HR Compliance and Benefits Associate

Description

Reports to: Senior Director of Talent Management

Classification: Full-time Exempt 

Supervisory Responsibilities: Yes 

Position Mission 

The HR Compliance and Benefits Manager serves as the organization’s lead authority on compliance, benefits, and HR operations. This role ensures that all HR systems, policies, benefits programs, and practices are accurate, efficient, audit-ready, and aligned with legal and regulatory requirements. The Senior Director of Talent Management provides strategic direction, owns the development and implementation of HR policies, and acts as the final escalation point for sensitive compliance and employee relations matters. 

Requirements

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Compliance & HR Operations

· Serve as the primary authority on compliance, benefits, and HR operations.

· Provide strategic oversight ensuring all compliance, benefits, and record-keeping functions meet or exceed federal, state, and local requirements.

· Ensure personnel files, reporting, and HR systems are accurate, efficient, and audit-ready at all times.

· Proactively monitor employment law and regulatory changes, recommending and implementing best practices to reduce risk and maintain compliance.

· Hold responsibility for delivering the annual HR process calendar and ensuring all compliance and reporting deadlines are met.

· Coordinate the administrative aspects of the performance evaluation process.

· Ensure 30-day and 90-day reviews are issued on schedule and tracked for completion.

· Maintain accurate records of performance evaluations and follow-up actions in compliance with internal policies.

· Provide support to HR leadership on workflows, timelines, and documentation requirements related to performance reviews.

· Serves as the primary point of contact for Culture Index data management, including survey administration, data tracking, reporting, and interpretation to support organizational development and talent alignment.

Policies & Procedures

· Own the development, implementation, and communication of HR policies, procedures, and employee handbook updates.

· Ensure policies are up-to-date, clearly communicated, and consistently applied across the organization.

· Partner with leadership to identify and implement process improvements that enhance efficiency and compliance.

Benefits Administration

· Oversee benefits strategy and administration, ensuring competitive and compliant benefit programs.

· Provide guidance to HR Leadership on benefits enrollment, employee inquiries, and vendor relationships.

· Monitor benefit programs for effectiveness and recommend adjustments as needed.

Employee Relations & Risk Management

· Support HR Leadership in managing sensitive employee relations and compliance matters.

· Collect, organize, and maintain documentation related to employee relations cases and compliance issues.

· Prepare detailed incident reports and ensure case files are complete, accurate, and compliant with organizational policies and legal requirements.

· Track case progress, deadlines, and follow-up actions to support timely resolution by leadership.

· Maintain confidentiality and data integrity in all documentation and record-keeping processes.

· Play a key administrative role in building thorough, well-documented cases that enable leadership to make informed and compliant decisions.

Expected Outcomes  

· 100% compliance with all federal, state, and local employment regulations.

· All HR process and compliance deadlines are met without exception.

· Policies and employee handbook are current, clearly communicated, and aligned with organizational values.

· HR systems and files remain accurate, efficient, and audit-ready.

· Benefits programs are competitive, compliant, and effectively managed.

· Complex employee relations and compliance issues are resolved in a timely, fair, and compliant manner.

Competencies 

· Compliance Expertise: Strong knowledge of employment law, HR compliance, and regulatory best practices.

· Policy Leadership: Skilled in developing and implementing HR policies that balance compliance and organizational culture.

· Accountability: Holds self and others to high standards of accuracy and compliance.

· Confidentiality & Integrity: Maintains discretion with sensitive information and builds trust.

· Communication: Clearly conveys policies and compliance matters to staff and leadership.

· Problem-Solving: Anticipates issues, mitigates risks, and resolves conflicts effectively.

· Organizational Skills: Strong planning and attention to detail to manage multiple compliance priorities.

Education and Experience 

· Bachelor’s degree or equivalent preferred. 

· Minimum 10 years of experience in the Human Resources field. 

· Minimum 5 years in a leadership position. 

· PHR or SHRM-CP desired. 

Work Schedule 

· Ability to travel as needed. 

· Availability to work flexible hours, including evenings or weekends, as needed. 

Physical Requirements. 

· This is largely a sedentary role. 

· Must be able to occasionally lift objects up to 20 pounds.