Senior Benefits Specialist

Senior Benefits Specialist (Senior Analyst)Shape the benefits experience for the people who serve our community.We're looking for an HR professional who is strategic, analytical, collaborative, and customer focused. Someone who can navigate complexity, communicate with confidence, and see opportunities where others see problems.As a Senior Benefits Advisor, you'll be at the center of delivering the City's benefits strategy, bringing your expertise and insight to programs that matter every day. From benefits and leave administration to ADA accommodations, you'll tackle complex challenges, advise on critical decisions, and identify opportunities to strengthen programs, improve processes, and enhance the employee experience.If you're ready to move beyond administering benefits and help shape what's next, we'd like to meet you.This position is subject to budget required furloughs to be implemented in the 2026 calendar year.Come explore the possibilities a career with the City of Colorado Springs can offer!We're an accredited pay equity employer!Your starting pay will be within the posted hiring range based on your years of experience and education. See the full potential of growth for this position here: 2026 Salary ScheduleAs a Sr. Benefits Advisor, you will:Partner with the Compensation & Benefits Manager to administer the City's employee benefits, wellness, and retiree programs while ensuring compliance with applicable federal and state laws and regulations.Serve as the subject matter expert for leave administration, providing guidance on complex cases FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act), HFWA (Healthy Families and Workplaces Act), disability programs, disability retirement, and USERRA (Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act), and other protected leave programs.Assist in leading the City's ADA Title I accommodation program. Facilitate the interactive process, coordinating medical documentation, evaluating reasonable accommodations, consulting with departments and HR partners, and ensuring compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and related employment laws.Administer and monitor employee benefit programs, including retirement benefits, while evaluating legislative and regulatory changes and recommending process or policy improvements.Ensure compliance with applicable benefits-related laws and regulations, including COBRA, HIPAA, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), etc.Lead the planning, coordination, communication, and implementation of the City's annual Open Enrollment program.Coordinate with benefit vendors, resolve complex employee and vendor issues, support contract renewals and procurement activities, and collaborate to enhance service delivery.Oversee benefits-related financial activities, including invoice reconciliation, vendor payments, budget tracking, cost forecasting for self-funded plans, and renewal support in partnership with Finance.Conduct audits, analyze data, and identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency, HRIS functionality, data integrity, and reporting.Develop and maintain standard operating procedures, training resources, and employee communications while providing exceptional customer service and guidance to employees, managers, and HR staff.Support the operational administration and continuous improvement of the City's employee clinic, pharmacy, and other benefits-related initiatives.Other duties as assigned.We are looking for candidates who possess:Knowledge Of:Employee benefits laws and regulations (e.g. COBRA, HIPAA, PPACA, FMLA, and ADA)ADA policies, laws, and regulations as well as experience with employee reassignmentsBest practices in self-funded benefits design, communication, and administrationHRIS and benefits systems (especially PeopleSoft and NeoGov)Research and data analysis techniquesComplex audit processes and program complianceAbility To:Deliver high-quality customer service to a unique workforceAnalyze and interpret rules, regulations, and dataCommunicate complex topics to employees and leadership effectivelyPresent to small and large groups with confidenceMaintain accuracy and attention to detail in a fast-paced environmentResolve conflict in a respectful and collaborative mannerMinimum Qualifications:Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in human resources, public administration, business administration, or a related field.Five years of full-time professional experience in benefits administration including vendor management or a related field.Preferred Qualifications:Experience administering self-funded benefit plans.HR experience in government/municipality setting.Experience overseeing the full ADA Title I interactive process and complex leaves administration.Experience collaborating tactfully with health insurance vendors including contract negotiations, and conflict resolution.A strong attention to detail and ability to understand and accurately reference complex contracts.Experience analyzing budgets and processing invoices.Experience providing advanced guidance and support to team members.Experience with PeopleSoft 9.1/9.2 and NeoGov systems.A strong sense of ownership, problem-solving, and initiative.Please contact City Recruiting at View email address on click.appcast.io with any questions about this position.Equal Opportunity EmployerThe City of Colorado Springs is committed to a welcoming culture that values our employees' unique individual qualities and fosters a welcoming environment where people want to be.