Benefits Specialist

GEA Group, founded in Germany in 1881, is a global leader in engineering solutions, serving industries such as food and beverage, pharma, dairy, and more. With over 18,000 employees worldwide and a strong U.S. presence since 1929, GEA combines the heritage of a well-established company with the innovation of a forward-thinking industry leader. At GEA, we’re not just building equipment, we’re building lasting careers with an average employee tenure range from 5 to over 11+ years, reflecting the strong culture, growth opportunities, and support we provide.

• Start strong – Medical, dental, and vision coverage begins on your first day
• Recharge and refresh – Enjoy 12 paid holidays, including a flexible floating holiday, and 136 hours of PTO to relax or explore
• Invest in your future – A 7% 401(k) employer match helps grow your retirement savings faster
• Keep learning – Take advantage of tuition reimbursement to further your education or skillset
• Live well – Our wellness incentive program rewards healthy habits
• Get support when you need it – Access to a confidential Employee Assistance Program for personal or professional guidance
• Save smart – Flexible Health Savings and Spending Accounts to manage out-of-pocket expenses

Our Benefits Specialist will focus on supporting GEA’s HR Benefits Team with health and welfare programs managing leave of absence administration, handling benefits data and reporting, performing billing reconciliation, supporting retirees, administering spending accounts, processing HSA employer funding, and assisting with enrollment changes and benefit support. The Benefits Analyst will play a critical role in ensuring our benefits programs are administered accurately and efficiently while serving as a resource for employee support and questions.

• Act as a day-to-day point of contact for employees with questions or concerns about benefits, providing guidance and support with a focus on clear and effective communication.
• Maintain and manage internal ticketing system with employee inquiries.
• Administer leave of absence (LOA) processes, including FMLA, ADA, and company-specific leave policies.
• Coordinate with employees, managers, and third-party administrators to ensure compliance with regulations and internal policies.
• Track, document, and report on all LOA activity to support HR, payroll, and compliance requirements.
• Collect, analyze, and maintain benefits data, ensuring data integrity and accuracy across all HR systems. Proficiency in v-look up and pivot tables.
• Prepare and distribute regular and ad hoc reports on benefits enrollment, utilization, and trends.
• Conduct monthly reconciliation of benefits billing, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and other benefits plans.
• Resolve discrepancies by working with vendors, payroll, and finance teams to ensure accurate billing and payments.
• Maintain detailed records of reconciliations and resolve outstanding issues promptly.
• Assist with administration of spending accounts, including Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs).
• Coordinate with third party vendor ensuring compliance with IRS regulations and company policies.
• Process employer contributions for HSAs, monitoring for accuracy and timely funding.
• Provide benefit support for retirees, including assisting with enrollment, changes, and inquiries.
• Coordinate with third-party administrators to ensure retirees receive accurate and timely benefits information.
• Maintain records and documentation related to retiree benefits plans.
• Assist with administration of the company’s 401(k) plan, including employee enrollments, contributions, and distributions.
• Collaborate with vendors to resolve…