Benefits & Safety Coordinator

The Benefits and Safety Coordinator is responsible for the administration and continuous improvement of employee benefit programs, leave programs, wellness initiatives, workers' compensation administration, safety programs, loss control initiatives, and organizational risk assessment activities. This position serves as the primary liaison between associates, benefit providers, brokers, vendors, and third-party administrators while ensuring compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations.

The Benefits and Safety Coordinator manages benefit enrollments, leaves of absence, workers' compensation claims, safety initiatives, disaster preparedness planning, and wellness programs. The position partners closely with Human Resources, Payroll, Accounting, Operations, and third-party service providers to support a safe workplace, control organizational risk, enhance employee wellbeing, and ensure accurate administration of employee benefit programs.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
This list of duties and responsibilities is not all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities as management may deem necessary from time to time.

Benefits Administration
• Enroll new hires and newly eligible associates in benefit plans and provide benefits orientation.
• Process benefit enrollments, status changes, qualifying life events, and benefit terminations.
• Manage annual open enrollment processes and benefit plan transfers.
• Maintain relationships with benefit vendors, brokers, and carriers to resolve complex benefit issues and discrepancies.
• Review benefit claims issues and assist associates in navigating benefit programs.
• Provide vendors with appropriate documentation for life, disability, retirement, and other benefit claims.
• Evaluate and compare existing benefit programs with market practices and industry benchmarks.
• Analyze benefit utilization data and develop recommendations for management review.
• Assist with benefit communications, educational materials, and employee presentations.
• Issue required annual notices and summary plan information to associates.
• Maintain employee benefit records and ensure compliance with benefit plan requirements.
• Partner with Payroll and Accounting to reconcile insurance invoices and ensure accurate deductions and carrier payments.

Leave Administration
• Process leave of absence requests, approvals, denials, and return-to-work documentation.
• Administer FMLA, state leave programs, ADA accommodations, and other applicable leave programs.
• Provide guidance to associates and managers regarding PTO, sick leave, wellness leave, and other paid leave programs.

Workers' Compensation, Safety, and Loss Control
• Serve as the primary coordinator for workers' compensation claims and claim administration.
• Monitor, track, and follow up on all open workers' compensation claims to ensure timely resolution.
• Coordinate injury reporting, claim documentation, return-to-work processes, and communication with insurance carriers and third-party administrators.
• Maintain a working understanding of workers' compensation experience modification factors and the financial impact of claims on organizational costs.
• Analyze workers' compensation trends and recommend strategies to reduce claim frequency and severity.
• Assist management with accident investigations and corrective action recommendations.
• Coordinate and support the Company's Health, Wellness, and Safety Committee.
• Assist with the development, implementation, and monitoring of workplace safety programs and initiatives.
• Analyze incident and injury trends to identify areas of risk and opportunities for improvement.
• Monitor OSHA-related incidents, recordkeeping requirements, and reporting obligations.
• Follow up on outstanding OSHA matters and coordinate corrective actions as needed.
• Support safety training initiatives and promote a culture of workplace safety throughout the organization.
• Assist in organizational risk assessments by analyzing incident trends, loss data, and risk frequency and providing recommendations for management review.

Disaster Planning and Business Continuity
• Review, maintain, and update disaster preparedness, emergency response, and business continuity plans on behalf of the Company and its affiliated entities.
• Coordinate periodic reviews of emergency response procedures and recommend improvements.
• Assist operational leadership in developing risk mitigation and recovery strategies.

Wellness Programs
• Serve as the Company's Wellness Champion and active member of the Wellness Committee.
• Promote participation in wellness initiatives and employee wellbeing programs.
• Contribute wellness-related content and educational resources for company communications, including newsletters and internal publications.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES
• Perform other duties as assigned to support Human Resources, Safety, Benefits, and Risk Management functions.

SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
1. Language Skills
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common financial, insurance, legal, and regulatory documents related to benefits, workers' compensation, and safety administration. Ability to respond to common inquiries from associates, managers, regulatory agencies, vendors, and members of the business community. Ability to speak effectively before groups, conduct meetings, and prepare written communications and educational materials.
2. Mathematical Skills
Ability to work with mathematical information and apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations. Ability to understand insurance costs, claims trends, experience modifications, and benefit utilization metrics.
3. Computer Skills
To perform this job successfully, an individual should have proficiency in Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS), benefits administration platforms, spreadsheet software, database systems, word processing software, and reporting tools.
4. Reasoning Ability
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of variables where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret and apply policies, procedures, laws, regulations, and benefit plan documents.
5. Customer Service Skills
Ability to communicate with all levels of associates with professionalism, patience, discretion, and a people-first attitude while demonstrating Sand Companies' core values of Stewardship, Integrity, Trust, and Excellence.
6. Organizational and Analytical Skills
Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, maintain confidentiality, meet deadlines, and identify trends requiring corrective action or process improvements.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
Bachelors Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Occupational Safety, Risk Management, Insurance, or a related field preferred.

Minimum of two (2) years of experience in benefits administration, human resources, workers' compensation administration, safety coordination, insurance administration, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Professional certifications such as CEBS, SHRM-CP, PHR, OSHA certifications, workers' compensation certifications, or related credentials are preferred but not required.
Ability to readm write and converse in Spanish in preferred.

Understandng and use of UKG or other similar HRIS Benefits system

TOTAL REWARDS
Estimated compensation for this role is $30-$38 per hour. This role comes with full medical dental and vision benefits with employee medical for less than $50 a month plus PTO and 401K