Benefits and Leave Administrator

MBK Real Estate Companies•Irvine, CA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

MBK Real Estate is hiring an LOA & Benefits Administrator for our Irvine, CA headquarters. The position would be hybrid (3 days in-office/2 days remote). The Benefits and Leave Administrator (Mid-Level) is responsible for administering employee benefits and leave of absence programs for a company with ~3,000 employees (including a large hourly workforce). This role ensures compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations (e.g., FMLA, ADA, ACA, ERISA) while providing excellent support to employees and managers. As a key point of contact for benefits inquiries and leave cases, the Administrator partners closely with an external Leave of Absence Third-Party Administrator (LOA TPA) and uses the Workday HRIS to manage data and workflows. Exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, and strong communication abilities are essential to handle sensitive situations with professionalism, empathy, and confidentiality.

Requirements

Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field; or equivalent work experience.
4+ years of experience administering employee leave programs and/or benefits programs (experience in California leave administration is required).
Experience supporting a multi-state workforce is preferred, given the company’s multi-state operations.
Hands-on experience with Workday HRIS (or a similar HRIS) is preferred.
Experience with case management or ticketing systems for HR inquiries is a plus.
Prior experience partnering with external leave administration vendors (LOA TPAs) and benefits carriers in a shared-service model is strongly preferred.
Experience in a large employer environment (e.g., 2,000+ employees) or in industries with significant hourly populations (such as manufacturing, retail, or healthcare) is helpful for understanding the needs of an hourly workforce.
Must be mobile and able to perform the physical requirements of the job, bending, kneeling, stooping, pushing, pulling and repetitive motion.
Ability to sit and work at a computer for long periods of time.
Able to move intermittently throughout the workday and between divisions.
Ability to lift/carry up to 30 lbs. and push up to 20lbs. as necessary

Nice To Haves

Professional HR certification (e.g., PHR, SHRM-CP) or specialized leave/benefits certifications are a plus (demonstrating commitment to ongoing professional development).

Responsibilities

Administer and manage all aspects of employee leave programs, including FMLA, CFRA (California), state-specific leaves, short-term/long-term disability, workers’ compensation, parental leave, military leave, and personal leaves, ensuring compliance with relevant laws and company policies.
Serve as the primary liaison with the external LOA TPA vendor for leave case management, ensuring seamless communication, timely processing of documentation, and prompt issue resolution.
Provide compassionate, clear guidance to employees and managers on leave processes: explain eligibility, required documentation (e.g., medical certifications), employees’ rights and responsibilities, and the impact to benefits while on leave.
Communicate leave status updates, approvals/denials, return-to-work plans, and any extensions to both employees and their managers in a timely manner. Coordinate return-to-work arrangements and facilitating transitional work accommodations as needed.
Maintain accurate tracking of leave time usage and job-protected leave entitlements, leveraging Workday and other tools to record and monitor leave cases. Ensure all records are up-to-date for compliance and reporting purposes.
Advise and coach managers on how to handle employee absences or work restrictions, ensuring that departmental actions during an employee’s leave or accommodation are consistent and legally compliant. Collaborate with the internal resources on complex cases to mitigate risk.
Work closely with the Workers’ Compensation manager to coordinate any overlap between injury claims and leave cases.
If necessary, analyze leave situations that may result in employment separation and provide recommendations in line with policy and law.
Identify opportunities to streamline and improve the leave administration process (for example, by utilizing data reports or feedback) to enhance efficiency and employee experience. Participate in P&C projects or continuous improvement initiatives aimed at updating leave policies, improving self-service resources, or implementing best practices in leave management.
Administer employee benefits programs, including health (medical, dental, vision), life insurance, disability plans, retirement plans (401k), and wellness initiatives, ensuring these programs operate smoothly and comply with all federal and state regulations (e.g., ACA, ERISA, HIPAA).
Process benefit enrollments, changes, and terminations (e.g., due to new hires, life events, or separations) accurately in Workday, and ensure payroll deductions and contributions are updated accordingly. Coordinate closely with Payroll to reconcile benefit deductions and company contributions.
Serve as a primary point of contact for employee benefit inquiries and issues. Provide excellent customer service by educating employees about their benefit options, eligibility, and enrollment procedures, and assisting with problem resolution.
Conduct benefits orientation sessions for new hires and support the annual open enrollment process (including employee communications and system testing).
Coordinate with benefits vendors and insurance carriers (healthcare providers, retirement plan administrators, etc.) to resolve escalated claims or service issues. Partner with third-party benefit administrators as needed to handle specialized tasks (e.g., COBRA administration or 401k plan management). Ensure timely and accurate transfer of data to external providers and verify that services (like file feeds and premium payments) are functioning correctly, including addressing error reports from Workday.
Maintain strong working relationships with all external vendors, including the LOA TPA and benefits carriers.
Stay current on benefits and leave-related legislation (FMLA, ADA, CFRA, PFL, USERRA, ACA, COBRA, etc.) and update company policies and practices as needed to remain in compliance.
Prepare required notices or filings, such as FMLA reports or ACA compliance reports, and support audits by providing accurate benefits/leave data. Maintain confidential and organized records of all benefits transactions and leave cases for auditing and legal purposes.
Perform other related duties or special projects as assigned, contributing to the overall effectiveness of the People & Culture team.
High level of integrity and ability to handle confidential information with discretion. Exercises good judgment in sensitive situations and adheres to ethical standards and company values. Demonstrates resilience and diplomacy when dealing with challenging cases or conflicts.

Benefits

competitive salaries with opportunities for growth
401(k) retirement plan with up to 4% employer matching
comprehensive industry leading medical, dental and vision insurance
company-provided life, disability and AD&D insurance
flexible spending accounts
generous paid time off including vacation and sick time, holidays, and bereavement leave
leadership development, training, and personal coaching
education loan assistance and scholarships
daily living, financial and legal services
childcare and eldercare assistance
employee discounts
health and wellness resources that include virtual yoga, mindfulness, and financial readiness for employees and their family members