ES Benefit Associate

Full-Time | Exempt | 40 Hours per Week | $61,500–$76,120 Annually

St. Francis Health Services is seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Employment Systems Benefits Associate to join our corporate Human Resources team.

Working closely with the Employment Systems Director, this position supports employee benefits administration, Affordable Care Act (ACA) compliance, HR technology, payroll processes, and training across the organization. The Employment Systems Benefits Associate serves as a key resource for facility HR Directors, providing the knowledge, tools, and guidance they need to administer employee benefits effectively at their locations.

The successful candidate will train newly hired HR Directors in benefits, provide ongoing education as plans and processes change, and serve as a backup for payroll processing.

This position is based at the St. Francis Health Services corporate office in Morris, Minnesota. Hybrid or remote work arrangements may be considered for qualified candidates who reside within reasonable commuting distance of Morris. Employees working remotely or on a hybrid schedule must be available to work at the corporate office periodically for meetings, training, projects, or other business needs.

• Serve as a benefits resource for facility HR Directors and designated HR representatives.
• Advise HR Directors regarding benefits eligibility, enrollment procedures, qualifying life events, coverage changes, terminations, payroll deductions, required documentation, and deadlines.
• Interpret established benefit plans and procedures and provide practical guidance to HR Directors.
• Coordinate the organization’s ACA administration and compliance activities, including monitoring employee eligibility and measurement periods, reviewing data for accuracy, resolving discrepancies, and ensuring required reporting and employee forms are completed accurately and on time.
• Collaborate with internal departments, benefit vendors, and external partners to prepare, review, and submit ACA filings, including Forms 1094-C and 1095-C.
• Maintain ACA documentation and records and monitor regulatory changes that may affect the organization’s responsibilities.
• Research benefits, payroll, ACA, and system issues; evaluate possible courses of action; and recommend appropriate solutions.
• Assist with benefits administration, reconciliations, audits, open enrollment, vendor coordination, and plan changes.
• Assess training needs and develop and deliver comprehensive benefits training for newly hired HR Directors.
• Create onboarding plans, training presentations, process guides, job aids, checklists, and reference materials.
• Provide refresher training and ongoing education when benefit plans, regulations, vendors, systems, or procedures change.
• Serve as a resource for HR Directors using UKG Pro for benefits and related employee-data processes.
• Assist with payroll reconciliations, audits, system testing, and quarter-end and year-end activities.
• Serve as a backup for payroll processing.
• Independently manage assigned projects and monitor deadlines, outstanding issues, location follow-up, and vendor deliverables.

• Associate degree in human resources, business administration, accounting, finance, information systems, or a related field; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
• Three years of progressively responsible experience in employee benefits, payroll, HR systems, or a closely related area.
• Knowledge of benefits eligibility, qualifying life events, open enrollment, payroll deductions, COBRA, ACA, and retirement-plan processes.
• Experience training, coaching, or providing technical guidance to HR professionals, managers, or system…