Benefits Manager

City of Goodyear; Goodyear (AZ); On-site; USD 85,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Goodyear seeks a Benefits Manager to oversee the Employee Benefits Programs for employees, retirees and families, including self-insured health, retirement plans, wellness, leave programs, and related regulatory compliance. The ideal candidate has five+ years in benefits administration, with open enrollment and vendor management experience.

A Bachelor's degree and a valid driver’s license are required; position is temporary, full-time with benefits and potential conversion to regular

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in a related field.
• Minimum five years of benefits administration experience.
• Experience coordinating open enrollment and implementing new benefits.
• Experience managing third-party administrators and vendors.
• Knowledge of ERISA, ACA, COBRA, and HIPAA compliance.
• Valid Driver’s License.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Benefits division, overseeing daily operations and staff for employee benefit, retirement programs, leave management (FMLA, parental, military, disability, etc.) and ADA accommodations.
• Manages relationships with internal stakeholders, benefits broker, benefit carriers, and third-party administrators; evaluates and selects vendors, negotiates contracts, and maintains provider relationships.
• Plans and executes annual activities such as open enrollment, benefits fairs, campaigns, ACA-1095 processing, and benefits guide development; delivers clear benefits communications, training, and educational sessions.
• Designs and manages benefits communication strategies and materials; monitors program effectiveness and identifies improvement opportunities; develops, updates, and maintains process documentation.
• Supports Total Rewards strategy through benefits planning, budgeting, and long-term program design; contributes to HR operations and system enhancements as part of the HR leadership team.
• Leads and participates in benefits-related committees and task forces; ensures compliance with applicable federal and state regulations.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills

Benefits administration

Open enrollment coordination

Vendor management

Regulatory knowledge

Cross-department collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

**This is a temporary position that will assist with reallocation of resources to support the implementation of a new HRIS/HCM system for a 12 – 24 month period. This position is a temporary, full-time role that is eligible for benefits, including eligibility for ASRS, for the duration of the assignment. Contingent upon budget approval, the position may convert to a regular full-time position.

The Benefits Manager manages the day-to-day operational activities within the City’s Employee Benefits Programs for employees, retirees, and their eligible family members. These programs include self-insured health, welfare, voluntary benefit programs, retirement plans, Goodyear Wellness Center, and leave programs. Ensures compliance with federal, state, and local regulations (e.g., ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA).

The ideal candidate will have five years or more of progressively responsible experience in benefits administration to include: coordinating open enrollment, implementing new benefit offerings, managing third party administrators/vendors and strong coordination with internal departments. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of benefits compliance at all levels. Experience with self-insured plans and public sector benefits is highly preferred.

At the City of Goodyear, you will be a part of an organization that values its employees as its greatest asset. You will become part of a dedicated team of professionals that are committed to build and maintain a highly engaged workforce. You will be challenged to learn and grow in an environment that values employee development and career-building. You will thrive in a culture of innovation. We believe that successful employees are those that possess these six core values:

Adaptability - Integrity - Initiative - Empathy - Optimism – Innovation

Only a limited number of the most qualified applicants meeting the City's requirements will be invited for an interview. The examination process for this position will consist of a panel interview. All communication regarding application status and interview notifications will be sent via email- please monitor your junk/spam email for communication as it will come from a system generated source.

• Leads the Benefits division, overseeing daily operations and staff for employee benefit, retirement programs, leave management (FMLA, parental, military, disability, etc.) and ADA accommodations.
• Manages relationships with internal stakeholders, benefits broker, benefit carriers, and third-party administrators responsible for adjudicating health and welfare plans; evaluates and selects vendors, negotiates contracts, and sustains strong provider relationships.
• Plans and executes annual activities such as open enrollment, benefits fairs, campaigns, ACA-1095 processing, and benefits guide development; prepares and delivers clear benefits communications, training, and educational sessions.
• Designs and manages benefits communication strategies and materials; monitors program effectiveness and identifies improvement opportunities; develops, updates, and maintain process documented.
• Supports Total Rewards strategy through benefits planning, budgeting, and long-term program design; contributes to HR operations and system enhancements as part of the HR leadership team.
• Leads and participates in benefits-related committees and task forces, including the Self-Insured Health Trust Board, Deferred Compensation Committee, PSPRS Local Board, People Master Plan, and Self-Insured Healthcare Committee.
• Recommends policies and procedures, reviews and updates plan documents, and ensures compliance with all applicable federal and state regulations.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Formal Education/Knowledge: Work requires broad knowledge in a general professional or technical field. Knowledge is normally acquired through four years of college resulting in a Bachelor's degree or equivalent.
• Experience: Minimum five years of experience in a related field.
• Certifications and Other Requirements: Valid Driver’s License.
• Reading: Work requires the ability to read legal documents, general correspondence, memorandums, and reports at a college level.
• Math: Work requires the ability to perform general math calculations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, as well as college level math used to conduct payroll calculations, estimate budgets, and calculate test scores and ranking.
• Writing: Work requires the ability to write general and technical correspondence, memorandums, letters, and reports at a college level.
• Managerial: Complex - Work requires managing and monitoring work performance of a division including evaluating program/work objectives and effectiveness, establishing broad organizational goals and realigning work and staffing assignments for the department.
• Budget Responsibility: Substantial - Has responsibility for final approval of at least one division budget and presents the budget(s) to senior management. Is authorized to approve division budgeted expenditures for both staff and resources up to the amount that requires the approval of senior management.
• Policy/Decision Making: Significant - The employee normally performs the duty assignment according to his or her own judgment, requesting supervisory assistance only when necessary. Projects and daily work are managed with little oversight, however special assignments and significant work products may be reviewed upon completion. Typically positions in this category are supervisor to mid-management jobs.
• Technical Skills: Comprehensive Application - Work requires a comprehensive, practical knowledge of a technical field with use of analytical judgment and decision-making abilities appropriate to the work environment of the organization.
• Interpersonal/Human Relations Skills:High - Interactions at this level typically result in recommendations regarding policy development, changes in policy, and implementation of policies. Interactions at this level are typically concerned with providing communications at higher levels of organizational operations and may utilize activities such as evaluating customer satisfaction, developing cooperative associations, and allocating resources to improve work operations, work quality, overall achievement of organizational goals and objectives, and customer satisfaction.

• Develop a comprehensive understanding of the City of Goodyear’s benefits portfolio, policies, and guidelines.
• Lead the healthcare RFP process through successful evaluation, selection, transition, and implementation.
• Deliver a well-executed open enrollment cycle that strengthens operational efficiency, enhances employee experience, and aligns with organizational priorities.