Senior People Specialist

About Patra:

Patra Corporation is the worldwide leader in insurance back-office and account management business process outsourcing. Patra offers a wide range of services designed to lower costs, reduce risk and improve employee productivity through the transfer of account management and business support functions, such as policy checking, certificate issuance, eligibility processing, quality control and account audits, to operation centers in the US, India, and the Philippines.

Core Duties:

Reporting to the Associate Director, Enterprise Compensation and Benefits, this role is responsible for administering and managing comprehensive U.S. and Canadian benefits, leave, and payroll programs in alignment with federal, state/provincial, and local regulatory requirements. The Senior People Specialist serves as a subject matter expert across health and welfare benefits, retirement plans, disability programs, and multi jurisdictional leave administration, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and seamless employee experience. The role also contributes to end‑to‑end payroll administration— including processing, auditing, payroll tax setup, record maintenance, and ensuring timely and accurate payments—while proactively partnering with internal teams and external vendors to resolve complex benefit, leave, and payroll issues.

 

This position is accountable for maintaining high-quality data integrity, supporting compliance activities such as audits and reporting, guiding employees and managers through benefits and leave processes, and contributing to operational excellence through strong communication, collaboration, and cross-functional alignment.

 

Patra Core Competencies:

• Knows the Business

• Leads Others

• Accountable

• Team Player

 

Core Duties by Competency (50% Benefits / 50% Payroll)

Knows the Business

Benefits Responsibilities

• Manage the full U.S. & Canada benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, wellness, retirement (401(k)), and voluntary benefits.

• Coordinate with service providers and vendors for HSA, FSA, COBRA, COBRA subsidies, supplemental life, voluntary life/AD&D EOI, and disability carriers.

• Process and validate benefits enrollments, terminations, and QLEs in HRIS and vendor systems.

• Conduct regular benefits and leave process audits to mitigate compliance risks.

• Administer federal leave programs (FMLA, ADA, USERRA) and state programs (Paid Family Leave, Pregnancy Disability Leave, Paid Sick Leave).

• Audit benefit invoices and payroll deductions to ensure accurate administration.

• Maintain and update benefits policies, handbooks, and compliance notices.

• Support Canadian benefits functions including renewals, ROE, troubleshooting, enrollment, and retirement reporting.

• Apply legal and regulatory guidance (ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, IRS) to internal processes and policy alignment.

 

Payroll Responsibilities

• Process and validate payroll inputs including new hires, terminations, rate changes, deductions, arrears, retro pay, and compensation adjustments.

• Ensure accurate setup and maintenance of multistate payroll tax requirements (residence/work rules).

• Ensure compliance with federal and state wage & hour laws, payroll tax rules, and statutory deductions. • Support timecard management, pay period tracking, and data accuracy for hourly employees.

 

Leads Others

Benefits Responsibilities

• Act as the primary point of contact for employees, brokers, vendors, and TPAs regarding benefits inquiries, escalations, and claim resolution.

• Coordinate and conduct annual Open Enrollment, including communications, employee education, and system enhancements.

• Create and distribute benefits communications (guides, FAQs, newsletters)

• Deliver training sessions on benefits offerings, leave policies, and wellness programs.

• Manage North American and Canadian leave of absence programs, serving as the main point of contact for employees, brokers, vendors, and TPAs regarding related inquiries, escalations, and claim resolution, and guides employees and managers through leave eligibility, processes, and return to work procedures.

• Support HR leadership in employee engagement initiatives to improve benefits awareness and utilization.

• Demonstrate excellent communication and interpersonal skills to support employees and collaborate effectively across teams.

 

Payroll Responsibilities

• Partner closely with payroll to ensure accurate and timely pay cycles for hourly and salaried employees. • Collaborate with internal teams on resolving payroll related benefits issues, escalations, or discrepancies.

 

Accountable

Benefits Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, and IRS regulations affecting all benefit programs.

• Stay informed on industry benchmarks and help align company benefits offerings with market standards.

• Manage disability claims (STD/LTD), including coordination with carriers.

• Maintain accurate leave tracking systems and ensure records comply with policies and legal requirements.

 

Payroll Responsibilities

• Demonstrate high attention to detail and accuracy in payroll processing and benefit deduction validation.

• Support audits (payroll deductions, benefits reconciliation, compliance reviews).

• Assist with ACA reporting, 5500 filings, unemployment documentation, and workers’ compensation reporting.

• Maintain accurate records for disability claims, death claims, COBRA events, and life insurance continuation.

 

Team Player

Benefits Responsibilities

• Assist with internal and external benefits reporting (5500, ACA, compliance filings).

• Maintain and update employee handbooks, policy documents, and compliance notices.

• Support cross functional collaboration with Legal, HR, and Payroll to ensure policies reflect federal and multistate laws.

• Perform additional benefits related duties as assigned.

 

Payroll Responsibilities

• Coordinate with payroll teams to ensure accurate leave related deductions and payments.

• Provide employment and wage verification (VOE) letters for benefits and employment related requirements.

• Assist with reconciliation tasks, corrections, and documentation required for payroll accuracy.

 

Tools & Technical Skills

• Strong analytical capability for audits, reporting, and compliance tracking.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, HRIS platforms, and benefits administration systems.

 

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business Administration, or related field (or equivalent experience).

• Any combination of 3-5 years of experience in benefits administration with leave management and/or similar experience in a payroll role preferably in a multi-state environment.

• Experience working with HRIS and benefits administration systems (e.g., Workday, ADP, UKG, Oracle). • Technical & Compliance Knowledge 

• Strong understanding of ERISA, ACA, FMLA, ADA, COBRA, HIPAA, and state leave laws.

• Experience managing multi-state leave laws (e.g., California CFRA, New York PFL, Washington Paid Family & Medical Leave).

• Familiarity with disability insurance programs (STD/LTD) and workers’ compensation administration.

 

Preferred Qualifications

• SHRM-CP or CEBS certification is highly desirable.

• Experience in a corporate benefits role within a mid-to-large company (500+ employees).

 

Working Conditions

• Work from home.

• Minimum internet speed of 6 mbps download and 3 mbps upload; no satellite.

 

Work Standards

• Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to work well with Patra colleagues and clients and with external organizations

• Promotes Culture of Respect & Safety: Demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for safety and respect; Communicates concerns: Uses and promotes safe respectful behaviors based on training and lessons learned

• Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable Patra Corp policies and procedures.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

Patra Corporation is an equal opportunity employer committed to celebrating diversity and creating a safe and inclusive environment for all employees.