**Worker Type** Contractor **Job Description** Summary The People & Culture Benefits Specialist supports the employee experience and contributes to the overall success of the Benefits Team by providing a high level of customer service, support, and project management in all areas of employee benefits programs and employee wellness initiatives. The Benefits Specialist is accountable for the integrity of benefit data entered and maintained in Workday and is responsible for all medical invoice coordination and benefit premium billing and collection. This position requires attention to detail, follow-through, a sense of urgency, strong teamwork and collaborative skills, and a demonstrated ability to manage multiple benefits projects with competing demands in a growing organization. Position Responsibilities + Assists with the administration of employee benefits programs such as medical, dental, vision, life insurance/AD&D, 401k, flexible spending plans, wellness initiatives, and benefits related to local ordinances and government programs + Serves as subject matter expert and main point of contact for benefit inquiries, status changes, and general benefit plan provisions including new hire and annual enrollment, COBRA, terminations, life event and beneficiary changes, and disability, worker’s compensation, and unemployment claims + Manages all leave of absence requests, maintains coordination of leave including FMLA tracking, disability and workers’ compensation documents, and invoicing and collection of benefit premiums + Works with vendors or legal team on complex claims, as needed or requested + Assists with the open enrollment process for all benefits programs, including systems testing, coordination with brokers and vendors,assisting employees with questions, and reporting + Manages and audits life event change requests and 401k elections + Organizes and maintains accurate benefits data, records, reports, and employee files + Provides guidance on company benefit policies and assists with maintaining the P&C policy repository + **Other duties as assigned** Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience) + Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience is required + 5+ years’ experience in HR, with a minimum of 2 years direct experience supporting employee benefits, leaves of absence, and worker’s compensation in a fast-paced professional organization + Experience with and understanding of HR policies and practices and state and federal employment laws + Experienced with Workday HCM and third-party benefits applications + Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams) Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies + Excellent verbal and written communications skills to collaborate and develop partnerships across multiple functional areas, with vendors, and with all team members + Effective time management and organizational skills + Strong initiative and drive to accomplish goals and meet company objectives + Self-directed with the ability to adapt to rapidly changing priorities + Consistently exhibits good judgment and discretion when dealing with sensitive information + Takes ownership and responsibility for current and past work products + Experience in a Technology, Engineering and/or Aerospace and Defense company is preferred Physical Demands + Ability to work in an office environment (Constant) + Required to sit and stand for long periods; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard (Frequent) AeroVironment considers several factors, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills. **ITAR Requirement:** _T_ _his position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironment’s determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironment’s business requirements. A “U.S. person” according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee. See 22 CFR § 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements._ **Benefits** : AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown. For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: http://www.avinc.com/myavbenefits . We also encourage you to review our company website at http://www.avinc.com to learn more about us. Principals only need apply. NO agencies please. **Who We Are** Based in California, AeroVironment (AVAV) is a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical missile systems. Founded in 1971 by celebrated physicist and engineer, Dr. Paul MacCready, we’ve been at the leading edge of technical innovation for more than 45 years. Be a part of the team that developed the world’s most widely used military drones and created the first submarine-launched reconnaissance drone, and has seven innovative vehicles that are part of the Smithsonian Institution’s permanent collection in Washington, DC. Join us today in developing the next generation of small UAS and tactical missile systems that will deliver more actionable intelligence to our customers so they can proceed with certainty – and succeed. **What We Do** Building on a history of technological innovation, AeroVironment designs, develops, produces, and supports an advanced portfolio of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical missile systems. Agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense and allied military services use the company’s hand-launched UAS to provide situational awareness to tactical operating units through real-time, airborne reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition. _We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans. AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status._ **ITAR** U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card holder), asylee/refugee status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) or a person approved for an export license from the appropriate governing agency. **ABOUT US** At AeroVironment, our purpose is to secure lives and advance sustainability through transformative innovation. Our solutions give our customers a fresh vantage point, positioning them to see the world with new eyes and extending their reach beyond the line of sight. That is the power of our breakthrough unmanned aircraft systems, perfected and refined over a half century. Whether they are warfighters searching for an enemy, border patrol agents searching for people in need of assistance, or telecom providers linking millions to the digital economy, our customers choose AeroVironment because our systems generate actionable intelligence reliably, creating a path to goals that would otherwise be unattainable. **Careers at AeroVironment (https://www.avinc.com/careers/our-team)**