Benefits Specialist

Copa Health•Mesa, AZ

6d•$70,000 - $73,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Benefits Specialist is responsible for the administration of employee benefit programs, leave of absence management, workers' compensation, retirement plans, and employee wellness initiatives. This role partners with Human Resources, Payroll, Finance, leadership, and third-party vendors to ensure employees receive exceptional support while maintaining compliance with federal and state regulations. This position is ideal for someone who enjoys balancing analytical work with employee interaction and takes pride in delivering excellent customer service.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
Minimum of 3–5 years of progressive experience in employee benefits administration or Human Resources.
Experience administering employee benefit programs and leave of absence programs.
Experience working with HRIS and payroll systems (UKG, Dayforce, Workday, ADP, or similar).
Intermediate to advanced Microsoft Office skills, especially Excel.
Exceptional customer service skills.
Enjoys solving complex problems.
Highly organized and detail-oriented.
Maintains confidentiality and professionalism.
Can prioritize multiple projects while meeting deadlines.
Communicates effectively with employees at all levels.
Thrives in a collaborative team environment.
Committed to continuous improvement.

Nice To Haves

Associate's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field preferred.
Experience with workers' compensation and retirement plan administration.
SHRM-CP, PHR, CEBS, or other HR certification preferred.
Experience supporting Open Enrollment and benefit implementations.

Responsibilities

Administer medical, dental, vision, life, disability, retirement, and voluntary benefit programs.
Process new enrollments, qualifying life events, benefit changes, and terminations.
Coordinate annual Open Enrollment activities.
Audit benefit eligibility, enrollments, payroll deductions, and carrier files.
Respond to employee benefit questions and provide guidance on available programs.
Manage Family and Medical Leave (FMLA), ADA accommodations, Pregnancy Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), military leave, personal leave, and other protected leave programs.
Coordinate with employees, managers, healthcare providers, and third-party administrators throughout the leave process.
Track leave usage, documentation, certifications, and return-to-work activities.
Coordinate workers' compensation claims from injury reporting through claim resolution.
Partner with employees, supervisors, healthcare providers, and insurance carriers.
Support return-to-work programs and maintain OSHA reporting requirements.
Support administration of the organization's 403(b) and 457(b) retirement plans.
Coordinate eligibility, employer contributions, audits, vendor communications, and employee education.
Oversee the organization's employee wellness program.
Coordinate wellness initiatives, employee engagement activities, health campaigns, and vendor partnerships.
Promote employee participation and recommend improvements to wellness offerings.
Ensure compliance with ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA, ADA, IRS regulations, and Department of Labor requirements.
Assist with annual audits, reporting, reconciliations, and compliance projects.
Maintain accurate procedures, documentation, and employee records.
Partner closely with Payroll, Human Resources, Finance, and external vendors.
Identify opportunities to improve processes and employee experience.
Assist with HRIS testing, benefit implementations, and special projects.