Payroll and Benefits Specialist

Our Scoop

Upper Lakes Foods, Inc. is the largest independent, wholesale food distributor in Minnesota. The company has three facilities located in Cloquet, MN, Northfield, MN and Janesville, WI. We distribute food throughout the Upper Midwest. Upper Lakes Foods specializes in serving foodservice operators such as independent restaurants, assisted living facilities, schools, and national and regional foodservice chain accounts with a strong focus on customer service. Simply put, the mission is to build value for each customer, employee, supplier and community we serve by bringing the best; the best products, best people and best ideas.

What You’ll Own

As our Payroll and Benefits Specialist, you'll help ensure employees are paid accurately and on time while supporting the benefits and leave programs they depend on. You'll process bi-weekly and off-cycle payroll, maintain employee records, reconcile payroll and benefit deductions, and support audits, reporting, and year-end activities.

You'll also administer health and retirement benefits, manage enrollments and qualifying life events, support open enrollment and leave administration, partner with brokers and providers, and help employees navigate questions related to pay, benefits, deductions, and HR systems. Along the way, you'll maintain accurate HRIS data, ensure compliance with payroll and benefit regulations, and help keep our processes organized, accurate, and employee-focused.

Qualifications:

A Day, Nicely Balanced

Your morning starts by checking what’s on deck—payroll timelines, benefit updates, and any "quick question" messages from employees. You’ll spend focused time in the HRIS and payroll tools, double-checking details and tying out numbers before anything goes out the door. Midday often brings a mix of conversations: helping someone understand a deduction, walking a new hire through benefit choices, or guiding a teammate through a leave-related update. In the afternoon, you’ll wrap up reconciliations, prep reports, and keep documentation tidy and audit-ready. Most days end with the satisfying feeling that the details are handled—and people can count on you.

The Good Stuff

Final candidates are required to successfully complete a background check, pre-employment lift evaluations (if applicable) and pre-employment drug screening prior to their employment start date.
All offers of employment are conditional and contingent upon the Company's receipt of satisfactory results from a comprehensive background investigation and a negative result on a pre-employment lift evaluation and drug screen.
Failure to successfully complete either requirement may result in withdrawal of the conditional offer of employment, to the extent permitted by applicable federal, state, and local law.