Benefits Manager

Job Description:

Provide insight to the strategic design, implementation, communication and administration of employee benefit programs to support achievement of business initiatives and ensure compliance with legal and financial requirements. Build relationships with business partners and aid the business through analysis and guidance on benefit programs including health, welfare, and retirement benefits

Primary Responsibilities

• Ensure effective benefits program administration that supports a wellness culture and enhances the organization's ability to attract and retain employees
• Develop and manage consistent application of policies and practices regarding ERISA self and fully funded health, welfare, and retirement benefit plan also including time off, leave of absence, and recognition policies
• Research innovative initiatives by analyzing current information, benchmarking against competitors, and developing business cases for policy and design changes
• Manages benefit projects, including new benefit program implementation, plan audits, and Request for Proposals
• Oversees the open enrolment process, including data validation, system testing, process improvement, and communication plan
• Research and analyse issues based on market information and contribute to the development of recommendations to resolve business issues
• Develop and oversee vendor management strategy by defining requirements, refining and reviewing vendor contracts, and sharing knowledge with the team to ensure vendor relationships and resources align with benefits program needs
• Proactively identifies and collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to identify and implement process improvements related to benefit offerings and administration
• Lead benefits team by identifying developmental opportunities, providing candid, timely feedback, encouraging knowledge sharing, fostering collaboration and guiding the team through process improvement and change to enhance professional development and team capability
• Manage budgeted resources by anticipating expenditures, accurately forecasting resource needs/costs and properly accounting for expenses to meet requirements and achieve fiscal responsibility
• Develop partnerships with Talent Acquisition, Payroll, Accounting, Legal, and global Rewards counterparts
• Ensure completion of compliance-related matters, in partnership with internal and external vendors, including (but not limited to) completion of annual plan audits, non-discrimination testing, and 5500s.

Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's Degree or equivalent combination of education and work experience

Experience: 7 years relevant experience.

Licenses/Certifications

• Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS)
• Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR)
• Professional in Human Resources (PHR)

Preferred Competencies/Skills:

• Financial acumen and awareness of financial responsibility
• Strategically partner with management and key stakeholders
• Prioritize existing resource needs and ensure future resource availability for unforeseen circumstances
• Use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems
• Assume a methodical approach to a given situation and develop a systematic procedure as a response
• Identify measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system Understand and follow complex instructions relayed verbally and in writing
• Utilize effective oral and written communication
• Use relevant information and individual judgment to identify the need for change
• Comprehend information and ideas presented in verbal and written formats
• Manage expenditures to budget
• Lead large-scale, complex projects
• Adapt and be flexible in a complex changing environment .\

Experience:

• Thorough understanding and working with state and federal regulations relating to benefit plans and all applicable laws relating to benefits administration (including COBRA, HIPAA, and ERISA)
• Experience communicating effectively with DOL and IRS
• Demonstrated a high level of experience and proficiency using automated systems to administer benefit programs and strong working knowledge of current technologies
• Demonstrated ability to create and deliver presentations to all levels of employees in a clear, compelling, and confident manner
• Vendor management

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