Benefits Analyst

Title Benefits AnalystLocation San Diego CAContract roleJOB DESCRIPTIONTop 5 Skills:· Experience managing leaves in the US and Canada· 2-3 yrs experience customer/employee inquiry management· Advanced communication skills- be comfortable to communicate complex leave regulations· 2-3 yrs Intermediate to advanced understanding of US healthcare and absence management landscapeTechnologies:· Servicenow and absence management system experienceRequired Education and Years of Experience:• Bachelor's degree and 2+ years of Benefits, Human Resources, Finance, or related work experience.ORAssociate's degree and 4+ years of Benefits, Human Resources, Finance, or related work experience.ORHigh School Diploma or equivalent and 6+ years of Benefits, Human Resources, Finance, or related work experience.*Completed advanced degrees in a relevant field may be substituted for up to two years (Master’s = one year, Doctorate = two years) of work experience.Job Description:Leave of absence Experience Required:Process Leave Requests: Handle intake, eligibility verification, and tracking for medical, personal, parental, military, and disability leaves.Ensure Legal Compliance: Administer and monitor leaves in line with federal, state, and local regulations such as the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and state-specific paid family leave laws.Manage Case Documentation: Send out required notices, collect medical certifications, track intermittent or reduced schedule leaves, and maintain confidential employee files.Coordinate Return to Work: Support smooth transitions back to the workplace, including facilitating the interactive process for reasonable accommodations and modified work schedulesCollaborate Across Teams: Partner with payroll, benefits, department managers, and external leave vendors to coordinate pay continuity, disability benefits, and operational coverage.Advise & Support: Guide employees and leadership through leave policies, benefit interactions (such as paid time off or short/long-term disability), and expected timelines with empathy and clarityState Agency Filings: Complete and submit all mandatory statutory documentation to the California EDD Voluntary Plan Group, including Report of Voluntary Plan Disability Claim (DE 2523) and Voluntary Plan Family Leave Claim (DE 2523F)Canada: Payroll & Benefits Coordination: Work with Payroll and Benefits teams to handle Record of Employment (ROE) updates, EI (Employment Insurance) sickness benefits coordination, benefit premium deductions, and timecard codingMexico: IMSS Coordination: Coordinate claims, disability certificates (incapacidades), and documentation with the Mexican Social Security Institute (Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, IMSS). Partner with local payroll and in-country HR teams to ensure accurate salary adjustments, IMSS subsidy calculations, and benefit continuations during time off.Principal Duties and Responsibilities:• Applies knowledge of benefits principles, processes, and best practices to provide support for programs related to employee benefits (e.g., Medical/Dental/Vision Plans, Retirement Plan, Vacation, Sick Leave, etc.).• Collaborates with benefits team members, HR partners, external vendors, and other internal functional areas to complete work.• Provides support for external vendor related activities (e.g., new vendor implementation, vendor audits, vendor renewals, vendor market searches, contract negotiations and amendments as well as non-disclosure, quarterly review of vendor access, onsite vendor personnel, etc.).• Gathers and analyzes data to make recommendations and assist in making decisions regarding benefits-related topics and projects.• Writes and organizes documentation for benefits-related employee inquiries, decisions, and/or projects.• Seeks knowledge on the evolving regulatory environment, benefits vendors and products, and other areas related to benefits.• Works cross-functionally with Procurement, Finance, Tax, and Internal Audit teams to provide support and ensure our existing benefits programs are accurately reported and compliant with applicable legislative and regulatory requirements; identifies way to streamline efficiencies.Level of Responsibility:• Works under supervision.• Decision-making may affect work beyond immediate work group.• Requires verbal and written communication skills to convey information. May require basic negotiation, influence, tact, etc.• Works within the prescribed budgetary objectives of the department.• Tasks require multiple steps which can be performed in various orders; some planning, problem-solving, and prioritization must occur to complete the tasks effectively.