Benefits and Payroll Specialist

Benefits and Payroll Specialist – Highmark Companies

Pay: $60,000.00 - $70,000.00 DOE| Full-Time | Hybrid – Savage, MN Area

Highmark Companies is a multi-division construction and restoration company with a workforce that spans multiple departments, pay structures, and benefit elections. We need someone who knows payroll and benefits inside and out. In this role, you'll own semi-monthly payroll processing, administer our employee benefits programs, and support day-to-day HR operations across the company. If you're detail-oriented, process-driven, and thrive in an environment where accuracy matters, this is the role for you.

What Highmark Companies Offers

• Competitive Base Salary, starting at $60,000.00

• Hybrid schedule: ~3 days on-site per week required, with flexibility for remote work as needed after training period.

• Health Insurance: Company pays 100% of employee premium

• Health Savings Account

• Dental & Vision

• 401K + Company Matching

• Paid Holidays

• Unlimited Responsible Time Off

• Profit Sharing

• Paid Employee Referral Program

• Strong team culture with room to grow across a multi-division construction company

Responsibilities

Payroll Processing: Own and process semi-monthly payroll in Paylocity for commission and non-commission employees across multiple departments.

Timecard and Time-Off Verification: Review and verify timecards, time-off requests, and corrections in Paylocity each cycle to ensure accurate and compliant payroll.

Payroll Reporting: Generate payroll-related reports and support audit and reconciliation processes as needed.

Compliance: Ensure payroll practices remain current with federal and Minnesota state wage and hour requirements.

Benefits Administration

Enrollment and Changes: Administer employee benefits enrollments, qualifying life events, and annual open enrollment in Paylocity and with carriers.

Carrier Coordination: Serve as the primary point of contact with benefits carriers for eligibility, billing, and issue resolution.

Employee Support: Answer employee questions about health, dental, vision, HSA, 401k, and other benefit programs clearly and accurately.

ACA and Compliance: Assist with ACA reporting, COBRA administration, and other regulatory requirements tied to benefits.

HR Generalist Support

Onboarding Administration: Support new hire onboarding logistics including paperwork, system setup, and orientation coordination.

Employee Records: Maintain accurate employee records and HR documentation in compliance with company policy and applicable law.

Recognition Program: Support administration of the company employee recognition program.

Reporting: Generate recurring HR reports and maintain data integrity across the HRIS.

SOP Compliance: Complete assigned HR duties in accordance with company-approved standard operating procedures.

Required

• 2+ years of hands-on experience in payroll processing and benefits administration

• 2 years of experience with multi-entity or commission-based payroll structure

• Working knowledge of benefits administration, open enrollment, and carrier management

• Proficient in Paylocity or a comparable HRIS platform; Paylocity strongly preferred

• Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills and comfort managing recurring, time-sensitive deadlines

• Able to work independently, maintain confidentiality, and exercise sound judgment

• Proficient in Microsoft Office

• Must pass a background check

Preferred

• Experience in construction, trades, or field-based industries

• Familiarity with ACA reporting and COBRA administration

• PHR or SHRM-CP certification