Benefits Program Manager

Town of Queen Creek

Queen Creek (AZ)

On-site

USD 95,000 - 125,000

Full time

2 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Retirement (ASRS)

Disability Insurance

Life Insurance

457 Deferred Compensation

Paid holidays and floating holiday

Vacation leave

Job summary

Town of Queen Creek is seeking a senior HR professional to lead the Benefits Division, overseeing employee benefits, leave management, and workers’ compensation programs. The role requires strategic guidance, vendor management, and regulatory compliance to support workforce objectives.

The position leads the Benefit Division, providing technical expertise and driving improvements in program effectiveness, data integrity, and cost management. Strong analytical and leadership skills are essential.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Public or Business Administration, Business, Human Resources, Psychology, or a related field and 7 years of experience in managing a specialized human resources program; 3 years of supervisory experience.
Master’s Degree preferred.
Certification preferences (CEBS, CBP, CCP, PHR/SPHR, SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP, PSRHA-CP/PSHRA-SCP) are preferred.

Responsibilities

Oversees the Town’s employee benefits strategy and administration including health, dental, vision, life, disability, retirement, and wellness programs.
Leads annual open enrollment, including plan evaluation, vendor coordination, and employee communications.
Manages benefits vendor, carrier, broker, and consultant relationships; monitors performance and billing accuracy.
Oversees the Town’s leave and absence management programs to ensure compliance and proper documentation.
Manages Workers’ Compensation program including claims administration, reporting, and risk mitigation.
Oversees wellness initiatives and evaluates participation and impact.
Ensures compliance with laws and plan requirements; coordinates reporting and audits.
Supports compensation planning, market research, benchmarking, and salary structures.

Skills

Benefits administration

Leave management

Workers’ compensation

Budgeting

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Public/Business Administration or related field

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

Description

The first review of applications will be on November 16, 2026. The posting may close at any time after the first review.

Job Classification Summary

Positions assigned to this class are responsible for managing the Town’s employee benefits, leave management, and workers’ compensation programs. Responsibilities include program administration, vendor relations, compliance, and reporting. This position leads the Benefit Division, providing technical expertise and strategic recommendations to support employee well-being, regulatory compliance, and the Town’s workforce objectives.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This is an advanced-level professional classification in the human resources job family responsible for managing benefits, leaves, and workers’ compensation programs. Incumbents apply advanced technical knowledge, analytical skills, and independent judgment to oversee programs, evaluate market competitiveness, ensure compliance, and recommend improvements. The position is distinguished by its leadership of the Benefit Division and responsibility for program effectiveness, financial analysis, vendor management, and continuous improvement in alignment with organizational priorities.

Examples of Duties

Essential Duties

The following are intended to describe core work functions of this classification. While the level and broad nature of essential duties may not change, specific work tasks will vary over time depending on the Town’s needs.

Oversees the Town’s employee benefits strategy and administration, including health, dental, vision, life, disability, retirement, and wellness programs; ensures accurate and timely processing of enrollments, changes, and terminations.
Leads annual open enrollment, including plan evaluation, vendor coordination, employee communications, system configuration, and collaboration with HR and Payroll to ensure effective implementation.
Manages benefits vendor, carrier, broker, and consultant relationships; monitors performance, resolves complex issues, and ensures effective service delivery and accurate billing.
Oversees the Town’s leave and absence management programs, ensuring consistent administration, appropriate documentation, and compliance with applicable federal, state, and local requirements.
Manages the Town’s Workers’ Compensation program, including claims administration, reporting, compliance, stakeholder coordination, and risk mitigation strategies.
Oversees employee wellness initiatives and evaluates participation, effectiveness, and opportunities to improve employee health and well-being.
Ensures compliance across benefits, leave, workers’ compensation, and wellness programs with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and plan requirements; coordinates required reporting, audits, and corrective actions.
Assists with annual compensation planning and supports the development and maintenance of the Town’s compensation strategy, salary structures, job architecture, and compensation framework to promote market competitiveness, internal equity, and consistency.
Assists with compensation market research, benchmarking, salary surveys, and analyses; evaluates market trends, pay relationships, compression, and other factors to develop recommendations supporting competitive and equitable compensation practices.
Develops financial analyses, cost projections, and expenditure assessments to support benefits and compensation budgeting, workforce planning, salary adjustments, and program decisions.
Oversees the accuracy, integrity, and maintenance of benefits, leave, and compensation data within HR systems; develops reports, metrics, and dashboards to evaluate program utilization, expenditures, trends, and performance.
Analyzes program data, employee feedback, market information, and outcomes to identify trends and recommend improvements to program effectiveness, competitiveness, compliance, employee experience, and operational efficiency.
Leads program enhancements, system improvements, process automation, and cross-functional initiatives to strengthen administration, data integrity, compliance, and service delivery.
Develops, maintains, and interprets policies, procedures, guidelines, and program documentation; recommends updates based on organizational needs, regulatory changes, and industry practices.
Provides technical guidance, consultation, and training to employees, supervisors, department leadership, and HR team members regarding benefits, leave, compensation, and related policies and procedures.
Interprets and applies Town policies and program requirements and advises HR leadership on complex benefits, leave, workers’ compensation, and compensation matters.
Chairs and/or participates in Town committees, workgroups, and special projects as assigned.
Performs related work as assigned.

Typical Qualifications (at job entry)

Education And Experience

Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Public or Business Administration, Business, Human Resources, Psychology, or a related field and 7 years of experience in managing a specialized human resources program or area of responsibility related to benefits, leave management, wellness management and/or compensation administration; 3 years of supervisory experience. Master’s Degree preferred.

Special Requirements

To be eligible, incumbents cannot be on the Office of Inspector General (OIG) list of Excluded Individuals/Entities (LEIE).

Licensing/Certification Requirements

Certification as a Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS), Certified Benefits Professional (CBP), Certified Compensation Professional (CCP), Professional in Human Resources (PHR or SPHR), Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP), or Public Sector Human Resources Certified Professional (PSRHA-CP or PSHRA-SCP) is preferred.

KNOWLEDGE

Principles and practices of public-sector human resources management, professional ethics, employee benefits, leave, workers’ compensation, wellness, and compensation administration.
Applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and compliance requirements, including FMLA, ADA, and the Craig Tiger Act.
Health insurance plan design, administration, terminology, and regulatory compliance; employee wellness program development and evaluation.
Arizona public-sector retirement and benefits systems, including ASRS, PSPRS, and defined benefit and defined contribution plans.
Workers’ compensation claims management, return-to-work programs, and injury prevention strategies.
Strategic planning, budgeting, project management, statistical analysis, and program evaluation.
Training methods, customer service principles, and effective communication.
English grammar, spelling, punctuation, and business writing.
Standard office equipment, HR information systems, and software applications relevant to assigned responsibilities.

SKILLS

Perform advanced-level benefit, leave and compensation administration, and various special personnel-related research studies/projects;
Strategic planning and translating organizational goals into divisional initiatives;
Maintaining compliance with benefits regulations and filing requirements;
Identifying problems or needs, involving appropriate stakeholders, and developing viable plans of action to address issues;
Developing, planning and implementing assigned human resource program(s);
Maintaining confidentiality and exercising good judgment in handling sensitive information;
Assessing, analyzing, identifying and implementing solutions to complex problems and drive informed decision-making;
Training methods, adult learning processes, and diversity concepts and applications;
Managing divisional budgets and financial resources with accountability and transparency;
Project management, including technology implementations and program rollouts;
Composing correspondence;
Performing research, making independent analysis, and reporting findings;
Communication and interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, the general public, and other interested parties sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.

Supplemental Information

Overall Physical Strength Demands

Overall Physical Strength for this classification is indicated below with an “X” Sedentary: Exerting up to 10 lbs. occasionally or negligible weights frequently; sitting most of the time. Light: Exerting up to 20 lbs. occasionally, 10 lbs. frequently, or negligible amounts constantly OR requires walking or standing to a significant degree. Medium: Exerting 20-50 lbs. occasionally, 10-25 lbs. frequently, or up to 10 lbs. constantly. Heavy: Exerting 50-100 lbs. occasionally, 10-25 lbs. frequently, or up to 10-20 lbs. constantly. Very Heavy: Exerting over 100 lbs. occasionally, 50-100 lbs. frequently, or up to 20-50 lbs. constantly.

Physical Demands

CFORNContinuouslyFrequentlyOccasionallyRarelyNever 2/3 or more time 1/3 to 2/3 of time up to 1/3 time < 1 hour per week Never occurs Note: This is intended as a description of the way the job is currently performed. It does not address the potential for accommodation.

Physical Demand Brief Description

Physical Demand Brief Description CFO RN Standing Communicating with co-workers, observing work site, observing work duties

Machines, Tools, Equipment, Software And Hardware

Standard office equipment; vehicle

Environmental Factors

D W M S N Daily Several Times Per Week Several Times Per Month Seasonally Never

Health & Safety Factors

Mechanical Hazards X Respiratory Hazards X Chemical Hazards X Extreme Temperatures X Electrical Hazards X Noise and Vibration X Fire Hazards X Wetness/Humidity X Explosives X Physical Hazards X Communicable Diseases X Physical Danger or Abuse X

Protective Equipment Required

None

Non-physical Demands

CFORNContinuouslyFrequentlyOccasionallyRarelyNever 2/3 or more time 1/3 to 2/3 of time up to 1/3 time Description of Non-Physical Demands C F O R N Time Pressure X Emergency Situation X Frequent Change of Tasks X Irregular Work Schedule/Overtime X Performing Multiple Tasks Simultaneously X Working Closely with Others as Part of a Team X Tedious or Exacting Work X Noisy/Distracting Environment X Other (Specify Below)

PRIMARY WORK LOCATION

Office Environment
Warehouse
Shop
Recreation/Neighborhood Center
Vehicle
Outdoors
Combination of Office, Vehicle and Field
Other (Specify Below)

The following is a list of employment benefits offered by the Town of Queen Creek to full-time employees. The list is for informational purposes only. It does not create or connote any contractual rights or obligations. Additional details will be provided upon hire and are available in the Town of Queen Creek Employee Handbook.

Major Benefits for Full-Time Employees

Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Pre-tax unreimbursed medical and dependent care flexible spending accounts
Arizona State Retirement System membership
Short-term and Long-term disability insurance for the employee
Town-paid basic life insurance
Optional employee-paid employee and dependent supplemental life insurance
Commuter life insurance for business travel and travel to and from work
Deferred compensation plan (457) with employer match
Retirement Health Savings Account
Optional enrollment in Identity Protection Program
Paid holidays, plus one floating holiday annually
Vacation leave hours annually
Four weeks of Paid Parental Leave
Optional income replacement insurance
Worker's compensation insurance
Employee assistance program; offers confidential individual/family, marriage, legal and financial counseling
Training opportunities and continuing education opportunities, including tuition reimbursement for pre-approved programs
Direct deposit of paychecks
Wellness Programs with incentives

Each applicant must complete the supplemental questionnaire as part of the application screening and selection process. The information you provide will be reviewed and used to determine your eligibility to move forward in the selection process. When answering supplemental questions, the information you provide must be substantiated within the application. Incomplete responses, false statements, omissions, or partial information may result in disqualification from the selection process. Do you agree to answer each supplemental question truthfully and that your responses can be verified from information included within the application?

Please Select Your Highest Level Of Completed Education

High School Diploma or GED
Some college
Associate's Degree
Bachelor's Degree
Master's Degree or Graduate Program
Other

List your major (and minor, if applicable) for your response to the previous question for all post-secondary degrees you possess. If none, write "N/A".

Select which most accurately describes your experience in benefits and leave program management:

No experience
Some but less than 2 years
2 years but less than 4 years
4 years but less than 7 years
7 years or more

How many years of supervisory experience do you have?

No experience
Some but less than 1 year
1 year but less than 3 years
3 years or more

Do you have experience in benefits, leave administration and wellness in the public sector?

If you answered "yes" to the previous question, please provide a brief summary of your experience in benefits, leave administration and wellness in the public sector including the types of benefit plans you have overseen, the size of the employee population, your level of responsibility, and your involvement in program evaluation, and cost management. If none, write "N/A".

Select which most accurately describes your experience overseeing benefits programs:

No experience
Some but less than 2 years
2 years but less than 4 years
4 years but less than 7 years
7 years or more

Describe your experience managing or overseeing a workers’ compensation program. Include your involvement in claims management, return-to-work programs, injury prevention, carrier relationships, and identifying trends or opportunities to reduce claims costs and organizational risk. If no experience, type "N/A".

Please list which HR Information Systems (HRIS) and other benefits and leave administration related software programs you have direct experience using.

Please list all applicable HR-related certifications or designations (CEBS, SHRM-CP, PHR, SPHR, PSHRA-CP, PSHRA-SCP, CEBS, CCP etc.) that you currently possess. If none, write "N/A".

Briefly tell us why you are interested in working in the public sector and specifically for the Town of Queen Creek.