Benefits & Leave Specialist

At Gardner, we believe commercial construction should feel as welcoming as it is professional. That’s why we don’t just build and renovate, we build relationships, rooted in hospitality. Our mission is to set the platinum standard for our clients, partners, and team members by delivering exceptional results while embodying our core values: passion, humility, excellence, empathy, and nimbleness. We bring a hospitality-driven approach to every project, ensuring that every interaction is thoughtful, responsive, and human-centered.

Who You Are

You believe benefits and leave administration are about more than policies and compliance. Behind every leave request or benefits question is a person who deserves clarity, care, and support. You bring strong technical expertise in benefits and leave, and you pair it with genuine empathy. You're organized, detail-oriented, and trusted to handle sensitive information with discretion. Most importantly, you see this work as an opportunity to care for people during some of the most important moments of their lives.

How You’ll Contribute

Benefits Administration

• Administer Gardner's full benefits suite: medical, dental, vision, life, LTD, 401(k), HSA, and voluntary benefits.
• Manage enrollments, qualifying life events, coverage changes, and terminations.
• Serve as the primary employee contact for benefits questions and claims navigation.
• Partner with brokers, carriers, and TPAs to resolve issues and ensure accurate administration.
• Coordinate with Payroll on deductions and corrections.
• Lead annual open enrollment from planning through verification.
• Support ongoing benefits education and bring vendor and program improvement recommendations to leadership.

Leave of Absence Administration

• Administer all leave programs including FMLA, ADA, Minnesota PFML, parental, bereavement, sabbatical, and other job-protected leaves.
• Guide employees through the leave process with compassion and clarity from request through return.
• Manage documentation, eligibility determinations, and compliance in partnership with Gardner's TPA.
• Coordinate with Payroll on paid and unpaid leave, including PFML benefit coordination.
• Support ADA accommodation discussions and return-to-work planning.
• Develop manager resources and employee-facing communications that make leave easy to navigate.
• Create employee-facing communications that make benefits and leave programs easy to understand and access.

Compliance & Process Management

• Monitor ACA eligibility and support 1095-C reporting; ensure timely COBRA administration.
• Maintain ERISA compliance through current plan documents and SPDs.
• Stay current on federal, state, and local regulations and recommend policy and process improvements.
• Build sustainable, documented processes that create continuity and audit-readiness.

What Success Looks Like

• Employees on leave feel informed, supported, and confident about their rights and next steps.
• Benefits programs run accurately, efficiently, and compliantly with minimal employee-facing issues.
• Managers have the tools and guidance to confidently support their teams through benefits and leave situations.
• Gardner maintains compliance with all applicable federal and state regulations.
• Benefits and leave processes are documented, scalable, and sustainable.
• Every interaction reflects Gardner's hospitality-first culture.

What You’ll Bring

• 4+ years in benefits and/or leave administration or an HR role with significant responsibility in both areas.
• Bachelor's degree in HR, Business, Communications, or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrated experience with FMLA, ADA, open enrollment, ACA compliance, and TPA partnerships.
• Strong knowledge of ERISA, COBRA, 401(k), and Minnesota leave laws including PFML.
• Exceptional ability to communicate complex information clearly and compassionately.
• Proficiency with BambooHR and Google Workspace.

What Will Set You Apart

• Experience administering Minnesota Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFML).
• SHRM-CP, Certified Benefits Professional (CBP), or similar professional certification.
• Experience creating manager-facing tools, guides, and educational resources.
• A demonstrated ability to balance compliance requirements with a deeply human, employee-centered approach.
• A passion for creating exceptional employee experiences during life's most significant moments .

Why Join Gardner Builders

We are proud to be recognized as

• 8-Time “Best Places to Work” by Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal
• 6-Time “Top 150 Workplaces ” by Minneapolis Star Tribune
• #1 Top Workplace in Construction by Star Tribune (2023)
• 4-Time “Best Workplace ” by Inc Magazine
• “Best Places to Work” by Milwaukee Business Journal

Our culture-first approach encourages personal and professional growth, an EOS-led structure, and a commitment to building a workplace where everyone feels valued, challenged, and loves coming to work.

Compensation & Benefits

• Annual Salary: $70,000 - $85,000 (paid weekly) + discretionary bonus.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Health, dental, vision, HSA with employer contribution, and 401(k) plan with employer contribution.
• Ancillary Benefits: Company-paid basic life & AD&D insurance, company-paid long-term disability, company-paid employee assistance program, accident insurance, and critical illness insurance.
• Perks: Paid parking or public transportation costs, company-provided phone, and laptop.
• Work-Life Balance: Generous paid time off, paid sabbatical leave, paid bereavement leave, paid parental leave, free onsite fitness facility, and regular company and team outings.

Interview Process

Our process typically includes three conversations (phone and in-person) to ensure a mutual fit.

Pre-Employment Screening

Drug screen and background check required.

Other Items to Note

• Gardner reserves the right to hire any individual without legal or financial obligation for unwanted solicitations. No agency emails, calls, or solicitations are accepted without a valid agreement.
• Must be currently legally authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H1B status, 0-1, TN, CPT, OPT, etc.). We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.
• We are only considering local candidates at this time. We are unable to provide relocation assistance at this time.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

• This is a full-time, in-person role located in downtown Minneapolis. Remote work is available as needed but is not intended to be standard operating procedure.
• This role requires some flexibility to work outside standard office hours as needed for event planning and execution. Events are typically planned well in advance and with flexibility to accommodate personal and family needs.
• This role is performed in a standard office setting with standard office equipment.
• This position requires prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer, with frequent use of typing, writing, and handling documents.
• Occasional light lifting (up to 20 pounds) may be required, such as moving office supplies or moving small equipment.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.