Leave and Benefits Specialist

Republic Services•Phoenix, AZ

About The Position

The Leave and Benefits Specialist administers and supports employee leave-of-absence programs, working closely with third-party leave vendors to monitor claims, ensure accurate and timely processing, manage daily integrations between leave and disability administrators, and respond to employee and manager inquiries. The role supports operational execution, data accuracy, and issue resolution across leave processes, serving as a key point of contact among employees, HR partners, payroll, and external vendors. The specialist may also provide backup health and welfare benefits administration, including eligibility updates, vendor coordination, and employee support. The position also supports benefits operations, data exchanges among leave vendors, benefits administrators, HRIS and payroll systems, payroll coordination, Open Enrollment, employee communications, and process improvements. It manages employee and internal partner inquiries and benefits-related mail, and performs other job-related duties as assigned or apparent.

Requirements

Prior experience in leave administration, benefits administration, HR operations, or working with a third-party leave or benefits vendor.
Experience supporting both leave administration and health and welfare benefits.
Experience in a vendor-managed or shared-services HR model.
Familiarity with HRIS, benefits administration platforms, and payroll systems.
Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to accurate, timely processing.
Strong critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, including identifying discrepancies, researching root causes, and managing issues through resolution.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including sorting, filtering, formulas, lookups, and reconciling data across files.
Experience using absence management systems or comparable case-management platforms.
Strong organizational skills and follow-through while managing high-volume, deadline-driven daily processes.
Strong communication skills with an employee-focused approach.
2–4 years of experience working in Microsoft Excel, including auditing data, reviewing file integrations, identifying discrepancies, and supporting accurate updates in Workday and related systems.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting Open Enrollment or vendor transitions.

Responsibilities

Manage, monitor, and validate daily integration files exchanged between leave and disability third-party administrators; reconcile results, research errors and missing data, coordinate corrections, and confirm resolution.
Serve as the primary internal liaison for the third-party leave and disability vendor.
Monitor leave cases for timely intake, accurate status updates, and appropriate employee communications.
Review vendor reports and case data for accuracy and completeness, and follow up on discrepancies or service gaps.
Coordinate escalations, complex cases, and service issues with the vendor.
Support leave vendor implementations, transitions, and ongoing process improvements.
Assist employees with benefits questions, enrollment navigation, life-event changes, and eligibility issues.
Support benefits processes affected by leave, including benefit continuation, reinstatement, and payroll deductions.
Partner with benefits vendors and carriers to resolve enrollment, eligibility, and coverage issues.
Manage and respond to employee and internal partner inquiries through shared email and the internal ticketing system; monitor the queue, prioritize or assign work, and ensure timely and accurate resolution.
Monitor incoming benefits mail and distribute documents promptly to the appropriate team member, vendor, or internal partner.
Ensure accurate data flow among leave vendors, benefits administrators, HRIS, and payroll systems.
Review and reconcile vendor feeds, reports, and employee records; identify and resolve errors with internal teams.
Coordinate with payroll to support accurate pay status, deductions, and benefit premiums during and after leave.
Support Open Enrollment, including testing, audits, employee support, and issue resolution.
Assist with maintaining benefits documentation, FAQs, and employee communications.
Identify recurring issues and opportunities to simplify processes or improve employee understanding.
Perform other job-related duties as assigned or apparent.