About this role
Position Title: Human Resources Specialist – Benefits & Compliance Pay Grade: 15 Period of Employment: 12 months Description Approved/ Revised: 08/2026 FLSA Status: Non-Exempt Supervised by and/or Reports to: Benefits Administrator General Responsibilities: Supports the administration and daily operations of the organization's employee benefits programs. Provides guidance and assistance to employees, ensuring benefits services and processes are accurate and timely. Coordinates benefits activities, maintains records and systems, and assists with compliance and reporting requirements. Serves as a resource to employees and supports the Benefits Administrator in the management of benefits programs. Essential Duties: (This list is intended solely as an illustration of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude their addition if they are similar to or a logical extension of the position.)
• Executes the end-to-end management of FMLA requests, from initial analysis and tracking to the coordination of medical documentation and return-to-work protocols. Ensures seamless integration between FMLA, Short-Term Disability, Workers' Compensation, and ADA requirements.
• Leads the development and delivery of specialized annual training for FMLA and Workers' Compensation.
• Orchestrates the lifecycle of workers' compensation claims, acting as the primary liaison between employees, insurance providers, and medical offices to monitor status and drive timely resolutions.
• Maintains rigorous OSHA injury and illness logs and spearheads the submission of mandatory annual reports to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• Administers employee return-to-work and light-duty processes, including monitoring work restrictions, communicating with healthcare providers regarding employee status and restrictions, and coordinating appropriate light-duty assignments with the employee's department.
• Coordinates workers' compensation wage-loss benefit processes by communicating with the Department of Finance to obtain wage information needed to determine applicable lost-time benefits and submitting the required wage documentation to the workers' compensation carrier when an employee exceeds the seven (7) day waiting period.
• Administers short- and long-term disability programs, including processing claims, monitoring claim status, responding to employee inquiries, maintaining documentation, and coordinating with the Department of Finance and applicable vendors as needed.
• Implements the organization's ADA accommodation process, coordinating accommodation requests, the interactive process, documentation, communication with employees and healthcare providers, and implementation and monitoring of approved accommodations.
• Manages employee leave programs and maintains leave balances and accruals in Munis, including adjusted, annual, sick, and personal leave, and processes all applicable sick leave transfers in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Interprets and applies federal and organizational leave regulations in order to provide guidance and consultation to employees, administrators, and departments regarding FMLA and other applicable leave requirements.
• Coordinates and manages the new hire benefits orientation process, ensuring new employees receive required benefits information, resources, and guidance, with support and direction from the Benefits Administrator.
• Supports the annual Open Enrollment process and Affordable Care Act (ACA) reporting, including data collection, employee communications, documentation, and other assigned activities necessary for successful completion.
• Assists with and, as assigned, independently manages the reconciliation of benefits invoices and vendor billing, including reviewing invoices for accuracy, identifying and resolving discrepancies, coordinating corrections, and ensuring timely and accurate payment processing.
• Enters data in VRS and other applicable systems, ensuring information is accurate, complete, and updated in a timely manner.
• Assists the Benefits Administrator with the management, testing, maintenance, and implementation of health insurance and benefits administration systems, including testing system functionality, identifying and resolving data or configuration issues, validating system updates, and supporting system enhancements and process improvements.
• Provides benefits administration and employee support, responding to employee inquiries, researching benefit-related issues, and accurately processing benefit applications, elections, changes, and related documentation.
• Develops and delivers benefits and wellness presentations and educational programs, including seminars, employee orientations, exhibits, health screenings, and other employee engagement activities.
• Develops and maintains content for benefits and wellness communications and educational materials, including newsletters, publications, promotional materials, FAQs, and other employee resources, ensuring information is accurate, current, and accessible.
• Collaborates with vendors to coordinate and promote on-site wellness seminars, activities, and employee engagement initiatives.
• Provides support to the Benefits Administrator on key benefits administration initiatives and assumes designated responsibilities to maintain continuity of benefits operations during periods of absence or as needed.
• Serves as a member of the Benefits Committee, actively participating in committee meetings, discussions, and initiatives, and serves as the designated backup to the Benefits Administrator for leading and facilitating committee meetings when needed.
• Collaborates with the Benefits Administrator on key benefits administration and communication initiatives, including webinars, educational videos, Lincoln Financial reports, standard operating procedures (SOPs), benefits FAQs, and the review and reconciliation of benefits invoices and vendor bills.
• Maintains strict confidentiality and safeguards sensitive employee, benefits, and organizational information in accordance with applicable policies, regulations, and professional standards.
• Performs other related duties and special projects as assigned.
Requisite Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
• Knowledge of laws and regulations governing benefits
• Knowledge of federal and state laws pertaining to human
• Knowledge of Virginia Workers' Compensation Code and OSHA record
• Knowledge of all pertinent federal and state regulations, filing and compliance requirements, both adopted and pending, affecting employee benefit programs, including ERISA, COBRA, FMLA, ADA, Workers' Compensation, and Medicare.
• Strong oral and written communication skills to include public
• Computer proficiency and technical aptitude with the ability to use Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, and human resources software.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with fellow employees and local and state agencies.
• Ability to provide excellent customer service to
• Ability to organize and perform work
• Ability to perform detailed work with
• Ability to maintain
• Ability to work successfully under pressure and resolve issues in a team-based
• Knowledge of the methods and practices of personnel
• Knowledge of the Virginia Retirement System and disability
Requisite Education and Experience:
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field strongly preferred. Candidates with a high school diploma, GED, or Associates may be considered based on demonstrated relevant education and experience.
• Requires a minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in benefits administration, with demonstrated experience administering ADA, FMLA, and workers' compensation programs. Five (5) years of relevant experience is strongly preferred.
• SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP certification, preferred
Physical Requirements: Must have the use of sensory skills in order to effectively communicate and interact with other employees and the public through the use of the telephone and personal contact as normally defined by the ability to see, read, talk, hear, handle or feel objects and controls. Physical capability to effectively use and operate various items of office related equipment, such as, but not limited to: a personal computer, calculator, copier, and fax machine. Some climbing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping, or repetitive motions required. Manassas City Public Schools (MCPS) does not discriminate in employment nor in the provision of educational programs, services and activities on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by law. This job description is intended to accurately reflect the position activities and requirements. It is neither intended to be, nor should it be construed as, an all-inclusive list of the responsibilities, skills, or working conditions associated with the position. The administration reserves the right to modify, assign, or remove duties as necessary.