HR Operations Specialist, Benefits & Leave

About this role

Whether it's the unique breadth of our integrated offering that covers Injectable Aesthetics, Dermatological Skincare and Therapeutic Dermatology products; or our commitment to recognizing and rewarding people for the contribution they make - working here isn't like anywhere else.

At Galderma, we actively give our teams reasons to believe in our ambition to become the leading dermatology company in the world. With us, you have the ultimate opportunity to gain new and challenging work experiences and create an unparalleled, direct impact.

The HR Operations Specialist, Benefits & Leave is responsible for the day-to-day administration and operational execution of Galderma’s U.S. benefits and leave programs. This role serves as a key member of the HR Operations team, supporting employee benefits, leave administration, vendor management, financial administration, and employee case management.  The Specialist ensures accurate processing, regulatory compliance, and a high-quality employee experience while partnering closely with Payroll, HRIS, Finance, external vendors, and the Senior Manager, U.S. Benefits to deliver efficient and compliant HR operations.

Key Responsibilities

Leave of Absence Administration (50%) • Coordinate leave of absence cases with the third-party leave administrator.

• Initiate leave requests and collect required documentation.

• Track leave timelines, required documentation, return-to-work dates, and leave extensions.

• Update Workday to accurately reflect employee leave status and related transactions.

• Coordinate with Payroll to ensure accurate leave pay administration and benefit deductions.

• Communicate leave status, required actions, and next steps to employees and managers.

• Escalate complex leave, ADA, accommodation, and compliance matters to the Benefits Manager or Employee Relations.

Benefits Administration (30%) • Process benefit enrollments, qualifying life events, status changes, and terminations within Workday.

• Maintain employee benefit eligibility and enrollment records.

• Respond to Tier 1 employee benefits inquiries through the HR ticketing system and escalate complex issues as appropriate.

• Audit benefit enrollment data and coordinate corrections with internal teams and vendors.

• Support administration of Annual Open Enrollment, including testing, transaction processing, employee communication, and issue resolution.

• Manage benefit vendor invoices, including invoice reconciliation, approval routing, and coordination with finance to ensure timely payment.

• Create, maintain, and monitor purchase orders for benefit vendors, ensuring compliance with procurement and financial policies.

• Assist with vendor file transmissions, eligibility reconciliations, and operational issue resolution.

• Assist with benefits-related reporting, audits, compliance activities, and documentation.

• Maintain benefits-related knowledge articles, FAQs, and HR Hub content.

Employee Support (10%) • Serve as the primary point of contact for routine benefits and leave inquiries.

• Educate employees on benefits processes, enrollment procedures, and available resources.

• Provide timely, accurate, and empathetic customer service while meeting established service level agreements (SLAs).

• Escalate complex benefits questions to the Benefits Manager when appropriate.

• Partner with HR Business Partners, Payroll, managers, and the Total Rewards team to resolve employee issues.

• Maintain knowledge articles, FAQs, and HR Hub content.

HR Operations (10%) • Maintain accurate employee data and benefits records within Workday.

• Perform routine audits related to benefits eligibility, leave administration, and HR transactions to ensure data integrity and compliance.

• Document and maintain standard operating procedures for Benefits and Leave processes

• Support operational reporting, compliance activities, and process documentation.

• Identify opportunities to improve HR operational processes and employee experience.

• Cross-train across HR Operations functions to provide team coverage during peak periods and absences.

Skills & Qualifications • Bachelor's degree in human resources business or a related field preferred.

• Two (2) to five (5) years of experience supporting U.S. HR operations, benefits administration, leave administration, or a related HR function.

• Hands on experience administering U.S. health and welfare, retirement, Wellness, leave of absence, and fringe benefit programs.

• Strong understanding of HRIS, payroll integration, and benefits administration processes.

• Experience supporting benefit audits, regulatory compliance activities, ACA reporting, and annual benefits administration processes.

• Experience managing vendor invoices, purchase orders, and financial reconciliation activities preferred.

• Experience working with HR case management or ticketing systems preferred.

• Proficiency with HRIS platforms (Workday preferred).

• Strong analytical, reconciliation, and problem-solving skills.

• High attention to detail with a strong customer service mindset.

• Advanced Excel skills and strong written and verbal communication abilities.

• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

• Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) or similar benefits designation preferred.

Physical Requirements & Work Environment This role requires the ability to perform standard office activities, including prolonged sitting and computer use. Physical demands and work environments may vary based on business needs. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This job description describes the general nature and level of work performed and is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities. Duties and responsibilities may be modified, added, or removed as necessary to meet business and organizationa

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