Benefits and People Specialist

WARE; Louisville (KY); On-site; USD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid vacation and holidays

Health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance

Christmas bonus

401(k) with company match

Opportunity for profit sharing

Job summary

A leading machinery manufacturing company in Louisville, KY, is seeking a Benefits and People Specialist to manage employee benefits and support HR operations. This full-time in-office role offers a competitive salary range of $65,000–$75,000 per year, comprehensive benefits including health insurance and a Christmas bonus, and the chance for profit sharing. Ideal candidates will have a bachelor's degree and over 5 years of experience in benefits administration, demonstrating excellent customer service and analytical abilities.

Qualifications

• 5+ years experience in benefits administration and HR support.
• Experience managing relationships with benefits vendors.
• Familiarity with compliance requirements (ACA, COBRA, ERISA, HIPAA, FMLA).

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary contact for employee benefits and 401(k) questions.
• Administer benefits programs including medical and retirement.
• Conduct audits, reconcile invoices, and ensure payroll accuracy.

Skills

Customer service skills

Data reporting

Time management

Analytical skills

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources or related field

Tools

HRIS (Paylocity preferred)

Excel

Job description

Location and Relocation

This position is currently based in Louisville, KY. The company, and the position, will be relocating to New Albany, IN, in late summer 2026.

Company Overview

Ware is one of the nation’s largest and most expansive boiler rental, service, education, and training companies. A family‑owned business founded in 1952, Ware has experienced continual growth for over 70 years. The company culture strongly rooted in service, growth and generosity sets it apart, with these core values serving as the foundation of the company’s success.

Job Title

Benefits and People Specialist

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact for employee benefits and 401(k) retirement plan questions, providing personalized support
• Administer benefits programs including medical, dental, vision, life and disability, retirement, leaves of absence, optional benefits, and wellness initiatives
• Develop and update employee benefits education materials (benefits guides, FAQs, etc)
• Coordinate with vendors and carriers to resolve billing, eligibility, and claims issues
• Conduct monthly benefits audits, reconcile carrier invoices, and ensure payroll deductions are accurate
• Lead the annual open enrollment process, including vendor coordination, employee communications, HRIS configuration, and employee education sessions
• Ensure compliance with ERISA, HIPAA, ACA, COBRA, FMLA, and applicable state leave laws
• Perform PTO/vacation administration, prepare and submit unemployment claims responses, and curate and deliver retirement plan communication/education
• Support audits, prepare and submit Form 5500 filing, and other filings/reports
• Serve as primary contact for HRIS platform, updating and maintaining accurate employee data and records, inputting life event changes, merit increases, promotions, job changes, and terminations, generating reports, responding to data requests, managing user access and permissions, etc.
• Perform other duties as requested

Details

• Full time, in-office, salary position (Monday‑Friday, 8am‑5pm), $65,000‑$75,000/year
• Paid vacation and holidays
• Health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance
• Christmas bonus
• Opportunity for profit sharing
• 401(k) with company match

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, or related field
• 5+ years experience in benefits administration and HR people support
• Experience managing relationships with benefits vendors
• Excellent customer service skills and ability to explain benefits clearly
• Proficient with Excel and comfortable with audits and reporting data
• Familiarity with compliance requirements (ACA, COBRA, ERISA, HIPAA, FMLA/state leave)
• Hands‑on experience with HRIS (Paylocity preferred)
• Meticulous and well‑organized, with strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, and the ability to consistently perform with a high sense of urgency
• Ability to remain nimble and adjust to unanticipated changes, often on short notice, and remain calm under pressure
• Team player who values and embraces collaboration

Seniority level: Mid‑Senior level

Employment type: Full‑time

Job function: Human Resources

Industries: Machinery Manufacturing