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Benefits Specialist III

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Benefits Specialist III

Salary

$57,708.00 - $75,024.00 Annually

Location

Denver Metro, CO

Job Type

Full Time

Job Number

IHA 04510 07/07/2025

Department

Colorado Department of Human Services

Division

Admin Solutions

Opening Date

07/09/2025

Closing Date

7/20/2025 11:59 PM Mountain

FLSA

Determined by Position

Type of Announcement

This position is open only to Colorado state residents.

Primary Physical Work Address

3648 W Princeton Cir., Denver, CO 80236

FLSA Status

Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.

Department Contact Information

[email protected]

How To Apply

Please submit an online application for this position at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado. Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.

+ Description

+ Benefits

+ Questions

Department Information

This position is open to current Colorado residents only.

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CDHSCareers

Most State of Colorado employees are eligible for a great benefit package! Please see the Supplemental Information section below for details!

Description of Job

Please Note: This position has hybrid work arrangements. Effective September, 2023 employees are expected to report to the office at least 2 days a week. These arrangements are subject to change.

About this Unit:

Operations and Strategy, Division of Human Resources (HR) exists to provide decentralized human resource services to the general public, applicants, managers, and employees who work for the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). Consultation services include benefit administration; compensation; employee relations; exam development; HR policy development; job analysis; job evaluation and classification; organizational development; New Employee Orientation; performance management; interpretation of CDHS HR policy, state personnel rules, state and federal employment laws; progressive discipline; records management; recruitment; responding to grievances, appeals, charges of discrimination; reorganization issues; retention; selection and selection appeals; settlement advice; strategic planning and overall HR guidance to CDHS managers, supervisors and employees.

The Equal Opportunity and Employee Benefits unit provides additional HR support to CDHS in the specialty areas of Civil Rights (CR), Benefits & Leave, and Background Investigations Unit (BIU). The unit provides centralized human resource services to applicants, managers, and employees who work for the Colorado Department of Human Services. Consultation services include interpretation of CDHS and HR policy, state personnel rules, state and federal employment laws; responding to grievances, equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) claims, appeals, charges of discrimination; settlement advice; benefits administration; workers compensation; Americans with Disabilities Act as Amended (ADA), training & staff development; organizational development; performance management (PMP); engagement and retention; background investigations; selection and selections appeals; HR policy development; strategic planning and overall HR guidance to CDHS management, supervisors and employees.

About this Position:

This position is responsible for processing group benefit programs to include group health, dental, short-term and long-term disability, donated leave , FMLA, FAMLI, and STD leave management, life insurance , flexible spending accounts, and health savings accounts. As the primary point of contact for benefits and FMLA, FAMLI and STD leave management issues, this position provides information on benefits to employees and answers benefit questions. Informs employees of deadlines regarding signing up for benefits and open enrollment and facilitates the new enrollment and open enrollment process. Contributes to the development of departmental procedures for administering benefits. Oversees administration of FMLA, FAMLI, and STD and other leave entitlement programs in partnership with DPA, Risk Management, UNUM and ADA; and works with employees and managers in assigned units to ensure compliance. Maintains employee benefits and leave records. Acts as a liaison to DPA, Payroll, PERA, legal and other vendors/partners for benefits-related information and programs. Ensures confidentiality of all information. Completes other duties as assigned.

Summary of Job Duties:

Benefits Case Management

Benefits Enrollment

Consultation and Training

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Important Note: Please review your application to ensure completion. For the most equitable applicant experience, CDHS' hiring teams consider only the contents of your application to determine meeting minimum qualifications and for the numeric comparative analysis process. Experience is calculated on a full-time equivalency basis, therefore, it is important to accurately notate the hours you averaged per experience section entry. Volunteer work or related type of experience may be used to meet the qualifications, but must be clearly documented. It is paramount that in the experience portion of the application, the applicant describes the extent to which they possess the education, experience, competencies and background as they relate to the duties outlined in the job announcement.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience Only:

Six (6) years of professional benefits administration experience which must have included FMLA, STD, and core benefit administration or relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position.

OR

Education and Experience:

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Business Management, Human Resource Management, or closely related field.

AND

Two (2) years of professional benefits administration experience which must have included FMLA, STD, and core benefit administration.

OR

Substitution

A combination of work experience in benefits administration, including FMLA, STD, and health and welfare benefit plans which provided the same kind, amount, and level of knowledge acquired in the required education, may be substituted on a year-for year basis for the bachelor's degree.

A master's or doctorate degree from an accredited college or university in Business Administration, Business Management, Human Resource Management, or closely related field may be substituted for experience on a year-for-year basis.

Definition of Professional Experience: Work that involves exercising discretion, analytical skill, judgment, and personal accountability, and responsibility for creating, developing, integrating, applying, and sharing an organized body of knowledge that characteristically is uniquely acquired through an intense education or training regimen at a recognized college or university; equivalent to the curriculum requirements for a bachelor's or higher degree with major study in or pertinent to the specialized field; and continuously studied to explore, extend, and use additional discoveries, interpretations, and application and to improve data, materials, equipment, applications and methods.

Preferred Qualifications:

+ At least 3 years professional administration of FMLA, STD, and knowledge of employee benefit plans in an organization

+ Experience with processing FAMLI claim information

+ Intermediate level of Microsoft and/or Google Suite experience

+ Exceptional communication skills demonstrated by the ability to communicate detailed and complex information successfully to others both in writing and verbally

+ Excellent organizational skills, including the ability to set and track goals and timetables to achieve maximum productivity

+ Self- motivated and ability to take initiative

+ Strong customer service skills

+ Adaptability in a constantly changing environment and ability to handle multiple competing demands, and demonstrate a practical approach, resilience, drive, and optimism

+ Team oriented

+ State experience

Conditions of Employment:

+ Standard Background – Name check, TRAILS, CMS and JBITS

+ Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application and provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify the applicant from the current position. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.

APPEAL RIGHTS:

If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director.

An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email ([email protected]), postmarked in US Mail or hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department’s action.

For more information about the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board; go to spb.colorado.gov; contact the State Personnel Board for assistance at (303) 866-3300; or refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov under Rules.

A standard appeal form is available at:www.colorado.gov/spb. If you appeal, your appeal must be submitted in writing on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative, and received at the following address within 10 days of your receipt of notice or knowledge of the action: Colorado State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director, Attn: Appeals Processing, 1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver, CO 80203. Fax: 303-866-5038. Phone: 303-866-3300. The ten-day deadline and these appeal procedures also apply to all charges of discrimination.

Supplemental Information

How to Apply (https://cdhs.colorado.gov/information-for-job-applicants#how-to-apply)

The Assessment Process

For additional recruiting questions, please [email protected] ([email protected]) .us

About Us:

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, consider joining the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Human Services (https://www.colorado.gov/cdhs) (CDHS). Our professionals strive to design and deliver high quality human and health services that improve the safety, independence, and well-being of the people of Colorado. In addition to a great location and rewarding and meaningful work, we offer:

+ Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan www.copera.org plus 401(k) and 457 plans

+ Medical and dental health plans

+ Employer supplemented Health Savings Account

+ Paid life insurance

+ Short- and long-term disability coverage

+ 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave

+ BenefitHub state employee discount program

+ Employee Wellness program MotivateMe

+ Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more

+ Remote work arrangements for eligible positions

*Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more

information, go to https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/student-loan-forgiveness-programs .

Our Values:

We believe in a people-first approach: To serve the people of Colorado, we develop a culture and work environment that creates an energized, inspired, and healthy team capable of giving their best to Coloradans.

Balance creates quality of life: We want our team to be resilient through a supportive workplace that values flexibility, health and wellness, and employee engagement.

We hold ourselves accountable: We take responsibility through our actions, programs, and results for the state of health and human services in Colorado.

Transparency matters: We are open and honest with employees, our partners, the Coloradans we serve, and the public.

We are ethical: We abide by what is best for those we serve by doing what is right, not what is easy.

Collaboration helps us rise together: We work together with all partners, employees, and clients to achieve the best outcomes for Coloradans.

We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of diverse backgrounds and abilities.

ADA Accommodations: CDHS is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment. This includes completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or performing essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADA Coordinator, at [email protected] or call 1-800-929-0791.

~THE STATE OF COLORADO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER~

The State of Colorado offers permanent employees a variety of benefits including medical, dental, life and disability insurance, as well as a comprehensive leave program. Please click the following link for detailed information: www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/benefits

Please note that each agency's contact information is different; therefore, we encourage all applicants to view the full, official job announcement which includes contact information and class title. Select the job you wish to view, then click on the "Print" icon.

01

Your legal name is used in the hiring process for background checks. Did you use your full legal name in your application?

+ Yes

+ No

02

The bottom of this job announcement provides links to additional information on how to apply, the assessment process, toll free applicant technical support, and about how the State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer. Please acknowledge below that you have read the information provided in these links.

+ This information is available to me and I have read this information.

+ I am unable to access the links with this information on the job posting. (If you select this option, please contact the recruiter, whose information is listed on this announcement, so that they can send this information directly to you.)

03

Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application. In the space below, please provide an explanation as to why the prior termination or resignation should NOT disqualify your application from the current position.

04

If you are a current or former State of Colorado employee, please list your employee number (starts with 997...). Failure to provide this requested information may render your application incomplete, and you may no longer be considered for the position.

05

Please list your experience level as it relates to Microsoft Suite and Google Suite, and include the applications you have used on a frequent basis in a professional setting i.e. Spreadsheets, Gmail, Documents, etc.

06

Please share your experience with Origami and/or BenefitSolver?

07

Please share your experience with FML, FAMLI and STD.

08

Employee John Smith called to inform you that he injured himself in a hiking accident this past weekend. In addition to injuring his pride, John hurt his back and broke some bones in his right foot. He is indicating that his doctors are telling him he will need to be off of work for an unknown amount of time to recover. He has reached out to you because he is concerned that he may lose his job due to missing work and to find out what kind of leave he might have available. Your initial review of his employment records shows that he has been with the agency for over six years, that he rarely takes any time off, and has not used any of his Family Medical Leave entitlement. John has 211 hours of sick leave and 245 hours of annual leave available. Please draft an email to John addressing his concerns and informing him that he is entitled to use Family Medical Leave for the period he will be away from work and that he appears to have enough leave available to keep him in a paid status during his absence. Please include what other benefits John may be entitled to.

Required Question

Employer

State of Colorado

Address

See the full announcement by clicking

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Website

https://careers.colorado.gov/

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