Bernalillo County is 1,160 square miles and is New Mexico’s most populous county with more than 676,000 residents. Bernalillo County government provides a wide range of public services to residents who live in Albuquerque, Los Ranchos and Tijeras with approximately 106,000 residents living in unincorporated areas of the county. Bernalillo County employs approximately 2,500 people and has an annual operating budget, capital investments and other funds of more than $1 billion. Elected officials include five county commissioners, assessor, clerk, probate judge, sheriff and treasurer.

Bernalillo County

Department of Human Resources

Job Descriptions

What does the red Zia symbol mean? The Zia sun symbol represent the four cardinal directions, the four seasons of the year, the four period of each day (morning, noon, evening, and night), and the four seasons of life (childhood, youth, middle age, and old age). The centre of the sun symbol stands for life itself. The yellow field with red symbol pays recognition to the Aragon Realm of the conquistadors and their homeland in Spain.
JCP324: Benefits Specialist Senior

Benefits Specialist Senior

Job Code
Grade
Bargaining Unit
JCP324
7
None
       
       
Salary
As Hourly
As Annual
61,339.00 - 77,043.00 - 96,866.00 USD Annual
$29.49 - $37.04 - $46.57
$61,339.00 - $77,043.00 - $96,866.00

POSITION SUMMARY

The Senior Benefits Specialist handles all inquiries regarding County insurance and benefits to ensure employees receive appropriate coverage and assistance with insurance-related issues and concerns. This classification plans, coordinates, and implements the annual countywide open enrollment process. The Senior Benefits Specialist possesses in-depth knowledge of employee benefits as well as the federal and state laws that govern them. The role participates in new employee orientation and covers all aspects of employee benefits, including health, dental, and vision insurance, the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and other leave-related benefits. The position is also responsible for maintaining and retaining confidential departmental records and files in accordance with applicable policies and standards.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Coordinate and administer all leaves of absence, including but not limited to Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Military Leave, and Leave Without Pay (LWOP); maintain confidential records, correspondence, and documentation for employees on leave.
  • Inform and educate employees on plan changes, updates, eligibility requirements, enrollment processes, and other relevant modifications; ensure compliance with federal and state laws and proper plan adherence.
  • Provide employees with information and guidance on plan provisions to support informed decision-making.
  • Assist employees with Short-Term Disability (STD) and Long-Term Disability (LTD) application processes.
  • Prepare statistical reports regarding demographics and plan utilization.
  • Coordinate annual open enrollment periods, including form collection, vendor collaboration, and communication of plan changes.
  • Communicate and work with vendors daily or as needed to resolve enrollment or claims issues.
  • Assist employees in filing for retirement through the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) and disability-related retirement through PERA and Social Security.
  • Conduct training on County benefits, FMLA, pre-retirement planning, Military Leave, and other topics as requested by management or stakeholders.
  • Provide quality customer service to employees and external customers regarding benefit plans, eligibility, and enrollment; respond to inquiries via phone, email, or in person in a timely manner.
  • Assist in the administration of the County’s Educational Assistance Plan.
  • Plan, coordinate, and implement the annual open enrollment process in collaboration with vendors; prepare and distribute benefits materials to all County employees.
  • Coordinate and schedule informational meetings across the County to ensure benefit program changes are clearly communicated; present benefits information to both new and current employees.
  • Plan, coordinate, and facilitate Pre-Retirement PERA Seminars three times annually.
  • Collaborate with the Benefits Manager to develop benefits-related policies and procedures; recommend, implement, and ensure compliance with approved changes.
  • Support the Benefits Manager in implementing departmental goals and objectives.
  • Provide ongoing reports and feedback to the Benefits Manager on progress toward goals and objectives.
  • Coordinate, research, and enter data for medical, dental, vision, life, deferred compensation, and supplemental insurance benefits; ensure timely COBRA notifications for separated employees and dependents losing coverage.
  • Develop, coordinate, prepare, edit, and submit confidential reports as requested by management.
  • Ensure compliance with eligibility requirements and accurate processing of reimbursements; assist in identifying fraudulent claims and calculating insurance premiums and deduction adjustments.
  • Maintain accurate data entry, retrieval, and record maintenance for employee benefit transactions within the Human Resources Information System (HRIS).
  • Handle sensitive and confidential records, plans, documents, and decisions in accordance with confidentiality protocols.
  • Perform a variety of duties related to employee benefits; duties may vary by position and will be determined by the amount of time spent on each responsibility.


*The above information is intended to outline the general nature and scope of the duties required for this position. It is not an exhaustive list and may vary depending on specific job assignments and responsibilities. 


MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Public Administration, or related field.
  • Five (5) years of related work experience in Human Resources benefit programs as it pertains to the purpose of the position.

*Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience may be considered for the above requirements.
 

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

SCREENING AND COMPLIANCE


The offer of this Bernalillo County position requires compliance with the following:

  • Employee must successfully complete the post-offer employment medical examination and background investigation.
  • Employee must comply with the safety guidelines of the County.
  • Employee must complete the required FEMA training(s) as assigned to the position.
  • Employee must possess and maintain a New Mexico driver’s license.


WORKING CONDITIONS

  • Most essential duties are performed indoors in a temperature-controlled environment.
  • Indoor working surface is even and may be carpeted or a tiled floor.
  • Indoor surfaces are typically dry and may involve the use of stairs.
  • Works alone primarily, with or without directions.
  • Works with a group at times and with a select team at times.


EQUIPMENT, TOOLS, AND MATERIALS

  • Equipment typically used in the performance of office duties includes a telephone, a computer terminal, a computer printer, a computer keyboard, a photocopy machine, a fax machine, and a calculator.
  • Materials and products handled while performing essential duties include files, forms, reports, various other paperwork, and a wide variety of basic office supplies.
  • May be required to drive a county vehicle in the course of duty.
Revision: 8/21/2025 1:40:29 PM