KCM Technical
Overview
Lead HR Benefits Specialist – Palo Alto, CA (Hybrid) • $42.00-$57.00/hr • Contract Position Summary
We\'re seeking a resourceful and passionate Benefits Specialist to join our People team in Palo Alto. This person will manage the day-to-day operations of our U.S. health, welfare, time off and leave programs, support an innovative engineering workforce, and help evolve our employee benefits experience. The ideal candidate is an out-of-the-box thinker with strong HR systems knowledge, exceptional communication skills, and a genuine passion for delivering thoughtful, people-centered benefits programs. This position requires a regular onsite presence (4 days/week) in our Palo Alto office to support our dynamic and collaborative engineering team. Key Responsibilities
Benefits Onboarding
Lead benefits orientation during new hire onboarding sessions; present benefit offerings in a clear and engaging manner. Guide new hires through benefits enrollment and educate employees on their options in Workday.
Employee & Benefits Support
Serve as the first point of contact for employee inquiries related to medical, dental, vision, life, time off, disability, and wellness programs. Proactively identify trends in employee questions and propose content or process improvements.
Benefits Administration (Workday)
Manage daily benefit events in Workday including new enrollments, life changes, terminations, and dependents updates. Ensure accurate and timely processing of benefits data across Workday, payroll, and external carrier systems.
Auditing, Billing, and Vendor Support
Perform routine audits to ensure eligibility, payroll deductions, and vendor records align. Process and reconcile monthly benefits invoices; investigate and resolve discrepancies with vendors.
Leave of Absence & Disability Programs
Manage the end-to-end employee leave experience (FMLA, disability, parental, personal leaves). Act as the liaison between employees, managers, and third-party administrators to ensure a smooth transition through leave and return-to-work processes.
Projects & Program Development
Support key benefits initiatives such as open enrollment, wellness campaigns, and benefits communications.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop innovative, employee-centric benefits solutions that align with the needs of a fast-paced engineering workforce. Required Qualifications
5+ years
of Human Resources in a high-tech or engineering-focused organization with at least 2 years hands-on experience in benefits administration. Strong working knowledge of
Workday Benefits and Payroll . Advanced proficiency in
GSuite
- VLOOKUPs, pivot tables, auditing spreadsheets and professional presentation development. Experience supporting vendor relationships and open enrollment processes. Familiarity with benefits compliance (ACA, COBRA, ERISA, FMLA). Preferred Qualifications
Experience working in a
startup
with rapidly evolving processes. Required Soft Skills
Excellent verbal and written communication skills —ability to simplify complex information and present with clarity. Demonstrated experience supporting technical or engineering teams and understanding of their unique workplace needs. Proven ability to manage sensitive information with discretion and maintain a high level of professionalism. Creative and solution-oriented mindset —you\'re someone who challenges the status quo and brings fresh ideas to enhance employee experiences. Deep interest in and passion for benefits design, wellness, and employee well-being.
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Lead HR Benefits Specialist – Palo Alto, CA (Hybrid) • $42.00-$57.00/hr • Contract Position Summary
We\'re seeking a resourceful and passionate Benefits Specialist to join our People team in Palo Alto. This person will manage the day-to-day operations of our U.S. health, welfare, time off and leave programs, support an innovative engineering workforce, and help evolve our employee benefits experience. The ideal candidate is an out-of-the-box thinker with strong HR systems knowledge, exceptional communication skills, and a genuine passion for delivering thoughtful, people-centered benefits programs. This position requires a regular onsite presence (4 days/week) in our Palo Alto office to support our dynamic and collaborative engineering team. Key Responsibilities
Benefits Onboarding
Lead benefits orientation during new hire onboarding sessions; present benefit offerings in a clear and engaging manner. Guide new hires through benefits enrollment and educate employees on their options in Workday.
Employee & Benefits Support
Serve as the first point of contact for employee inquiries related to medical, dental, vision, life, time off, disability, and wellness programs. Proactively identify trends in employee questions and propose content or process improvements.
Benefits Administration (Workday)
Manage daily benefit events in Workday including new enrollments, life changes, terminations, and dependents updates. Ensure accurate and timely processing of benefits data across Workday, payroll, and external carrier systems.
Auditing, Billing, and Vendor Support
Perform routine audits to ensure eligibility, payroll deductions, and vendor records align. Process and reconcile monthly benefits invoices; investigate and resolve discrepancies with vendors.
Leave of Absence & Disability Programs
Manage the end-to-end employee leave experience (FMLA, disability, parental, personal leaves). Act as the liaison between employees, managers, and third-party administrators to ensure a smooth transition through leave and return-to-work processes.
Projects & Program Development
Support key benefits initiatives such as open enrollment, wellness campaigns, and benefits communications.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop innovative, employee-centric benefits solutions that align with the needs of a fast-paced engineering workforce. Required Qualifications
5+ years
of Human Resources in a high-tech or engineering-focused organization with at least 2 years hands-on experience in benefits administration. Strong working knowledge of
Workday Benefits and Payroll . Advanced proficiency in
GSuite
- VLOOKUPs, pivot tables, auditing spreadsheets and professional presentation development. Experience supporting vendor relationships and open enrollment processes. Familiarity with benefits compliance (ACA, COBRA, ERISA, FMLA). Preferred Qualifications
Experience working in a
startup
with rapidly evolving processes. Required Soft Skills
Excellent verbal and written communication skills —ability to simplify complex information and present with clarity. Demonstrated experience supporting technical or engineering teams and understanding of their unique workplace needs. Proven ability to manage sensitive information with discretion and maintain a high level of professionalism. Creative and solution-oriented mindset —you\'re someone who challenges the status quo and brings fresh ideas to enhance employee experiences. Deep interest in and passion for benefits design, wellness, and employee well-being.
#J-18808-Ljbffr