Benefits Specialist

Benefits Specialist With A Strong Emphasis In Benefits And Leaves

The Anoka County Human Resources Department provides a full spectrum of talent management services including but not limited to classification, compensation and benefits, recruitment and selection, employee relations, labor relations, performance management, and organizational development.

We are looking for a Benefits Specialist with a strong emphasis in Benefits and Leaves to join our team. The successful candidate will play a vital role in serving as a point of contact for employees seeking information regarding benefit offerings or changes and leave requests.

This is a full-time, exempt, hybrid position. Interviews will take place the week of June 15th, 2026, for those selected to move forward in the hiring process.

Pay & Benefits

• Anoka County Salary Schedule Grade 32: $64,480 to $90,230 ($31.00 to $43.38 per hour).
• 24 days of paid flexible time off and up to 12.5 paid holidays.
• Comprehensive insurance, including medical, dental, vision, flex benefits and more.
• Medical and dental clinic exclusive to employees, located at the Anoka County Government Center.
• Pension plan and other retirement investment options.
• Advancement/professional development opportunities.

Work Location

• This position will work at Anoka County Government Center, located at 2100 3rd Ave, Anoka, MN 55303.
• This position may be eligible for flexible work arrangements, including hybrid work, with some days working remotely and some days working in the office.
• Expected work hours are Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as a point of contact for employees seeking information regarding benefit offerings or changes and leave requests.
• Coordinate with third-party vendors and administrators to review and process status changes, ensure timely eligibility file reconciliation, and review claims.
• Provide guidance and support to employees seeking information on COBRA and retiree benefits.
• Advise managers and employees on the interaction and coordination of county benefits.
• Facilitate initial intake processing for leave types including the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Minnesota Paid Leave.
• Maintain accurate and up to date documentation for enrollments, status changes, leave requests, and accommodations.
• Ensure communication methods and support tools are standardized to provide consistent support to both employees and vendors.
• Create and prepare information presented during the orientation and onboarding process.
• Advise employees and managers on benefit, leave, and accommodation implications.
• Organize the logistics of the county's annual open enrollment including vendor coordination, system testing, status tracking, and organizational communication.
• Recommend strategies to improve education of benefit offerings to the organization and improve efficiency.

Qualifications and Requirements:

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Needed

• Requires a bachelor's degree and at least 2 years (2,080 annual hours) of job-related experience.
• In lieu of the required education, an equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted on a year-for-year basis.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Needed

• Degree in Business Administration, Human Resources, or related field.
• Experience in benefits and/or leaves administration.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion.
• Organizational skills.
• Strong communication and listening skills.

Physical Demands and Work Conditions

• Standard office environment.
• Vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus, such as to work on computers. Ability to see colors, shades, and brightness.
• Hearing abilities required for general and phone communication, signals, and machine sounds.
• Assignments are sedentary, occasionally alternating between sitting, standing, walking, crouching, and kneeling as required to perform job responsibilities. Frequent wrist and finger manipulation to complete computer work.
• Occasional lifting of 10-20 lbs.
• Equipment used includes computers, phones, and standard office equipment.
• Occasional travel to other county work sites as needed. Travel between work sites may require driving a county vehicle and/or a personal vehicle.
• Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

Selection Process

It is important that your application show all the relevant education and experience you possess. This information will determine which candidates will proceed in the selection process. A submitted application is also used to verify the answers to any supplemental questions.

Pre-employment Requirements

Anoka County has determined that successfully passing a pre-employment criminal/driving background check, drug screen and DOT physical, and/or other qualifications checks may be necessary for certain positions. Applicants may be required to sign an informed consent form allowing the County to obtain to conduct such screenings and/or verify their qualifications in connection with the position sought. Applicants who do not sign the informed consent form will not be further considered for the position.

About Anoka County

As the fourth largest county in Minnesota, Anoka County thrives because of the diversity, dedication, determination, and innovation of our employees. United by our mission- Commitment to Excellence: Through collaborative efforts, we seek to improve lives and serve with care, integrity, and professionalism- we offer a wide range of career opportunities for people with a variety of personalities, abilities, knowledge, and life experiences. Together, we work toward a single purpose of serving Anoka County's 369,000 citizens in a respectful, innovative, and fiscally responsible manner. If your career aspirations resonate with our mission, we invite you to Find Your Path with Anoka County! Hear from other Anoka County employees here.

Commitment to Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employment

Anoka County is committed to the principles of our Affirmative Action Plan and Equal Employment Opportunity. It is the policy of Anoka County to recruit, hire, train, and promote persons in all job titles, without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, marital status, genetic information, status with regard to public assistance, physical ability, sexual orientation, or age except where such status is a bona fide occupational qualification. It is the policy of Anoka County to make employment decisions in a manner that will further our Affirmative Action Plan and Equal Employment Opportunity.