Pet Food Express is seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Benefits Specialist to join our team. Reporting to the Sr. Payroll and Benefits Manager, the Benefits Specialist provides clerical and technical administrative level support to the Payroll and Human Resources Department related to the coordination, delivery and ongoing maintenance of our employee benefits programs. This role is responsible for a wide variety of Benefits and HR functions including and not limited to: ensuring timely and accurate entry and processing of payroll and benefits data, benefits enrollment processing, recordkeeping, auditing and reporting, New Hire Onboarding support, assisting with open enrollment activities, responding to routine employee questions, and benefits information distribution. This role is an excellent opportunity for someone who is self-driven, dependable, a natural collaborator and wants to develop in the Payroll/Benefits field. This is a critical role that requires working under strict confidentiality and the ability to work independently.
If you’re excited to use your benefits and HR experience in this high impact position and enthusiastic about our mission to help pets and their parents live happier, healthier lives together, this position is for you.
Please Note: This position is a hybrid role, involving on-site work 3 days per week at our corporate headquarters in Concord, CA. Candidates who are fully remote or outside of reasonable commuting distance will not be considered at this time.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the administration of PFE’s employee benefits plans, including health, dental, vision, life, FSA/HSA and COBRA
• Provide new and existing employees information on benefit plans and enrollment decisions required
• Verify and audit payroll and benefits entries from time sheets and other records
• Assist in maintaining and ensuring integrity and accuracy of Benefits/Payroll/HR records (HRIS, electronic and hard files) - Upload documents, compile and enter data, and generate reports as necessary
• Generate employee notifications for status changes
• I-9 Documentation management and verification
• Assist employees with health, dental, vision, life and other related benefit questions.
• Process invoices, reconciliations and billing of all benefits monthly
• Manage Payroll/HR email inbox workflow and prioritization
• Respond to Benefits/HR administrative inquiries and requests
• Become a company expert on our benefits offerings, HR policies, best practices and systems
• Support with HR and IT Corporate New Hire Orientation
• Miscellaneous administrative duties including filing, faxing, emailing, phone communication, ordering and tracking supplies as needed
• Assist Payroll and Human Resources Department in ongoing and special projects as assigned

Qualifications

• 2-4 years related experience in Employee Benefits Administration or similar role
• Associate's degree in Human Resources or related field, or combination of education and relevant experience
• Knowledge of/experience with full-cycle annual open enrollment process including planning, enrollment, employee plan updates and recordkeeping
• Familiarity with basic accounting and payroll policies and procedures
• Working knowledge of Ceridian Dayforce (preferred) or other payroll software and programs
• Strong proficiency in Excel (including the development of tables, VLOOKUP, formulas, custom reporting), Microsoft Office Suite and related business and communication tools
• Clear and effective written and verbal communication skills
• Strong organization, attention to detail and sense of urgency approach
• Ability to manage and prioritize work, meet deadlines and instinctually follow-up
• Excellent relationship, interpersonal and teambuilding skills
• Ability to remain calm and confident in high pressure moments, understand personnel needs and urgency in situations and escalate issues beyond your experience
• Natural problem-solving capabilities, positive mindset and commitment to skill development
• Ability to manage sensitive and confidential information
• Ability to manage change efficiently, proactively and in a positive manner
• Ability to work collaboratively with your colleagues on site 3 days per week with the flexibility to work remote 2 days per week

PFE Perks

• Grow with us: Many potential career paths and options for advancement within the company
• Pet Friendly Workplace - bring your well-behaved pup!
• Generous in-store employee discount that extends to your family
• Be Healthy: Health with FSA options, dental, and vision insurance – even pet insurance!
• Plan for the future: 401k with employer match
• Get Rewarded: Employee referral bonuses
• Rest and Relax: Competitive Paid Time Off

The salary range for this position is expected to be $29.00/hr - $33.00/hr. Pet Food Express determines starting salary based on many factors, including but not limited to, local market rate, the qualified pool of candidates, internal compensation practices, a candidate’s actual skills and experience.

About the Company

Pet Food Express is a leading California-based pet specialty retailer with a passion for improving the lives of pets and their owners. Our philosophy revolves around the belief that pets are part of the family, deserving of the best care possible. Since our inception, Pet Food Express has been committed to making a positive impact on the communities we serves by promoting responsible pet ownership, supporting various animal welfare initiatives, and ensuring pets are happy, healthy and homed. With over 60 locations across the state, Pet Food Express has become a trusted destination for pet parents seeking high-quality products and personalized advice from knowledgeable and dedicated staff.

This job summary is intended to describe the general nature and level of work associates/leaders assigned to this job perform. It is not intended to include all duties and responsibilities.

Pet Food Express is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against employees or applicants based on race, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristics protected by applicable law. This applies to all Pet Food Express activities, including, but not limited to, recruitment, hiring, compensation, assignment, training, promotion, performance evaluation, discipline and discharge. Pet Food Express also provides reasonable accommodation of religion and disability in accordance with applicable law. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Pet Food Express is a place where everyone can learn and grow. However you identify and whatever your background, please apply if this is a role that would make you excited to come to work every day.

For applicants in our San Francisco, or Los Angeles locations: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, as well as the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring, we will consider for employment, qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in a manner consistent with the law.

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