Leave Specialist

Benefits & Leave Specialist

Department: Human Resources

Classification: Exempt

Hiring Range: $40.33/hour - $45.38/hour

Salary Range: $40.33/hour - $60.50/hour

Position Summary: Performs full-service business and organizational support to the City of Aspen as a Human Resources Benefits & Leave Specialist, consistent with the organization’s values and mission statement.

Supervision Exercised and Received: This position works under the direct supervision of the Human Resources Director.

• Generous paid vacation and extended sick leave, and flexible work arrangements.
• Free and discounted transportation options to get around Aspen and the Valley.
• Professional development and learning opportunities, including a tuition reimbursement program.
• Health and wellbeing options that include Medical, Dental, Vision.
• Monetary bonuses for healthy lifestyle choices and to use towards other personal needs.
• Plan for your future with competitive employer contributions to a 401a retirement plan, and social security in addition to an individual 457b retirement plan and Roth IRA option. Have peace of mind with life and disability insurance.

The City of Aspen is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

• Coordinates and administers benefits programs to include medical, vision and dental plans, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D), third party administrator (TPA), Section 125 Flexible Spending, Health Savings Account, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), defined contribution retirement and money purchase plans, benefits in compliance with applicable laws.
• Oversees maintenance of employee benefits files, maintains group benefits plan documents and benefits communications.
• Coordinates daily benefits processing in employee benefit file and Oracle benefit module. Handles enrollments, COBRA, terminations, changes, beneficiaries, disability, accident and death claims, and retirement account activities.
• Resolves issues regarding claims, reimbursements, retirement requests, and others.
• Acts as primary contact and customer service champion for employee benefit questions and issue resolution.
• Administers and tracks claims payments, third‑party vendor payments, and other benefit billing.
• Monitors claims trends weekly/monthly/annually for utilization and high claims. Responds to TPA questions.
• Acts as SME and partners with internal HR staff, payroll, and information technology for ERP online enrollment testing, design, and configuration. Actively works to enhance process improvement through technology.
• Actively monitors benefits plan design for compliance, areas of improvements/changes, and employee satisfaction.
• Leads wellness program and promotes wellness initiatives that support health plan and fund objectives, and employee health population needs.

• Communicates with employees regarding their needs for leave and/or modified work schedules. Ensures that employees are aware of their responsibilities and of any documentation and notice required to qualify for and take leave.
• Handles the FMLA leave administration process from the employees’ first notice of the need for leave to the return to work. This includes gathering and completing all required paperwork, determining leave eligibility, designating leave as FMLA‑qualifying, requesting medical certification as needed, and accounting for intermittent and reduced schedule leave use.
• Maintains reasonable communication with employees on leave to facilitate smooth and timely return to work; relays communication between employees and their managers during leave within reason.
• Advise managers and employees on the interaction of leave laws with paid time off, workers’ compensation, and short‑term and long‑term disability benefits.
• Oversees the return‑to‑work process for employees returning from extended FMLA, workers compensation, or other leave(s).
• Facilitates other leave requests, which may include accommodation requests under the ADA.
• Administers other company time‑off programs as assigned in accordance with internal policy and applicable laws. Communicates all ADA requests to HR Director.
• Drafts…