StoneAge Holdings is the global leader in designing and manufacturing high-pressure waterblast tooling and automated, IoT-enabled/robotic equipment, based in Durango, CO, with five subsidiaries in four countries. Think squirt guns on steroids run by humans and robots!StoneAge Holdings includes StoneAge Tools and Warthog Nozzles, trusted brands known worldwide for their durability, performance, and innovation in industrial cleaning applications. We are an innovative, employee-owned company that aims to change our industry and the world through advancing technical products and services – and with our unique, people-centric culture.

HR Business Partner, Benefits & People Operations

Role Summary

StoneAge is seeking an HR Business Partner, Benefits & People Operations to own the operations, accuracy, and improvement of our benefits programs.

This role sits within the HR Business Partner team and is onsite and visible to employees. You will help employees understand their benefits, answer questions, and guide them to the right HR resource. You are the front door for benefits and help create a clear and consistent employee experience.

This is an analytical role. You will work with data, compliance requirements, and external partners while building structure where it does not exist today. You will document processes, improve workflows, and create reliable systems across benefits, vendors, and data.

You will own ESOP operations and data early, with the opportunity to grow into elements of ESOP strategy as you build expertise and demonstrate strong execution.

This role is designed as a foundation for broader HR Business Partner work over time through project exposure and business partnership.

What You Will Own

Benefits Operations and Employee Support

• Serve as an onsite point of contact for employee questions across all benefit programs, including medical, HSA, FSA, LSA, 401k, ESOP, and other company sponsored benefits, ensuring employees understand how to use and maximize their offerings
• Explain plans clearly and help employees use their benefits effectively
• Guide employees to the right HR partner when issues fall outside benefits scope
• Partner with vendors and brokers to resolve issues and maintain clean data flow

ESOP and Ownership Program Support

• Own day to day ESOP and retirement plan operations, including data management, census files, audit support, and coordination with third party administrators and trustees
• Ensure readiness for reporting, compliance, and participant communications
• Support employee understanding of the ESOP and escalate complex questions appropriately

Growth in this area is earned through execution:

• Build deep understanding of ESOP mechanics, data, and compliance
• Contribute to ESOP related projects, analysis, and process improvements over time
• Support leadership in communicating ESOP performance and value

Data, Compliance, and Accuracy

• Audit benefits data, invoices, and vendor files
• Support filings and compliance processes including Form 5500, ACA, COBRA, and related reporting
• Identify issues and resolve root causes

Process Building and Improvement

• Document unclear or inconsistent processes
• Build trackers, timelines, and standard workflows
• Identify gaps and recommend improvements
• Create systems that are sustainable and easy to follow

Cross Functional Collaboration and Issue Routing

• Partner with HRBPs, Payroll, HRIS, Finance, and external partners
• Act as the first point of contact and triage incoming questions
• Route issues to the appropriate owner and provide context for handoff
• Maintain visibility until resolution and reinforce clear ownership boundaries

How Work Is Structured Across HR

• This role owns benefits operations, data accuracy, and vendor coordination
• HRBPs own employee relations, manager support, and policy decisions
• Payroll owns pay, deductions, and payroll corrections
• HRIS owns system configuration and data structure

You triage questions and direct them to the right owner. Once routed, that team owns resolution.

HR Business Partner Exposure

• Partner with HRBPs on cross functional and business initiatives
• Support projects related to employee experience and organizational effectiveness
• Take on defined project work as capability grows

What Will Make You Successful

• Strong attention to detail and comfort working with data and systems
• Ability to bring structure to undefined processes and follow through
• Clear communication, especially when explaining complex topics
• Confidence to redirect issues and maintain boundaries across teams
• Organized and able to manage multiple priorities

You operate in two modes:

• Analytical depth: able to dive into data and own benefits administration
• People and business orientation: able to step back, support projects, and build trust
• You build credibility through strong execution, then expand into more complex and strategic work
• Curiosity and willingness to learn technical areas including benefits, compliance, and ESOP

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Finance, Business, or related field or equivalent experience
• 0 to 3 years of experience in HR, benefits, payroll, finance, or operations
• Exposure to benefits, data analysis, or compliance work is helpful but not required
• Strong Excel skills and comfort working with systems

Work Location

This role is designed to be onsite to support employees and build relationships across the business.

For remote candidates:

• Travel onsite 4 to 6 days per month during the first 6 months to learn the business and build connections
• After ramp, travel onsite for key events including onsite meetings, ESOP activities, and Open Enrollment

This role requires strong visibility, responsiveness, and connection to employees regardless of location.

Growth Opportunity

In the first phase, the focus is:

• Owning benefits operations and data
• Building structure and improving processes

As you demonstrate strong execution, you will gain exposure to:

• Cross functional and strategic HR projects
• ESOP initiatives and ownership programs
• Broader business and people challenges through HRBP partnership

This creates a path toward HRBP work over time for those who show both analytical strength and business judgment.

TEAM CULTURE 

• Customer-Focused: Passionate about delivering outstanding customer service. 

• Dedicated: Hardworking, trustworthy, and committed to giving 100% daily.  “It’s not my job" doesn’t exist here. 

• Adaptable and Creative: Agile in the face of change, striving for excellence, and thinking creatively to solve problems. 

• Positive and Fun: Bring joy, humor, and a contagious positive attitude to the workplace. 

• Respectful and Collaborative: Listen to understand, respect others, and foster a spirit of teamwork. 

We are an employee-owned company with profit-sharing and an Employee Stock Ownership Plan ("ESOP"), in which shares of company stock are allocated to eligible employees each year.

Our "Own It" mindset captures what many of us consider the biggest benefit of all: a highly engaged, collaborative workplace where everyone matters and every employee makes a significant impact.

Please visit our website at www.stoneagetools.com to get a better sense of our company and our employee-owned culture!