People Operations Specialist - Benefits

If you enjoy working with a great group of professionals, are accurate, thrive in a fast-paced environment, and enjoy supporting employees with care and precision, then we have a role for you! Potelco, Inc. seeks a People Operations Specialist – Benefits to join our People Operations team in Sumner, WA.

The People Operations Specialist – Benefits plays a critical role in creating a supportive, seamless, and compliant benefits experience for employees. In this role, you will administer health, wellness, retirement, and leave programs while ensuring accuracy, compliance, and a people-first approach. You will serve as a trusted resource to employees and managers, helping them navigate complex benefits topics with clarity and care.

In addition to core benefits, you will also support our retirement programs, including reviewing payroll 401(k) contributions and loan updates. Your work ensures employees feel informed, confident, and supported throughout every stage of their employment.

The pay for this role is an hourly range of $35-$45/hour, depending on expercience.

Benefits Administration

• Administer all health, wellness, and retirement programs, providing guidance and support to employees on plan offerings, enrollments, and changes.
• Lead and coordinate the open enrollment process, including communications, system assistance, and education for employees.
• Serve as a point of contact for employee benefits questions, helping simplify complex topics and ensure employees make informed decisions.
• Partner with plan administrator to resolve claim issues, verify enrollments, and ensure smooth program operations.

Retirement/401(k) Support

• Review payroll 401(k) contributions, updates, and loan statuses.
• Identify and resolve any payroll or 401(k) discrepancies in collaboration with payroll and vendors.
• Maintain accurate records and coordinate with third party administrators as needed.

Leave Management & Compliance

• Manage FMLA, ADA, and other leave of absence requests with professionalism, empathy, and confidentiality.
• Track and document leaves of absence, coordinating with employees, managers, and payroll to ensure seamless transitions.
• Provide guidance and support to managers navigating leave requests and accommodation.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable state and federal regulations, including ERISA, COBRA, ACA, HIPAA, and state-specific requirements.
• Partner with payroll to reconcile deductions and contributions for employees on leave or transitioning back to work.

Payroll & Data Integrity

• Partner with payroll to reconcile benefit deductions, contributions, and leave-related pay adjustments.
• Conduct routine audits to ensure benefit and payroll data accuracy.
• Review weekly payroll reports related to benefits, identifying and resolving discrepancies before processing.
• Collaborate with the payroll team on employees transitioning to and from leaves of absence.

Process Improvement & Employee Experience

• Continuously assess and improve benefits and leave processes to enhance efficiency and the employee experience.
• Support the creation of internal benefits training materials, guides, and FAQs.
• Contribute to People Operations initiatives aimed at improving engagement, wellness, and total rewards programs.

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.
• 3 years of experience in benefits administration and leave management.
• Strong working knowledge of FMLA. ADA, COBRA, ERISA, ACA, and related state regulations.
• Experience leading the open enrollment cycle.
• Experience supporting retirement plans, including 401(k) payroll contributions and loan administration.
• Excellent organizational skills with strong attention to detail and follow-through.
• Empathetic communicator, able to manage sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
• Problem solver with a positive attitude and a continuous improvement mindset.

What You'll Get

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• FSA/HSA
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Why You’ll Love It Here

At Potelco, we believe employee experience is at the heart of everything we do. As part of the People Operations team, you’ll help ensure our employees feel supported, informed, and cared for, whether they are in the field or in the office.

Compensation Range

The anticipated compensation for this position is USD $35.00/Hr. - USD $45.00/Hr. depending on experience and qualifications.