Address: !600 W. Monroe St. Phoenix AZ 85007

Salary: $70000 per year

Grade: 22

Closing Date: Until closed

The Benefits Specialist will be responsible for the comprehensive and accurate administration of all employee leave programs including FMLA ADA short-term disability long-term disability and other company-specific leaves. This role manages the end-to-end leave process from initial inquiry and eligibility determination to documentation tracking and communication with employees and management ensuring compliance with all federal and state regulations.

The Benefits Specialist will also be responsible for developing wellness programs to boost physical mental and emotional health within ADOR focusing on activities like nutrition workshops stress management and health screenings while also marketing initiatives tracking outcomes and collaborating with stakeholders to foster a healthy environment and culture.

This position may offer the ability to work remotely within Arizona based upon the departments business needs and continual meeting of expected performance measures.

The State of Arizona strives for a work culture that affords employees flexibility autonomy and trust. Across our many agencies boards and commissions many State employees participate in the States Remote Work Program and are able to work remotely in their homes in offices and in hoteling spaces. All work including remote work should be performed within Arizona unless an exception is properly authorized in advance.

Service Delivery
* Translates the business strategy through communication training and support across all areas of the HR team with a focus on delivering value- added services and programs support
* Nurtures an inspirational culture and positive work environment through developing high-trust relationships across the organization and seeks to ensure that each HR transaction supports a mutually beneficial employee/employer relationship
* Champions change by demonstrating a continuous improvement mindset and work style and provide support to employees in times of change.

Leave & ADA Administration
* Administers and manages all aspects of employee leave programs including Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodations ergonomic requests and other statutory regulatory or policy-driven leaves
* Serves as the primary point of contact for employees and management regarding leave of absence inquiries policies and procedures
* Manages the interactive process for ADA accommodation requests working with employees and management to determine reasonable accommodations and ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations
* Coordinates with third-party administrators (TPA) if applicable for the management of short-term disability (STD) and long-term disability (LTD) claims.
* Maintains confidential and accurate records of all leave cases accommodations and related documentation
* Conducts training and provides guidance to managers and supervisors on leave policies FMLA requirements and the ADA interactive process
* Collaborates with ADOA Risk Management or Facilities on general workplace ergonomic assessments and accommodations
* Ensures timely and accurate communication with employees regarding their leave status rights responsibilities and return-to-work procedures
* Monitors legislative and regulatory changes related to FMLA ADA and other leave laws to ensure continuous compliance.
* Processes and tracks necessary payroll changes and benefits continuation/payments related to leaves of absence.

Benefits Liaison
* Acts as a liaison for all State-Wide programs such as Capitol Rideshare Remote Work Benefits Options Recognition and SECC
* Administers benefits and wellness plans including participating in the planning and implementation of employee programs such as health and wellness strategies and initiatives
* Organize health fairs workshops and educational sessions
* Prepares benefits communications to include developing and delivering clear concise and relevant employee communication regarding benefit and wellness programs and events; developing content for newsletters email and other benefit communication pieces; and working closely with the communications team to align messaging with the overall employee communication strategy.

Agency/Department Compliance & Continuous Improvement
* Remains current on all laws regulations policies and best practices related to benefits ADA and FMLA through regular engagement in activities such as: self-directed research conferring with other practitioners and technical experts; subscriptions to regulatory/legal/industry newsletters and briefs; membership in industry associations and attendance at meetings/events; and or participation in training and others continuing education opportunities.
* Actively track wellness participation measure program effectiveness and report on outcomes
* Actively contributes to team and individual effectiveness through the following: -
* Attends staff meetings and huddles of work unit or district; and may cascade and track information as indicated
* Completes all required training in a timely manner.
* Participates in assigned work teams as appropriate.
* May complete periodic metrics projects huddle boards and reports as requested.
* Prepares for and actively participates in 1:1 coaching with supervisor
* Maximizes work processes and deliverables through lean principles within the Arizona Management System (AMS); and provides recommendations for process improvement and engages in continuous improvement efforts as assigned.
Miscellaneous
* Modifies creates and/or establishes and gathers data to support metrics
* Other duties as assigned

Education & Experience
* Any combination that meets the knowledge skills and abilities (KSAs); typical ways KSAs are obtained may include but are not limited to: a relevant degree from an accredited college or university such as a Bachelors Degree (e.g. B.S.) training coursework and work experience relevant to the assignment.
* Minimum of three (3) years experience with 360-degree full-service recruiting for non-exempt professional technology and management type positions

Licenses & Certifications
None

Knowledge/Understanding
* Knowledge of human resources/personnel principles and practices
* In-depth knowledge of employment laws rules regulations policies and procedures pertaining to personnel administration and leave of absence programs e.g. FMLA ADA Short and Long-term disability and workers compensation

Skills
* Excellent verbal written and listening communication skills
* Excellent interpersonal skills and demeanor
* Effective organization and time management skills with the ability to make measurable progress on multiple tasks and projects simultaneously and work in high-pressure situations
* Proficient in the use of a PC in a Windows environment; in the use of the Internet; in the use of MS Office Applications such as Outlook Word and Excel PowerPoint; and in the use of Google Suite applications such as Gmail Sheets Docs Slides and Drive.
* Proficient in the use of HRIS applications

Abilities
* Ability to clear a comprehensive background and clearance process that includes an Arizona tax compliance verification and a criminal background check through the FBI via level one fingerprint clearance through the Arizona Department of Public Safety
* Ability to thrive in a service-centric organizational model.
* Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
* Ability to work in a confidential manner ensuring information is shared with internal and external individuals in an appropriate manner
* Ability to learn LEAN concepts principles and tools
* Ability to understand and solve problems by applying intermediate analytical skills to include collecting all the relevant information and data needed to address the problem; organizing classifying and synthesizing the data into fundamental issues; from the information identifying the most probable causes of the problem; reducing the information down into manageable components; identifying the logical outcomes from the analyses of the data collected; and identifying the options and solutions for addressing the problems analyzed.
* Willingness and ability to embody ADORs core values of Do the Right Thing Commit to Excellence and Care About One Another

Additional Job Demands
* In the course of performing the essential duties one must be able to exert up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.
* No substantial exposure to adverse environmental conditions (such as in typical office or administrative work).

Decision-Making Authority
Participates in the establishment of guidelines and policies

* Bachelors Degree in Business Human Resources or a related field
* Experience in processing and administering leave of absence programs e.g. FMLA ADA Short and Long-term disability and workers compensation.
* Previous experience with LEAN concepts principles and tools
SHRM-CP PHR or similar HR certification

The final candidate will be required to abide by the the following pre-employment checks:
-Employment Verification and Reference Checks
-State and Federal Criminal Background Check including fingerprinting
-Arizona Tax Filing Records Check
-If applicable ASEDRA Authorized Driver Identification Check

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business then the following requirements apply:Drivers License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

The State of Arizona provides a world class comprehensive benefits package including:
-Paid time off for holidays sick days annual leave military leave bereavement leave and civic duty leave
-Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).
-A robust and affordable insurance plan that includes medical dental vision life insurance short-term and long-term disability options.
-Higher education discounts for State employees and tuition reimbursement up to $5250 per fiscal year available to seek further career advancement or certification in Continuing Professional Education.
-Work-life balance and additional options for life betterment such as the Infant at Work Program State Wellness Program Public Transit Discounts Alternate Work Schedules and Telework opportunities.

By providing the option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule employees enjoy improved work/life balance report higher job satisfaction and are more productive. Remote work is a management option and not an employee entitlement or right. An agency may terminate a remote work agreement at its discretion.

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot programhere. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona please visit our benefits page

Top ranked Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) provides 100% employer matched contributions (enrollment eligibility will be effective after 27 weeks of State employment). ASRS provides a lifelong benefit based on years of service earned or worked and your ending salary. Learn more about ASRS at: Us:

If you have any questions need assistance or would like to request a reasonable accommodation please contact the ADOR Talent Team at


*The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer.