Benefits & Leave of Absence Specialist

ABOUT KENDO

Kendo Holdings, Inc. is a San Francisco-based beauty brand developer and wholesaler owned by LVMH Moët Hennessy - Louis Vuitton, the world’s largest luxury group. A play on the words “can do”, Kendo has become the hub of creativity and next generation beauty product development for global Sephora channels and selective retailers outside of Sephora.

Through original development, collaborations and acquisitions the Kendo stable of brands will always be creative, inspiring and innovative. A dynamic engine of speed, expertise and market-savvy, the Kendo team continues to redefine the beauty industry through great product, great storytelling, great retail and direct-to-consumer partnerships. This shows up in everything we do and in what we stand for:

• “Can Do” Spirit: We work together to make our wildest dreams a reality: As entrepreneurs, we embrace optimism and find creative ways to reach our goals
• Advocacy, Diversity, and Inclusion: We recognize and celebrate the full spectrum of personal identities. We create safe spaces so everyone’s voice is heard. We listen with humility and act with courage.
• Storytelling: We tell authentic stories like no, one else. It’s our key to inspire trust and build relationships, rallying, our people, partners, and consumers around our brands.
• Resilience: We embrace challenges as opportunities. Change is ever- constant, and agility is our strength.
• Product Excellence: We put the consumers first: We constantly raise the bar to create products of the highest quality that everyone just has to have.

The salary range for this position is $108,000 - $122,000 per year. Offered salary is dependent upon experience and San Francisco location. Kendo Total Rewards offerings also include an annual bonus and a comprehensive benefits package including: medical, dental and vision insurance, flex paid time off program, parental leave, employee discount/perks, a retirement plan with employer contributions, Summer Fridays, opportunity to work from anywhere for two weeks during the calendar year and December wellness/shutdown week for applicable positions.

The Kendo house of brands currently includes: Fenty Beauty, Fenty Skin, Fenty Eau de Parfum, Fenty Hair, Ole Henriksen, Lip Lab.

SUMMARY

The Benefits & Leave of Absence Specialist will be instrumental in ensuring our employees understand, access, and maximize their comprehensive benefits package. This pivotal role involves the end-to-end administration of all employee benefits, including health, life, and disability insurance, alongside expertly managing all leave of absence programs for our US and Canadian workforce.

You will serve as the primary point of contact and subject matter expert, guiding employees through their benefit options and leave processes. Your expertise will be crucial in ensuring strict compliance with all federal and state regulations, contributing significantly to a positive employee experience and the overall operational efficiency of our People & Culture department. We are looking for someone with strong customer service acumen, analytical problem-solving skills, and exceptional communication abilities to interact effectively at all levels of the organization.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Benefits Administration

• Administer all employee benefits programs for both US and Canada, including health insurance, life insurance, short-term/long-term disability, transportation, employee perks, 401(k) and flexible spending accounts.
• Collaborate closely with our parent company, LVMH, to administer our competitive benefit plans.
• Oversee and manage the annual open enrollment process, ensuring seamless execution and comprehensive employee communication.
• Resolve all employee benefit inquiries promptly, equitably, and courteously, acting as a trusted resource.
• Responsible for processing funding of 401(k), Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts.

Leave of Absence Management

• Serve as the main point of contact for all leave of absence related questions, requests, and administration.
• Interpret and administer leave programs and policies in strict accordance with applicable federal and state employment laws (e.g., FMLA, ADA, Pregnancy Discrimination Act).
• Review, track, and process all Leave of Absence requests (FMLA, non-FMLA, and ADA) according to company policy and legal requirements.
• Track Leave status in LOA Administration platform.
• Coordinate with payroll for payment of company paid leave benefits.
• Communicate proactively with managers and internal departments regarding employee leave of absence statuses.

Compliance & Reporting

• Ensure ongoing compliance with all state and federal regulations pertaining to benefits and leaves of absence.
• Complete local/state/federal required reporting that pertains to Benefits.
• Generate and submit required reports accurately and on time, including San Francisco HCSO reporting, LVMH and Fidelity retirement plan reporting, and other state/local/federal mandates.
• Complete regular audits to ensure data accuracy.

Employee Wellness Support

• Assist in the planning, communication, and implementation of employee wellness programs and activities. 
• Serve as a resource for employees seeking information on health and wellness benefits and programs. 
• Analyze wellness program engagement and provide recommendations for improvement

Interdepartmental Collaboration

• Coordinate closely with the Payroll Department to ensure accurate and timely employee benefit deductions and LOA paid benefits.
• Partner with the Accounting Department to report accurate allocations of benefit costs.

Other Duties

• Perform other duties as assigned by the Director, Total Rewards, to support departmental and organizational objectives.

REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum 5+ years progressive benefits and LOA experience
• BA, BS preferred or equivalent experience
• Proficiency with MS Office, experience with ADP a plus
• Exceptional problem solving and analytical skills
• Highly organized and adept at handling multiple priorities
• Strong presentation and written communication skills, capable of presenting complex information clearly and effectively to diverse audiences
• Meticulous attention to detail
• Ability to work in fast-paced, often-changing environment.
• Self starter who excels both autonomously and as a collaborative member of cross functional teams.
• Demonstrates flexibility and a team-player mindset