Benefits and People Specialist

Description: ** This position is currently based in Louisville, KY. The company, and the position, will be relocating to New Albany, IN, in late summer 2026.** WARE is one of the nation’s largest and most expansive boiler rental, service, education, and training companies. A family-owned business founded in 1952, WARE has experienced continual growth for over 70 years. The company culture strongly rooted in service, growth and generosity sets it apart, with these core values serving as the foundation of the company’s success. We’re seeking a Benefits and People Specialist to support day-to-day benefits administration, compliance, execution of HR processes, and HRIS data and usage. This role ensures HR operational efficiency, data integrity, and regulatory compliance while serving as a knowledgeable resource for employees and managers on benefits, policies, and people processes. Responsibilities: Serve as the primary point of contact for employee benefits and 401(k) retirement plan questions, providing personalized support Administer benefits programs including medical, dental, vision, life and disability, retirement, leaves of absence, optional benefits, and wellness initiatives Develop and update employee benefits education materials (benefits guides, FAQs, etc) Coordinate with vendors and carriers to resolve billing, eligibility, and claims issues Conduct monthly benefits audits, reconcile carrier invoices, and ensure payroll deductions are accurate Lead the annual open enrollment process, including vendor coordination, employee communications, HRIS configuration, and employee education sessions Ensure compliance with ERISA, HIPAA, ACA, COBRA, FMLA, and applicable state leave laws Perform PTO/vacation administration, prepare and submit unemployment claims responses, and curate and deliver retirement plan communication/education Support audits, prepare and submit Form 5500 filing, and other filings/reports Serve as primary contact for HRIS platform, updating and maintaining accurate employee data and records, inputting life event changes, merit increases, promotions, job changes, and terminations, generating reports, responding to data requests, managing user access and permissions, etc. Perform other duties as requested Details: Full time, in-office, salary position (Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm), $65,000-$75,000/year Paid vacation and holidays Health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance Christmas bonus Opportunity for profit sharing 401(k) with company match Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, or related field 5+ years experience in benefits administration and HR people support Experience managing relationships with benefits vendors Excellent customer service skills and ability to explain benefits clearly Proficient with Excel and comfortable assisting with audits and reporting data Familiarity with compliance requirements (ACA, COBRA, ERISA, HIPAA, FMLA/state leave) Hands-on experience with HRIS (Paylocity preferred) Meticulous and well-organized, with strong analytical and problem-solving skills, and the ability to consistently perform with a high sense of urgency Excellent discernment skills Ability to remain nimble and adjust to unanticipated changes, often on short notice, and remain calm under pressure Team player who values and embraces collaboration