Group Benefits Specialist

Groupe Dynamite Inc. (GDI) is a Montréal-based, public company of integrated omni-channel brands, designing and distributing accessible, trend-forward fashion for women since 1975.

Our mission of "Empowering YOU to be YOU, one outfit at a time" is brought to life through the GARAGE and DYNAMITE banners and represents the consumer-centric core of GDI's long-standing success as a leading retailer in North America.

Today, GDI operates nearly 300 stores across Canada and the United States, as well as shoppable brand experiences at Garageclothing.com and Dynamiteclothing.com.

Job Summary:

As our first Group Benefits Specialist in the U.S., you will be the go-to expert on benefits for our American team. Reporting to our Group Benefits Manager, you’ll own the day-to-day administration of our U.S. health, welfare, and 401(k) plans, keep us compliant as the rules evolve, and make sure every employee, from our store teams to our corporate staff, understands and gets the most out of their benefits.
This is a great fit for someone who loves the details of benefits administration, enjoys helping people through important life moments, and wants the chance to build something from the ground up as our U.S. footprint grows.

Main Responsibilities:

• Own the day-to-day administration of our U.S. benefit plans (medical, dental, vision, life, disability, HSA/FSA, and 401(k)), including enrollments, terminations, qualifying life events, and status changes;
• Be the first point of contact for employees and managers on eligibility, coverage, claims escalations, and leave-related benefit questions, with answers that are clear, timely, and empathetic;
• Run U.S. open enrollment from start to finish; system set-up and testing, carrier file updates, employee communications, and post-enrollment audits;
• Reconcile monthly carrier and vendor invoices against HRIS and payroll data, and partner with Payroll so benefit deductions and 401(k) contributions are right every time;
• Keep us compliant with ACA, ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, and state-specific requirements, including ACA hours tracking and eligibility measurement for our variable-hour store teams, and annual 1094-C/1095-C reporting;
• Support annual plan filings and testing, including Form 5500s, 401(k) nondiscrimination testing, and plan audits, working closely with our broker, recordkeeper, and third-party administrators;
• Manage day-to-day relationships with carriers, brokers, and vendors such as our COBRA administrator, resolving issues quickly and holding partners to agreed service standards;
• Monitor carrier data feeds and keep benefits data in our HRIS accurate, complete, and audit-ready;
• Coordinate the benefits side of leaves of absence (FMLA, state leave programs, short and long-term disability) in partnership with HR and our leave provider;
• Build our U.S. benefits playbook; SOPs, enrollment guides, FAQs, and new hire materials so every process is documented and ready to scale.

Qualifications:

• 3–5 years of U.S. benefits administration experience, ideally in a multi-state, high-volume, or retail environment with hourly employees;
• Solid working knowledge of U.S. benefits regulations (ACA, ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, and Section 125) and how they play out day to day;
• Hands-on experience with 401(k) administration, open enrollment, and carrier and vendor management;
• Experience with an HRIS or benefits administration platform—hands-on experience with UKG is a real plus;
• Strong Excel skills (lookups, pivot tables) and comfort reconciling data across systems;
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, or a related field, or equivalent experience—CEBS, SHRM-CP, or PHR is an asset;
• Excellent attention to detail and the discretion in confidential employee information;
• A clear, empathetic communicator who can explain complex benefits in plain language;
• A builder’s mindset: comfortable working independently as our first U.S. benefits hire, and partnering across borders with our Head Office team;
• Integrity and values that align with our corporate culture;
• A collaborative spirit and positive energy that make you adaptable, accountable, and generous with your time and support.

At GDI, you will be part of a growing organization that understands the importance of investing in people and offers you:

• A comprehensive compensation package that includes performance-driven bonuses;
• A group retirement savings program with employer matching;
• Flexible group insurance with personalized coverage that meets your needs;
• An employee discount at Garage and Dynamite;
• Exclusive private sample sales;
• A flexible vacation policy;
• And more!

GDI has been repeatedly voted one of Montréal’s Top Employers and one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People.

Our promise…
No day will be like the last—we aim to be better today than we were yesterday. We are committed to employment equity.

Candidates that are retained will be called for an interview.

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