our team members:Competitive base salaryTeam based profit sharing program401K for all employees with 3.5% company matchMedical, dental, vision, life, disability, legal coveragePaid Time Off Policy + 9 corporate holidaysFormal training and development program