Benefits Leave Specialist

Job Description

Benefits and Leave Specialist
HIRING RANGE: $6,470-$7,282 per month.

About the Position:


The Benefits and Leave Specialist helps employees navigate benefits, leave programs, and wellness resources throughout their employment with the City. This position combines benefits administration, employee support, communication, engagement, and data-informed program coordination to help improve employee awareness, participation, and overall utilization of available benefit resources.


While the position supports core benefits and leave administration functions, it also plays an active role in employee engagement, communication, program analysis, and proactive benefits strategy support. The role works closely with employees, departments, leadership, vendors, wellness partners, and the City's Risk and Safety Division to identify trends, improve communication and outreach efforts, and support proactive strategies related to employee health, wellness, engagement, and overall benefit utilization.


Successful candidates will be self-starters who are comfortable balancing day-to-day benefits responsibilities with proactive employee engagement, data analysis, communication efforts, and program coordination initiatives. The ideal candidate can interpret data and trends, identify opportunities for improvement, build trust with employees, and help develop practical recommendations and action plans based on organizational needs and program utilization.


What You'll Do:

• Help employees understand and use their benefits, leave programs, and wellness resources.

• Coordinate and support FMLA, ADA, disability, retirement, health insurance, and related benefit programs.

• Respond to employee questions, resolve concerns, and provide clear, helpful education and guidance.

• Support outreach and communication efforts that increase awareness and utilization of available benefits and resources.

• Support engagement and communication strategies related to the City's near-site health clinic, including biometric screenings, clinic utilization, and follow-up initiatives.

• Review participation, utilization, engagement, and program data to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.

• Work with departments, vendors, wellness partners, and the Risk and Safety Division to support proactive benefit and wellness strategies.

• Assist with open enrollment, new employee orientation, benefit changes, screenings, campaigns, and employee education.

• Process benefit transactions, life event changes, vendor file feeds, and related HRIS updates.

• Prepare reports, recommendations, and action plans to support program improvement and decision-making.

To view the full job description, click here.


What We're Looking For:

• Three (3) years of professional employee benefits program oversight, analysis, and administration experience.

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in human resources, business administration, public administration, or a related field.
  Other combinations of experience and education that meet the minimum requirements may be substituted.

• Experience analyzing and interpreting data related to benefits utilization, employee engagement, program participation, or health plan trends preferred.

Notice to Applicants:
In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, we kindly request that you do not include the dates of your education to include years of attendance or graduation on your application, resume or attachments


City Employee Health Clinic:
The City is committed to supporting the health and well-being of employees and their families. Our near-site Sage Health & Wellness Center offers free or low-cost healthcare services for employees and dependents enrolled in a City health plan. Services include preventive care, health assessments and coaching, treatment for common illnesses, lab services, physical therapy, a medical massage therapist, and behavioral health counseling. The clinic also offers wellness programs, challenges, and classes that empower employees and their families to stay healthy and thrive.


Explore the Area:


Grand Junction, Colorado, is the key access point to the mountains and canyonlands of western Colorado and eastern Utah. Centrally located between Denver, CO (250 miles east) and Salt Lake City, UT (270 miles west), Grand Junction was named for the convergence of the Gunnison River and Colorado River. Over 1.5 million acres of public lands connect the area's alpine terrain with the dramatic high desert, nourished by powerful rivers that sustain the vibrant agriculture industry. Opportunities for outdoor adventures are abundant in every season due to the year-round temperate climate. Home to "Nature's Trifecta," Grand Junction is surrounded by the Colorado National Monument - a mini-Grand Canyon, Rattlesnake Arches - the second-largest concentration of natural arches in the world, and the Grand Mesa - the largest flat-top mountain in the world. Agritourism, art and history, boutique shopping, and trendy restaurants complement the outdoor recreation scene. With a population of over 160,000 in Mesa County (over 70,000 within the City limits), Grand Junction has all the city amenities you expect with a hometown atmosphere that is friendly and comfortable. See Visit Grand Junction for more information.


At the City of Grand Junction, we proudly operate as an Equal Opportunity Employer, purposely building an inclusive workforce representative of various cultures, perspectives, and experiences. We believe in respect for all and do not discriminate based on hair, race, color, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status or any other status protected by applicable federal, state or local law.


If you have any questions or need assistance or accommodation due to a disability, please contact our Human Resources office at View phone number on click.appcast.io.

About Us

What We Offer:


We know that a healthy and happy workforce is a thriving workforce, which is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package that supports quality work-life harmony, including 32 days of paid annual leave to be used for personal and/or sick days, 11 paid holidays, health insurance options, employer-matched retirement, a City employee health clinic, a City employee child care center, wellness program, and an Employee Assistance Program. Of equal importance, we offer an opportunity to serve the community you love and live in. Our employees find their work rewarding and fulfilling, knowing that their day job makes a positive impact.

To view more information about our benefits visit:

About the Team

The Human Resources Department is responsible for the selection, development, and retention of the City's workforce. This includes recruitment, testing and selection, salary and benefits administration, workers' compensation management, training and development programs, and policy and procedure development. The department is composed of dynamic and adaptable professionals dedicated to serving employees and the community. Emphasizing open communication and collaboration, Human Resources fosters an environment that encourages innovation and continuous improvement to support a thriving workforce.