Benefits Manager (Project Management)

Overview:

Manages the organization's benefit function and administers related programs and policies. Handles daily activities, maintains market intelligence, and ensures competitive, equitable, and sustainable health & welfare, retirement, disability, leave, voluntary, and wellbeing plans. This is a hands-on role requiring a strong level of attention to detail, customer service, communication skills and requires the flexibility to manage a variety of work independently.

Responsibilities:

Evaluates and selects employee benefits including health & welfare, life insurance, profit sharing, disability, and retirement plans) with the goal of creating an attractive and competitive benefits program.Collects data on industry standards and practices to determine competitive positioning of the organization's benefit offerings.Regularly renegotiates or re-evaluates vendors in search of opportunities for cost-saving.Manages annual online open enrollment: schedules and leads meetings or information sessions, drafts and sends employee communications, answers questions or inquiries, and transmits enrollment data to vendors or administrators.Assists in evaluating and comparing existing company benefits with those of peer employers by analyzing other plans, surveys and other sources of information.Assists in reviewing benefits announcement material, booklets, and other media for communicating plans to employees.Consistently and continually ensure benefit education and support for all employees.Support the implementation, roll out and delivery of new benefits/programs, and employee communications.Manage monthly benefit plan invoicing; verify the calculation of the premium statements for all group plans and submit and track timely payment.Ensures compliance by promptly and accurately advising insurance carriers, trustees, other vendors and regulatory agencies.Manage leave of absence administration; work with third-party administrator ensuring that leaves and disability programs are being administered timely, accurately and in accordance with leave documentation; communicate leave of absence policies to employees and managers; support UKG absence and leave configuration for statutory requirements; maintain complete and accurate records to include any impact to payroll deductions and benefits payments.Partner with legal department to ensure compliance with various federal, state, and local leave legislation and mandates. Develop leave administration process changes and implement them as needed in response to changes in legal requirements.Ensures compliance with provisions of Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). Supervises preparation of reports and applications required by law to be filed with federal and state agencies, such as Internal Revenue Service, Department of Labor, insurance commissions and other regulatory agencies. Reviews and analyzes changes in federal and state laws pertaining to benefits and reports necessary or suggested changes to management.Handles escalated benefit inquiries and complaints to ensure quick, equitable, courteous resolution.Assist in any other duties or projects assigned by HR leadership

Requirements:
Comprehensive knowledge of the field's concepts and principlesPerforms complex tasks typically following established processesPrimarily focused on administering established policies and procedures but may have some impact on departmental budgeting, strategic planning, and procedural changeHave a strong understanding and comprehension of business functions, corporate structure, and job dutiesExcellent analytical and critical thinking skillsExcellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skillsSelf-motivated with proven ability to work independently with an elevated level of confidentiality and discretionMust be able to multi-task and work independently as well as contribute to the overall success of the teamAdvanced knowledge of all pertinent federal and state regulations, filing and compliance requirements, including the ACA, ERISA, COBRA, FMLA, ADA, Section 125, Medicare, and Social Security and DOL requirements.Strong customer focus with the ability to partner with and develop trusting relationships with stakeholders, including but not limited to employees, managers, Legal and HR Business Partners, and to communicate complex issues in an understandable way.English and Spanish proficiencyProject management including but limited to usage knowledge of project management softwares such as Microsoft Lists & Microsoft Planner

Education and Experience:
Preferred bachelor's degreeMinimum of 6-years in Benefits, Human Resources, Rewards, and AnalyticsCEBS, CBP, or other benefits certification preferred

Technology Skills:
Calendar and scheduling software Microsoft Outlook, KronosMicrosoft Excel: Expert in analytics, data management, pivot tables, formulasElectronic mail software- Microsoft Exchange; Microsoft OutlookOffice suite software Teams, Microsoft Office, PowerPoint, Word, Google Suite, Microsoft List, Microsoft PlannerVideo conferencing software Microsoft Teams

Work Environment:
Sedentary work under a hybrid schedule 4 days a week in officeAbility to work extended hours as neededAbility to work weekends and holidays as needed

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