Sr and Leaves Specialist

About Firefly Aerospace

As an end-to-end space transportation company, Firefly Aerospace is on a mission to enable our world to launch, land, and operate in space – anywhere, anytime. Our launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles provide government and commercial customers with full mission services from low Earth orbit to the surface of the Moon and beyond. Headquartered in North Austin, Texas, Firefly is looking for passionate, hardworking innovators to join our team and help fuel our successful trajectory into space.

The Senior Benefits Administrator is responsible for the administration, compliance, and continuous improvement of the company’s benefits programs, including health and welfare, wellness, recognition, and leave of absence offerings. This role serves as a subject matter expert across Total Rewards operations and employee experience programs, ensuring accurate plan administration, regulatory compliance, vendor oversight, and a high-quality employee experience.

The Senior Benefits Administrator partners closely with Payroll, HRIS, Finance, Legal, HR Business Partners, and external vendors to deliver scalable, compliant, and employee-centered programs, while identifying opportunities to enhance processes, controls, and engagement outcomes.

• Administer all health and welfare plans, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, HSA/FSA, commuter, and wellness programs.
• Manage day-to-day benefits operations, including enrollments, life events, eligibility, terminations, and reinstatements.
• Ensure accurate benefit deductions, payroll integrations, and vendor data feeds.
• Lead annual open enrollment planning, execution, communications, and post‑OE reconciliation.
• Oversee COBRA, retiree coverage, and continuation processes.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations (e.g., ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA, ADA, USERRA).
• Coordinate annual reporting and filings, including Form 5500, ACA reporting, and audits.
• Maintain plan documents, SPDs, summaries, and required notices.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for employees, benefits vendors, brokers, and third‑party administrators.
• Monitor vendor performance, resolve escalations, and support renewals and RFP processes.
• Collaborate with Finance on benefit budgeting, cost analysis, and invoicing reconciliation.
• Ensure data integrity, reporting accuracy, and audit readiness.
• Administer and oversee all employee leave programs, including FMLA, state and local leaves (e.g., paid family and medical leave), military leave, personal leave, and company‑sponsored leaves.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on leave policies, eligibility, and coordination with benefits and payroll.
• Ensure accurate tracking of leave balances, eligibility periods, and return‑to‑work processes.
• Provide guidance to employees and managers on leave processes, timelines, and expectations.
• Partner with HR Business Partners on complex or sensitive leave cases and return‑to‑work planning.
• Support consistent application of leave policies across the organization.
• Coordinate wellness campaigns, challenges, and educational programming aligned with company culture and business objectives.
• Ensure wellness offerings comply with applicable regulations (HIPAA, ADA, GINA, ACA wellness rules).
• Track participation, engagement, and ROI metrics to evaluate program effectiveness and inform enhancements.
• Administer company‑wide recognition programs, including service awards, spot recognition, and milestone celebrations.
• Ensure recognition awards are administered consistently, equitably, and in compliance with tax regulations.
• Partner with Payroll and Finance to manage recognition‑related payments, imputed income, and reporting.
• Analyze recognition trends and engagement data to support retention, morale, and culture initiatives.
• Partner with HRIS and Payroll teams on integrations, enhancements, and system upgrades.

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, Finance, or another closely related field.
• 3+ years of experience in benefits and leave administration.

• Experience with Workday Benefits or a…