Senior Benefits Specialist

Overview

We are seeking a talented and experienced candidate to join the Total Rewards team in our Chicago, IL location as a Senior Benefits Specialist
. This position is fully onsite and reports to the Total Rewards Director
.

Salary: $95,000 to $110,000 per year.

Ready to help build a better future for generations to come?

In an ever-changing, fast paced world, we owe it to ourselves and our future generations to live life responsibly. At ROCKWOOL, we work relentlessly to enrich modern living through our innovative stone wool solutions.

Join us and make a difference!

The Senior Benefits Specialist serves as a subject matter expert for U.S. employee benefits and HR systems while also acting as backup support for Canadian benefits programs
. This role is responsible for benefits administration, compliance, system optimization, and continuous improvement, while ensuring a seamless employee experience across regions.

Benefits Administration & Compliance (U.S. Focus)

• Administer U.S. employee benefit programs including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short- and long-term disability, 401(k), HSAs, FSAs, EAPs, wellness, and voluntary benefits.
• Ensure compliance with U.S. federal and state regulations including ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA, ADA, and applicable state leave laws.
• Maintain compliance documentation, audit processes, and support regulatory filings such as Form 5500, ACA reporting, and nondiscrimination testing.
• Monitor regulatory changes and recommend updates to policies, procedures, and plan designs.

HRIS, Payroll & System Transitions

• Serve as a subject matter expert for ADP and Ceridian Dayforce
  , supporting benefits and payroll integrations.
• Lead or support HRIS and payroll system transitions and implementations
  , including data migration, testing, validation, and post-go-live stabilization.
• Partner with Payroll, IT, and vendors to ensure accurate system configurations and data integrity.
• Perform audits and reconciliations to ensure accuracy between HRIS, payroll, and benefits vendors.

Strategy & Vendor Management

• Partner with Total Rewards leadership to develop and execute benefits strategies aligned with organizational goals.
• Manage relationships with carriers, brokers, and third-party vendors, including renewals, negotiations, and issue resolution.
• Reconcile benefits and insurance invoices and resolve discrepancies.

Employee Support & Communication

• Act as the escalation point for complex benefits, payroll, and HRIS inquiries.
• Develop and deliver employee-facing benefits communications, training materials, and enrollment resources.
• Support Total Rewards initiatives, including Total Rewards Statements and education campaigns.

Annual Open Enrollment, Reporting & Collaboration

• Lead annual open enrollment planning, communications, system configuration, and execution.
• Analyze benefits data and prepare reports to support budgeting, forecasting, and leadership decision-making.
• Partner cross-functionally with Payroll, IT, Legal, and HR teams to ensure alignment and timely execution.
• Provide guidance and knowledge-sharing to benefits team members.

Canadian Benefits – Backup Support

• Serve as backup support for Canadian benefits administration, including health, dental, disability, life insurance, and retirement programs.
• Assist with Canadian benefits enrollments, changes, terminations, and employee inquiries as needed.
• Support compliance with Canadian regulatory requirements, including provincial guidelines and payroll-related benefits coordination.
• Partner with Canadian HR and Payroll teams to ensure continuity of service during absences or peak periods.
• Perform additional duties as required.

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Accounting, or a related field.
• 8+ years of progressive experience in benefits administration.
• Hands-on experience with ADP and Ceridian Dayforce
  , including benefits and payroll modules.
• Proven experience supporting or leading benefit system transitions
  , including data conversion, testing, and change management.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. benefits regulations;
  familiarity with Canadian benefits and payroll…