Position Reports to: Sr. Vice President - Human Resources
Positions Reporting to Human Resource Manager: None
Status: Exempt
Schedule: Fulltime Monday through Friday, with additional hours/days as needed
Travel: Minimal in the tri-state area

Position Summary:
Responsible for providing prompt, personable service to all levels of employees throughout our organization in various areas of human resource management including benefits education and management, recruiting and retention efforts, employee onboarding and orientation, and training support. Serve as a trusted resource for team members, ensuring a positive working environment for staff and a welcoming experience for our guests. Must be an efficient and organized multi-tasker with strong analytical skills and a positive attitude. Must be a true team player, willing to embrace challenge and change as an opportunity to grow and develop professionally.

Functional Areas of Responsibility:
Benefits Communication and Plan Management

• Provide assistance to employees with questions regarding company provided and voluntary benefits including medical, dental, life, flexible spending accounts, 401 (k) plan, short-and long-term disability insurances.
• Participate in vendor renewals and assist in conducting requests for proposals.
• Coordinate with external vendors to conduct open enrollment educational sessions at larger locations. Ensure communication and resources are made available to all employees at smaller locations. Ensure company benefits portal information is kept current.
• Remain current with benefit trends and make recommendations to enhance current employee benefit packages.
• Facilitate new hire enrollment process and complete monthly billing processes as required.
• Ensure employee status changes and reports of termination are completed in a timely manner and reported to carriers. Verify premiums have been removed from billings and appropriate Cobra notices distributed.
• Calculate benefits value per employee for payroll department’s inclusion on annual W-2 forms.
• Run and analyze periodic payroll reports for review of employees’ benefit eligibility status. Ensure all employee wage information is reviewed at least quarterly and submitted for completion of required ACA reporting.
• Compile data for plan audits and non-discrimination testing.

Employee Leave Management

• Assist employees with requests for medical, military and other types of leave, ensuring proper documentation is completed and retained.
• Track requests for FMLA and other types of leave, proactively communicating return to work updates to supervisory staff as needed.

Recruiting and Retention

• Serve as the first point of contact for the human resources office for internal and external contacts, providing a welcoming experience and professional image of our company.
• Assist in developing recruiting and retention strategies for retail, garden shop and pharmacy positions with locations spanning 3 states for entry-level to management level positions.
• Conduct interviews and make hiring decisions jointly with supervising managers, extend formal offers of employment and ensure required post-offer testing and screening is completed.
• Responsible for accurate and timely completion of new hire paperwork and coordinating initial training specific to each position.
• Ensure applicants and new hires have a positive and thorough orientation and onboarding experience.
• Assist with succession planning, staff training and development opportunities for organization.
• Complete EEO-1 reporting annually and other required reports as needed.
• Maintain supply of employee apparel inventory, and issue employee name tags.
• Perform all work in compliance with applicable federal, state and local regulations pertaining to equal employment opportunity and Medicare accreditation standards.

Ongoing Training and Development

• Continuously update knowledge relevant to human resource best practices, compliance with federal and state laws, and Medicare Accreditation requirements.
• Assist in ensuring organization’s personnel policies, forms, documentation and procedures are effective and compliant.
• Assist in developing and presenting training and coaching to management for resolving challenging personnel issues while remaining in compliance with company, state and federal guidelines.

Recognition and Special Events

• Actively participate in employee recognition events, including anniversary milestones and other significant achievements.
• Assist in planning company sponsored events, such as golf outing, racquetball tournament, family day at the zoo, senior day at the Sioux Empire Fair, holiday parties, etc.

Position Qualifications:

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in Human Resources required, with experience in retail and/or pharmacy desired.
• Experience managing employee benefits and recruiting is required.
• Experience with federal and multi-state compliance issues is required.
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources or related field is required.
• Professional in Human Resource Certification desired.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills are required.
• A demonstrated commitment to fairness and a commitment to confidentiality are required.
• Experience in multi-tasking, prioritizing and managing multiple deadlines and priorities are required.
• Ability to make sound recommendations in resolving problems, using professional judgment is necessary.

Work Environment and Physical Demands:

• This position operates in an office setting and routinely uses standard office equipment including computers, telephones and fax machines, photocopiers and filing cabinets.
• This role is primarily sedentary, however some standing, lifting, bending and stooping is required to organize and file documents.
• Successful candidate is required to have ordinary ambulatory skills sufficient to visit other work locations, the ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and manipulate (life, carry, move) light to medium weights of 10 – 50 pounds. Requires good hand-eye coordination, arm, hand and finger dexterity, including the ability to grasp, and visual acuity to use a keyboard, operate equipment and read information.