Benefits & Leave Specialist | Onsite Open Enrollment

Southern States, LLC; Hampton (GA); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern States, LLC is seeking a Benefits Specialist to oversee enrollment, COBRA, QMCSOs, and 401(k) administration in a fully onsite manufacturing environment. You will ensure data integrity between HRIS and carriers while serving as the main point of contact for employee benefits questions.

You will lead benefits onboarding, Open Enrollment, and wellness initiatives, coordinate leave cases, and support regulatory reporting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business, or Healthcare Administration or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years HR experience with benefits and leave administration.
• Knowledge of ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, ACA and state leave laws.
• Ability to interpret plan documents and regulatory requirements.
• Experience with benefits audits, invoicing and reporting.

Responsibilities

• Oversee benefits and leave administration, including enrollments, terminations, QMCSOs, COBRA coordination, and data integrity between HRIS and carrier systems.
• Serve as primary contact for employee questions on benefits and 401(k) offerings; educate on plan provisions and enrollment processes.
• Coordinate benefits onboarding, Open Enrollment activities, and employee communication campaigns to boost engagement and understanding.
• Support wellness program administration, biometric screenings, and vendor partnerships to maximize participation.
• Manage leave cases (FMLA, STD, LTD, parental, military, bereavement) and coordinate with HR and Payroll for accurate pay during leaves.
• Develop dashboards and reports on benefits participation, leave activity, and vendor performance.
• Assist with annual filings (Form 5500, ACA reporting) and premium reconciliations.

Skills

Benefits knowledge

Regulatory compliance

Vendor coordination

Data analysis

Communication skills

HRIS proficiency

Attention to detail

Open enrollment

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR or related field

PHR/SHRM preferred

Tools

UKG Pro

Workday

ADP

Job description

Southern States, LLC is seeking a Benefits Specialist to oversee enrollment, COBRA, QMCSOs, and 401(k) administration in a fully onsite manufacturing environment. You will ensure data integrity between HRIS and carriers while serving as the main point of contact for employee benefits questions.

You will lead benefits onboarding, Open Enrollment, and wellness initiatives, coordinate leave cases, and support regulatory reporting.