Company Description

PQ is a leading global provider of silicates, silicas and derivative products. PQ's products are used in a wide variety of industrial processes and many customer products, from decorative paints to green cement, from clean drinking water to green tires and from toothpaste to biofuels and beer.
Ideal candidates resonate with PQ's Core Values of Integrity, Sustainability, People, Customer Focus and Safety. Successful employees embrace and model these values in their behaviors and actions.

Job Description

Working with PQ’s HR team and employees, the Benefits Manager is responsible for the administration of all benefits and retirement programs, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short- and long-term disability, 401(k), and pension plans for US and Canadian employees. This role manages related vendor relationships and is encouraged to assess, simplify and recommend changes to streamline benefits administration.

• Manages daily administration of all US and Canadian benefits and retirement plans, between carriers and employees. Performs accurate data entry into payroll, benefits carrier sites, benefits enrollment site(s), and other systems as needed to ensure accuracy of benefits information.
• Conducts in-person new hire on-boarding program related to HR and benefits, in partnership with Human Resources and hiring managers.
• Assists employees regarding benefits claim issues and plan changes. Enrolls employees with carriers and processes life status changes.
• Leads benefits enrollment processes, including communications and materials.
• Responds to benefits inquiries from managers and employees on plan provisions, benefits enrollments, status changes and other general inquiries.
• Administers all leave-of-absence requests and disability paperwork: medical, personal, disability, worker’s compensation, FMLA and worker’s compensation.
• Effectively interprets FMLA and ADA implications as they relate to leaves of absences/disabilities.
• Responds to 401(k) inquiries from managers and employees relating to enrollments, plan changes and contribution amounts. Manages the annual catch-up contribution enrollment; calculates and processes Personal Retirement Plan contributions.
• Participates in annual 401k audit, working with vendor, prepares 5500 and submits it.
• Oversees pension plans administration, manages vendors who hold assets and administer plans.
• Reconciles and routes benefits invoices for payment.
• Creates an exceptional employee experience by championing unique benefit offerings
• Keeps current on benefits regulations and new legislation; ensure all programs and policies are legally compliant; and oversee audits and required filings
• Increases employee understanding of benefit programs by communicating programs clearly and concisely; translating complex data and/or benefits information into easily understood terms
• Develops and implement training and communication to educate all employees about the company's benefits programs.
• Develops and manages employee wellness programs and wellness committee.
• Maintains a high level of contact and visibility with employees at all levels to foster respectful, trusting and credible relationships. Serve as an advocate for multiple stakeholders to ensure a fair and comprehensive assessment of perspectives and options.
• Provides support for the human resource department including, but not limited to distributing HR communications, maintaining accuracy and timelines of databases, creation and distribution of correspondence, creation of employee files and new hire packets.
• Communicates and provides guidance for benefits related processes, policies and procedures.
• Continually strives to improve the delivery of benefits and HR processes, procedures and practices. Collaborates with local, regional, and global HR teams.
• Incorporates diversity, inclusion and belonging into the employee experience with leadership support
• Maintains an effective level of business literacy about the business’ financial position, its midrange plans, its culture, and its competition. 
• Analyzes trends and metrics, helps develop solutions, programs and policies.
• Utilizes strong knowledge of benefits and HR related legal requirements to minimize legal risks and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Updates ADP and Sharepoint, programs and runs reports.
• Manages change well, leading others through rapid organizational change.
• Prioritizes when presented with a long list of ‘top priority’ situations.
• Complies with all federal, state, and local environmental, health, and safety regulations and requirements.
• Complies with company policies.
• Other duties as assigned or required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree, preferably in HR, with a minimum 5years of experience in similar or related field, or any equivalent relevant combination of experience and training which provides the knowledge and abilities necessary to perform the work.
• Extensive knowledge of employee benefits and applicable laws, including but not limited to ERISA, COBRA, PPACA, HIPAA.
• Must be proficient with Microsoft Office Products (Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Word). Visio and Articulate experience a plus.
• ADP Workforce Now experience, particularly running reports
• Worker’s compensation experience preferred.
• Canadian benefits experience preferred
• Self-insured experience preferred
• Experience working with and maintaining sensitive and confidential information.
• HR certification preferred; or willingness to obtain HR certification
• Union experience helpful

Behavioral Qualifications 

• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written. Expresses ideas clearly, listens effectively, shares information appropriately, demonstrates interpersonal skills, and resolves conflict as needed.
• Sound analytical and problem-solving skills. Examines and interprets a wide variety of information and makes recommendations or decisions to help business achieve optimal results.
• Customer service: treats every employee as a valued customer.
• Reliability: Completes tasks and job functions on time, while meeting or exceeding expectations; carries a trusted reputation for dependability, honesty, consistency, and commitment.
• Demonstrated organizational and time management skills, ability to manage multiple high priority items simultaneously Uses a range of skills, tools, and techniques to manage time when accomplishing specific tasks, projects and goals; this includes planning, allocating, setting goals, delegation, analysis of time spent, monitoring, organizing, scheduling, and prioritizing.
• Collaborative, team orientation with ability to work independently

Additional Information

• This role is typically on site, in an office setting. This role also requires periodically working on site, in a chemical manufacturing plant that typically operates 24/7.
• Travel is estimated at 10% or less and will often be local, with occasional overnight travel for open enrollment and/or projects. Ability to travel by automobile and aircraft.
• Work hours are typically Monday – Friday, 8 am - 5pm, or as needed to accomplish business objectives.
• Ability to use office equipment such as a computer, keyboard, calculator, photocopier, and facsimile machine.
• Ability to work on a computer for a prolonged amount of time.
• Ability to work outside of normal business hours as needed.
• Legally able to work in the United States.

EHS Responsibilities

• Communicates, promotes and personally demonstrates Safety/Health (including PQP Principles) as #1 priority
• Participation in risk assessment audits as applicable
• Understand PQ Principles (PQP) and how they are implemented in the site organization, rules and procedures
• Completes HSE training requirements identified for the job in a timely manner

PQ is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristics. Click on the link to read Know Your Rights: Workplace discrimination is illegal (eeoc.gov). For more information, please review the link Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal | U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (eeoc.gov).