Senior Human Resources Operations Specialist

About KIND:
Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) is a global leader in the protection of unaccompanied refugee and migrant children. Launched in 2008, KIND champions a world in which every child’s rights and well-being are protected throughout their journey to safety. KIND has accepted over 23,000 referrals of children seeking legal representation in their immigration proceedings. KIND has welcomed more than 41,000 attendees to trainings since its founding, cultivating partnerships with over 670 law firms, corporate legal departments, law schools, and bar associations across the country.
KIND’s social services program ensures that migrant and refugee children – who have often endured trauma – receive counseling, educational support, medical care, and other comprehensive services.
To address the root causes of child migration from Central America, and strengthen the protection of unaccompanied children, KIND advocates for policy changes and educates lawmakers, the media, and the broader public on the conditions that drive these children to flee their home countries. KIND supports children returning to their home countries by connecting them to essential support services and sponsors gender-based violence prevention programs in Central America to protect children in countries of origin and transit.
KIND is also building upon its expertise in the protection of unaccompanied children to encourage the development of pro bono initiatives across Europe in partnership with European NGOs.
Position Summary:  KIND seeks a Senior HR Operations Specialist responsible for the management of global benefits and payroll changes. The HR Operations Specialist provides solid analytical, technical, administrative and customer service support organization-wide to ensure accurate processing, timely crisis resolution, report creation, sustainable practices and regulatory compliance within our pay and benefit programs. They will collaborate with all areas of HR and other business stakeholders to improve transactional processes for optimal employee experience and be responsible for assisting with the administration of all benefits and retirement programs, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short and long-term disability, and 401(k) plan.  The successful candidate is a highly motivated team player, critical thinker, with excellent writing and communications skills, willing learner, multi-tasker able to time manage effectively with our team. This position reports to the Director, HR Operations. 

Essential Functions:

• Evaluates and recommends to the Director, HR Operations, Senior Director, HR and CHRO updates to plan documents, plan summaries, benefit summaries, new hire orientation and open enrollment materials and ongoing marketing/educational materials. 
• Manages the administration of leave of absences. Ensures compliance with FMLA, PDL, CFRA, ADA, and any other applicable federal and state mandated laws. 
• Ensures the accuracy of all benefits enrollments in the HRIS to provide vendors with accurate eligibility information. 
• Delivers benefits orientation. 
• Audits expenses related to benefit payouts and performs quality checks of benefits-related data. 
• Assists employees regarding benefits claim issues and plan changes. 
• Creates and distributes all benefits enrollment materials and determines eligibility. 
• Processes employees’ benefit and life status changes in HRIS and confirms changes with carriers. 
• Responds to benefits inquiries from managers and employees on plan provisions, benefits enrollments, status changes and other general inquiries. 
• Coordinates with our vendor to process, track and administer all leave-of-absence requests and disability paperwork: medical, personal, disability and FMLA. 
• Responds to 401k audits and inquiries from managers and employees relating to enrollments, plan changes and contribution amounts.  
• Partners with the Director, HR Operations to manage the open enrollment process. 
• Reviews benefits bills and audits, including wellness vendors administration. 
• Secures a standard and competitive approach to private medical and life insurance and plans for domestic and international staff. 
• Manages payroll changes and liaises with Finance team. 
• Responsible for HRIS accuracy. 
• Supports HR team with department budget management and compensation planning. 
• Supports the HR team wellness programs, including drafting wellness proposals. 
• Participates in process improvement efforts and department projects. 
• Other duties as assigned. 

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in HR Operations to include benefits administration, preferably in a nonprofit setting. 
• Extensive knowledge of employee benefits and applicable laws. 
• SHRM or benefits certificat