Senior Benefits Analyst

The Kent Companies; Midland (TX); On-site; USD 80,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

The Kent Companies in Midland, Texas is seeking an experienced Senior Benefits & Total Rewards Analyst to join our growing HR team. You will own benefits, compliance, retirement programs, workers' compensation, vendor relationships and day-to-day administration while expanding into compensation analytics and broader Total Rewards initiatives.

You will help build a more strategic HR function, develop scalable processes, and influence benefits and compensation practices as the organization grows.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of progressive experience in benefits, compensation, Total Rewards, or related HR specialty.
• Strong knowledge of employee benefits administration and compliance (ACA, ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA).
• Experience with brokers, carriers, and retirement plans; advanced Excel and HRIS usage.
• Bachelor's degree in a related field; professional certifications (CEBS/ CCP/ PHR/ SPHR / SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP) a plus.

Responsibilities

• Own administration of employee benefit programs including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, retirement and HSAs/FSAs.
• Lead annual open enrollment, communications, education, and enrollment activities.
• Serve as a benefits SME for employees, leadership and HR.
• Manage broker, carrier and vendor relationships, including renewals and issues.
• Oversee workers' compensation administration and return-to-work processes.
• Ensure ACA, ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA and state/federal compliance.
• Support retirement plan activities, audits and compliance.
• Analyze benefit utilization and workforce data to identify improvements.
• Assist with compensation benchmarking and market analysis; help shape Total Rewards strategy.
• Build HR dashboards and executive-level reporting; support budgeting and forecasting.

Skills

Benefits administration

HR analytics

Advanced Excel

Paycor

Data analysis

Independent ownership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Finance

Tools

Paycor

HRIS

Job description

The Kent Companies is looking for an experienced Senior Benefits & Total Rewards Analyst to join our growing HR team in Midland, Texas.

This is an opportunity for someone who knows benefits inside and out but is ready to do more than administer existing programs. As The Kent Companies continues to grow, we're building a more strategic and scalable HR function—and this person will play an important role in shaping what Total Rewards looks like moving forward.

You'll initially take ownership of benefits, compliance, retirement programs, workers' compensation, vendor relationships, and day-to-day administration while helping us evaluate and improve the processes already in place. From there, the role will expand into compensation strategy, analytics, program design, and broader Total Rewards initiatives.

We're looking for someone who can step into an environment that's evolving quickly, figure out what works and what doesn't, and confidently recommend a better way forward. You won't be handed a perfectly built playbook—and that's part of the opportunity.

What You'll Do

• Own the administration of employee benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, retirement, HSA/FSA, and voluntary benefits
• Lead annual open enrollment, employee communications, education, and enrollment activities
• Serve as a benefits subject matter expert for employees, leadership, and the HR team
• Manage relationships with benefit brokers, carriers, and vendors, including plan performance, renewals, escalations, and complex employee issues
• Oversee workers' compensation administration, including injury reporting, claims, return-to-work coordination, carrier relationships, and trend analysis
• Ensure compliance with ACA, ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, and other applicable federal and state regulations
• Manage and support required retirement plan activities, audits, and compliance
• Audit benefit eligibility, payroll deductions, carrier invoices, and HRIS data for accuracy
• Analyze benefit utilization, workforce data, and program performance to identify opportunities for improvement
• Support compensation benchmarking, market analysis, salary structures, and pay equity initiatives
• Help develop a more consistent and scalable compensation philosophy and Total Rewards strategy
• Build HR dashboards, metrics, and executive-level reporting
• Support annual benefits budgeting and forecasting
• Evaluate existing processes and recommend new systems, workflows, policies, and programs as the organization grows
• Partner closely with HR leadership and other internal stakeholders to turn recommendations into action

What We're Looking For

• 3+ years of progressive experience in benefits, compensation, Total Rewards, or a closely related HR specialty
• Strong hands-on knowledge of employee benefits administration and benefits compliance
• Experience working with benefit brokers, carriers, vendors, and retirement plans
• Working knowledge of ACA, ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, and related regulations
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to turn data into practical recommendations
• Advanced Excel skills and experience working within an HRIS; Paycor experience is a plus
• Ability to work independently and take ownership without requiring significant day-to-day direction
• Comfortable evaluating existing processes, identifying gaps, and building something better
• Strong communication and presentation skills with the confidence to serve as a subject matter expert with leadership
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Finance, or a related field preferred
• CEBS, CCP, PHR/SPHR, SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP, or similar certification is a plus

Why This Role

This isn't a maintenance-only benefits position. You'll have the opportunity to help build the next phase of Total Rewards at The Kent Companies.

You'll join an HR organization that is actively evolving, with the opportunity to influence benefits strategy, develop compensation practices, improve processes, and potentially help build out the Total Rewards function as the company continues to grow. Madeline described the longer-term vision as eventually having broader Total Rewards—and potentially a small team—under this function.