Benefits & LOA Specialist

At Coborn's Inc., ownership isn't just a structure-it's a mindset. Every employee plays a part in building a workplace where people feel supported, informed, and empowered. As our Benefits & Leave of Absence (LOA) Specialist, you'll be at the heart of that mission-helping fellow employee-owners navigate some of life's most important moments with confidence and clarity.

In this role, you will administer the organization's centralized leave of absence (LOA) processes, employee benefit programs, and retirement plans. You'll ensure compliance with all regulations while delivering accurate, timely, and efficient support-because taking care of our people is everyone's business.

You'll serve as a trusted resource for employees and managers, helping them make informed decisions and ensuring fair, consistent application of policies across the organization.

You will also:

• Administer all company leave programs, including FMLA, non-FMLA, and state-mandated leaves
• Guide employees and managers through LOA processes with clarity and support
• Maintain accurate, compliant leave records and reporting
• Coordinate with payroll and vendors to ensure seamless leave and benefits continuation
• Oversee administration of all employee benefits programs (health, retirement, and more)
• Serve as a trusted resource for benefits questions, eligibility, and issue resolution
• Ensure accurate enrollments, system updates, and vendor billing audits
• Lead the planning and execution of open enrollment from start to finish
• Create clear, engaging benefits communications and onboarding materials
• Manage ACA reporting (1094-C/1095-C) with accuracy and timeliness
• Stay current on regulations (ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA) to ensure compliance
• Identify opportunities to enhance benefits programs and employee experience

What's In It For Me?

Our remarkable employees are at the heart of everything we do. At Coborn's, we're committed to creating a supportive and rewarding workplace-one that offers a vibrant, team-oriented environment, ongoing career growth, and meaningful benefits. As an employee-owned company, we believe in investing in our people and their futures.

We're proud to offer a variety of benefits to both our full-time and part-time employees, including:

• Medical Insurance with Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) options
• Dental and Vision Insurance
• 401(k) plan options - we also match up to 20% of the first 5% contributed
• Participation in our Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP) - yes, we're employee-owned! Our team members benefit from the success of the company through this company-sponsored benefit!
• Education benefits, including tuition discounts and scholarship programs
• 10% employee discount on grocery items, with additional franchise-specific discounts available at company-owned Ace Hardware, Caribou Coffee, Erbert and Gerbert's, and Pet Supplies Plus locations.
• Paid Time Off (PTO/Vacation)
• Paid Military Leave
• Employee recognition programs with monetary rewards, including in-store vouchers, years of service, and employee of the month
• Employee Health & Wellness Programs, Challenges and Resources - to assist our team members in living a life of wellbeing!
• Get Paid Daily with DailyPay - for employees who would like access to their pay before payday, we offer this great benefit!
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - unlimited phone access to legal, financial, and work-life services and up to five free in-person counseling sessions, per situation/issue, per year
• Access to a national discount marketplace for travel, electronics, auto/home insurance, entertainment and more!
• Tools, resources, and opportunities for career growth and development

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related discipline preferred.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of progressive experience in employee benefits administration and leave of absence management.
• Demonstrated knowledge of federal and state employment laws and regulations, including FMLA, ADA, ERISA, COBRA, and other applicable leave-related policies.

We believe that building a team of people with different backgrounds, beliefs, experiences and perspectives inspires fresh thinking and opens us up to new possibilities. We are an EEO/AA Employer - All qualified individuals, including minorities, females, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Are you friendly, dependable, and passionate about working with people? At Coborn's, Inc., we love serving our guests, supporting our communities, and helping our team members grow their careers. If you're looking for a place where you can build a future while making a positive impact every day, we'd love to talk to you about joining our team!

Coborn's, Inc. is a fast-growing, employee-owned grocery retailer proudly serving communities across the Midwest. Our family of grocery stores includes Coborn's, Cash Wise Foods, Marketplace Foods, Hornbacher's, Tadych's Marketplace Foods, Sullivan's Foods, and Kessler's. We offer our guests an elevated shopping experience-both in-store and online-focused on freshness, value, and convenience. Guided by our company vision to inspire happiness, healthy living, and simplicity, this principle has fueled our growth for more than 100 years and is at the heart of everything we do.

Coborn's, Inc. also owns and operates liquor stores under the Coborn's Liquor, Cash Wise Liquor, Andy's Liquor, and Captain Jack's brands. In addition, we operate fuel kiosks and convenience store locations under the Little Dukes and Coborn's Express names. Many of our grocery stores also feature full-service pharmacies to support the health and wellness of our guests. We manage a variety of other retail businesses in markets where the fit is right, including Ace Hardware, Country Floral Gifts & Greenhouse, Caribou Coffee, Dunn Brothers Coffee, Erbert and Gerbert's, Godfather's Pizza, and Pet Supplies Plus. To support our diverse retail operations, we operate our own central bakery, fresh foods commissary, and grocery warehouse and distribution center.