Compensation & Benefits Specialist

Organization Description

Hmong American Partnership (HAP) is a social service and community development organization whose mission is to empower the community to embrace the strengths of our cultures while achieving our potential. HAP accomplishes its mission by:

• Improving the lives of individuals and families in our diverse communities by providing culturally sensitive social services.
• Strengthening neighborhoods by providing housing, community, and economic development opportunities.
• Promoting the rich heritage of our ethnic communities.

HAP’s vision is to reach out to the world with profound social, economic, and educational transformation.

Position Title: Compensation & Benefits Specialist

Direct Reports: None

Job Type: Full-time, Exempt

Impact Area: Administration

Report to: VP of Human Resources

Location:UHAP, St Paul

Benefits: PTO, Holiday Pay, Medical, Dental, Vision, LTD, Life, Accident & Critical Illness, and 401K 

Salary Range: $65,520 - $78,890/Annually Depending on qualification

Hours/Days: Monday – Friday, 8:30am-5pm, occasional, evenings and weekends as needed

Closing Date: Open until filled

Primary Function of the Position

The Compensation & Benefits Specialist is responsible for overseeing compensation, including outlining the company philosophy, grading structures, and bench marketing of new and existing positions. In addition, this role is also responsible for overseeing all benefits, leave and payroll administration, performing all activities necessary to maintain related records, systems, and procedures, within all regulated compliance guidelines This role will be part of the Human Resource team, and report to the VP of HR.

Position Responsibilities

Benefits & HRIS Administration

• Administers employee benefits program to include life, disability, and health insurance plans
• Administers employee savings plans that may include the company’s 401(k) plan, HSA plans, and deferred compensation programs
• Serve as the primary point of contact for benefits-related questions, partnering with team members and/or benefit providers to address any concerns or discrepancies
• Advises and informs employees of changes and developments related to benefits including eligibility, coverage, and provisions
• Conducts employee surveys, census, and other research and demographic efforts required to collect accurate quotes from benefit providers
• Administrative oversight of 401(k) plan
• Monitors administrators’ and insurance carriers’ reports to ensure the organization’s compliance with plan requirements
• Ensures the organization’s and plans’ compliance with the applicable provisions of COBRA, HIPAA, and ERISA
• Responsible for all aspects of employee leave management (e.g. MN PFML, LTD, and FMLA, ADA.) ensuring appropriate support documentation is obtained and maintained, educating staff on the leave process and options for pay and benefits continuation
• Oversees and maintains optimal function of the HRIS, which may include installation, customization, development, maintenance, and upgrade to applications, systems, and modules
• Provides technical support, troubleshooting, and guidance to HRIS users
• Manages permissions, access, personalization, and similar system operations and settings for HRIS users.
• Serves as lead representative and liaison between HR, information services, external vendors, and other stakeholders for HRIS design and implementation projects
• Ensures system compliance with data security and privacy requirements
• Maintains knowledge of trends and developments in HRIS providers, vendors, and technology
• Responsible for administering Worker’s Compensation
• Oversee the reporting through UKG to all benefits carriers and create/provide manual reporting when necessary
• Manage and implement annual open enrollment, including informational and/or help sessions
• Audit, reconcile, and prepare all employee benefits billing
• Assure all benefits practices comply with local and federal laws and regulations, leading necessary regulations/requirements changes.
• Reconciliation of benefit plans on a monthly basis

Compensation Administration

• Assist in design, develop, and maintaining of compensation strategy for the organization to ensure competitive, cost-effective, equitable and legally compliant compensation programs and practices
• Create pay ranges based on external market data, and conduct annual compensation reviews of job levels, benchmarking, and updating job descriptions. Participate in annual compensation surveys to establish external equity
• Review FLSA position status and ensure proper classification
• In conjunction with management, performing data analyses and formulating recommendations
• Promote an understanding of compensation philosophies, practices, and administration with the HR team and across all levels of the organization
• Comply with federal, state, and local legal requirements by enforcing adherence to requirements
• Establish internal equity by evaluating and ranking jobs

Manage and Administer Payroll

• Conduct bi-weekly payroll cycle, manual or off-cycle payrolls, and transmission of payroll information to appropriate stakeholders
• Oversee management of supplemental payroll inputs such as garnishments, loans, or levies
• Prepares and maintains accurate records and reports of payroll transactions
• Audit and save pre- and post-payroll reports; research issues or errors and determine resolution for a timely payroll submission
• Review and approve all types of employment changes submitted by Human Resources system; research and collaborate with the HR team to resolve workflow accuracy issues
• Liaise with auditors and the finance team to participate in and manage related audits
• Act as a subject matter expert (SME) for the time and attendance system processes and procedures, understanding all related pay benefits and policies
• Monitors and prepares regulatory reports for compliance and audit purposes to ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local payroll, wage, and hour laws; maintains industry best practices
• Resolve pay discrepancies and answer payroll-related questions
• Other duties as assigned, and as needed, to further the goals of the program and in alignment with HAP’s mission.

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Extensive knowledge of employee benefits and compensation
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines
• Thorough knowledge of COBRA, HIPAA, and ERISA requirements
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software
• Proficient in payroll administration and compliance
• Proficient with administration of HRIS systems (preferably UKG)

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources, Business, Finance, or Other Related Major Required (Significant Work Experience May Be Accepted in Lieu of Degree)
• Five Years or More of Experience Administering Benefits, Compensation, & Payroll
• PHR/SHRM-CP or SPHR/SHRM-SCP Preferred
• CPP Certification Preferred

Essential Functions

The following position requirements are representative of those that will be encountered while performing the responsibilities of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to, stand, sit; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer, phone and keyboard
• Must be able to remain in a stationary position for sustained periods of time in an indoor setting
• Ability to tolerate moderate noise levels (i.e. shared open office space with computers, phone, and printers, light traffic).
• Must have the ability to move about the office to access files and office equipment
• Must have access to reliable transportation for occasional travel for meetings at other HAP office locations, events and offsite meetings.
• Occasional moving or lifting of boxes or files up to 20 pounds
• Able to focus on data, analyze the information and draw conclusions
• Frequent interactions with coworkers and participants requiring ability to communicate effectively
• Frequent communication via email requiring ability to fluently read and write in English
• Frequent preparation and analysis of figures

HAP is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. Our organization will not discriminate against or harass any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, familial status, membership, or activity in a local human rights commission, or status with regard to public assistance.

Individuals with disabilities in need of accommodation should contact us at hr@hmong.org.

Apply @ www.hmong.org/careers