Benefits Specialist

SunOpta Overview:SunOpta Inc. is a leader in the plant-based foods and beverages, fruit-based foods and beverages, and organic ingredient sourcing industries. SunOpta is focused on sustainability and specializes in the sourcing, processing, and packaging of organic, conventional, non-GMO food products. SunOpta is looking for talented individuals that demonstrate our most valued behaviors: Passion, Dedication, Speed, Entrepreneurship, Customer-Centricity, and Problem-Solver, to help create a brighter, healthier, and sustainable future of food! Job Summary:This position is responsible for the administration of all benefits and retirement programs, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short- and long-term disability, flexible spending accounts and 401(k) plan. This role is also responsible for benefits communications, providing benefits guidance to employees, and utilizing the HRIS (Dayforce) to administer plans.Essential Functions of the Job:Ensures the accuracy of all benefits enrollments to provide vendors with accurate eligibility information. Work with vendors/brokers on compliance issuesUpdates systems with new and changing information; ensures accuracy and integrity of information.Serve as primary contact for plan vendors and third-party administrators.Develop communication tools to enhance understanding of the company's benefits package.Prepares and maintains employee benefit records.Calculates and ensures correct benefit deductions from payroll for all benefits including taxable life, long term disability and employer medical costs.Investigate and resolve benefit issues as needed with carriers, employees, and troubleshoot system issues.Runs reports from systems as requested.Performs monthly and annual plan audits and Non-discrimination testing.Administers COBRA upon employee terminations/qualifying events. Monitors carrier feeds to ensure enrollments/terminations are processed accurately with benefit providers.Responds to benefits inquiries from managers and employees on plan provisions, benefits enrollments, status changes and other general inquiries.Processes and administers disability paperwork for benefits continuation: medical, personal, disability, STD, and LTDResponds to 401k inquiries from managers and employees. Monitors 401k records within HRIS system and 401k record keeper. Reconciles and initiates 401k funding of employee 401k accounts. Maintains 401k plan documents and prepares materials for annual 401k audit.Administers Ceridian Dayforce benefit enrollments, life event changes and leads annual open enrollment process.Reconciles benefit billing charges/submits invoices.Provides information for benefit onboarding packets and processes new hire benefit events.Coordinate daily benefits processing. Handle enrollments, COBRA, terminations, changes, beneficiaries, disability, accident and death claims, rollovers, QDROs, QMCSOs, distributions, loans, hardships and compliance testing.Adheres to company GMP’s (good manufacturing practices), safety procedures and all other quality processes.All other duties as assigned.Supervisory Responsibilities:None.Minimum Qualifications:Bachelor’s degree in human resource management or related field, and three to five years of related employee benefits administration experience or a combination of education and experience.Preferred Qualifications:Experience with HRIS systems (Ceridian Dayforce)Knowledge and Skills:Proven technical proficiency with MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and HRIS systems.Ability to create communications collateral. Strong problem-solving skills.Proven ability to work effectively in a team environment with associates. Effective planning and priority setting. Ability to manage several complex projects simultaneously while working under pressure to meet deadlines.Strong analytical skills and a thorough knowledge of plan designs. Knowledge of benefits contract language.Knowledge of all pertinent federal and state regulations, filing and compliance requirements, both adopted and pending, affecting employee benefits programs, including the ACA, ERISA, COBRA, FMLA, ADA, Section 125, workers' compensation, Medicare, OBRA, and Social Security and DOL requirements.Excellent communication and organization skills.Work Environment/Physical Demands:Approximately 100% of work is performed in an office environment.

Salary : $0