Benefits Specialist

Lakeside Foods, Inc.; Manitowoc (WI); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage options

Vision coverage

HSA with employer contribution

401(k) match

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Paid time off

Job summary

Lakeside Foods, Inc. in Manitowoc, WI seeks a Benefits Specialist to support and enhance our employee benefits programs.

Reporting to the Director of Compensation & Benefits, this role handles benefits administration, open enrollment, data analysis, and vendor management. Responsibilities include coordinating plan renewals, leading annual enrollment, maintaining census data, ensuring regulatory compliance (ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA), preparing filings and disclosures, and supporting audits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Three or more years of experience supporting self-funded benefit plans, benefits administration, compliance, and analysis.
• Strong knowledge of ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA, and related regulations.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate all aspects of employee benefit plan renewals with consultants, brokers, and internal stakeholders.
• Lead annual open enrollment activities, communications, sessions, and system updates.
• Develop and maintain employee benefit census data for cost projections and benchmarking.
• Partner with Payroll, Finance, IT, Legal, HR Shared Services, benefit vendors, and consultants on plan administration.
• Maintain compliant benefit plan documents and records.
• Monitor regulatory changes impacting benefit programs (ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA).
• Prepare and support compliance data requirements and filings (Form 5500, 1095-C).
• Assist with audits and data reconciliations for benefits and HR data.
• Analyze benefits programs for improvements and efficiency.

Skills

Detail-oriented

Analytical

Problem solving

Communication skills

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR / Business Admin or related field

Tools

Microsoft Excel

HRIS systems

Job description

At Lakeside Foods and our family of companies, we're committed to providing wholesome foods to enrich people’s lives through food. We are a culture that pursues our vision of growth and innovation with passion, confidence, and commitment. We are strongest together – valuing collaborative contribution, transparency and new ideas to enable change and growth. We are committed to an inclusive and respectful environment that promotes a healthy work-life balance, and there’s a seat at the table for you.

Our Benefits Specialist offers a detail-oriented and analytical Human Resources professional the opportunity to support and enhance Lakeside Foods’ employee benefits programs. Reporting to the Director of Compensation & Benefits, this role plays a key part in benefits administration, compliance, open enrollment, vendor management, data analysis, and employee support. If you enjoy working with benefits strategy, solving complex compliance challenges, and helping employees maximize their benefits experience, we invite you to join our team.

What You'll Get:

At Lakeside Foods, we believe in taking care of our people. That’s why, as part of the Lakeside family, you’ll have a package of affordable benefit choices and resources to choose from that covers your health, well-being, family and future.

• A choice of three quality affordable healthcare coverage options
• Vision coverage
• Health savings account with employer contribution/flexible spending accounts
• Retirement planning including Profit Sharing and 401(k) match
• Company-provided life, AD&D, short and long-term disability insurance
• Generous paid time off including vacation, personal days and holidays

Work-Life Integration:

• Wellness programs and fitness reimbursement

What You'll Do:

• Coordinate all aspects of employee benefit plan renewals, including collaborating with consultants, brokers, and internal stakeholders to evaluate plan options and ensure alignment with organizational objectives.
• Lead annual open enrollment activities, including employee communications, educational sessions, system updates, testing, and enrollment support.
• Develop and maintain employee benefit census data for cost projections, compliance activities, and benchmarking surveys.
• Partner with Payroll, Finance, IT, Legal, HR Shared Services, benefit vendors, and consultants on benefit plan administration and implementation initiatives.
• Maintain accurate and compliant benefit plan documents and records.
• Monitor and analyze legislative and regulatory changes impacting employee benefit programs, including ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA, and related regulations.
• Prepare and support compliance-related data requirements, including Form 5500 filings, 1095-C reporting, non-discrimination testing, notices, and disclosures.
• Manage and maintain benefits compliance calendars and documentation.
• Support audits, regulatory reviews, and other compliance-related requests.
• Conduct audits and reconciliations to ensure the accuracy and integrity of benefit and HR data.
• Analyze benefits programs, processes, trends, and controls and recommend opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Assist with the development, implementation, and maintenance of benefits policies and procedures.
• Partner with HR Shared Services to review benefits deduction audits, identify trends, and address potential compliance concerns.
• Serve as a resource for employee and HR questions regarding benefit programs and resolve issues as needed.
• Support employee wellness initiatives and recommend new programs and engagement opportunities.
• Assist with benefits-related administration within HRIS systems.
• Support special projects and ad hoc reporting requests.

What You'll Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Three or more years of experience supporting self-funded benefit plans, employee benefits administration, compliance, and benefits analysis.
• Strong knowledge of ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA, and other applicable employee benefits regulations.
• Experience working with benefit plan audits, compliance reporting, and regulatory filings.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with a focus on data accuracy and integrity.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including pivot tables, advanced formulas, data analysis, and reporting.
• Experience extracting, combining, and analyzing data from multiple sources.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to build effective relationships with employees, vendors, consultants, and cross-functional business partners.
• A commitment to confidentiality, accuracy, and exceptional customer service.

Where You'll Work:

Nestled along the shores of Lake Michigan, Manitowoc offers the perfect blend of small-town charm and big opportunity. Known for its scenic waterfront, vibrant downtown, and strong sense of community, the city provides a high quality of life with access to outdoor recreation, cultural attractions, and family-friendly amenities. With a growing business environment and an affordable cost of living, Manitowoc is an ideal place to build a career while enjoying everything Wisconsin’s lakeshore has to offer.

Lakeside Foods and our family of companies welcomes people of all backgrounds and the varied ideas they bring to the workplace. Being an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer is part of our heritage and culture. We recruit, hire and promote employees based on qualifications and merit, without regard to race, religion, age, gender, disability, marital or veteran status. Lakeside Foods participates in E-Verify.

Equal Opportunity Employer, including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities