Sr. Benefits & Leave Analyst

Meritage Homes Corporation•Scottsdale, AZ

About The Position

The Senior Benefits & Leave Analyst provides advanced analytical and administrative support, serving as a subject‑matter expert on health, welfare, retirement, and leave of absence programs. This role supports the Benefits Manager by carrying out complex operational tasks, ensuring accurate administration, and delivering high-quality employee experience. The Senior Analyst manages high‑volume daily workloads, balancing multiple tasks and projects simultaneously while escalating strategic or sensitive decisions to the Benefits Manager as appropriate.

Requirements

High School Diploma or equivalent
Three (3) years of progressive experience in benefits and leave administration, including health & welfare, retirement, and leave/accommodation programs.
Advanced knowledge of ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA, ADA, and applicable state leave laws.
Ability to manage high-volume workloads and prioritize multiple tasks, cases, and projects simultaneously in a fast‑paced environment.
Strong analytical skills with excellent attention to detail and data accuracy.
Strong communication skills with the ability to simplify complex benefit topics for employees and leaders

Nice To Haves

Experience with UKG software preferred

Responsibilities

Manage high‑volume day‑to‑day administration of company benefit programs while escalating non‑routine, complex, or policy‑impacting matters to the Benefits Manager.
Resolve routine benefit and leave inquiries from employees, leaders, and People Operations Partners, escalating complex, sensitive, or policy‑impacting matters to the Benefits Manager
Troubleshoot enrollment issues, eligibility discrepancies, payroll deductions, and file-feed errors by partnering with internal teams and external vendors.
Conduct benefits audits (enrollment, eligibility, deductions, HSA/FSA contributions, retirement contributions, 401(k)/NQDC audits) to ensure accuracy and compliance.
Assist with the preparation and validation of required federal and state benefit filings (e.g., ACA 1094/1095, Form 5500, 401(k) reporting), ensuring accuracy and providing final documentation to the Benefits Manager or appropriate partners for review.
Administer FMLA, ADA, state leaves, disability, and company leave programs, ensuring timely communication and accurate documentation.
Maintain leave tracking, case files, communication templates, and compliance logs
Partner with the Benefits Manager on ADA accommodations or escalated leave situations requiring policy interpretation.
Support employees and business with sensitive benefit and leave conversations (medical, maternity, accommodations, etc.), providing empathetic and professional guidance.
Lead day‑to‑day administration of the company’s well‑being program including scheduling events, coordinating with vendors, tracking participation, and supporting ongoing wellness initiatives.
Help develop and deliver communications that promote engagement and understanding of benefits and wellness programs and resources.
Maintain documentation and SOPs to support audit readiness, compliance, and process consistency.
Provide support to annual benefits renewal and annual open enrollment.
Conduct biweekly benefits orientations and support open enrollment education sessions.
Lead operational portions of benefits and leave projects, including workflow optimization, automation initiatives, Smartsheet dashboards, and document updates.
Partner cross‑functionally with internal teams (People Operations, Finance, Payroll, Legal) to ensure alignment and resolve operational issues.
Support the Benefits Manager on mid‑ and long‑term benefits projects or initiatives as needed.