Benefits Manager - Contract

The Benefits Manager should be able to balance being hands-on with day-to-day priorities and have a strong strategic approach and vision for the design & administration of best-in-class benefits programs.

Responsibilities

• Plan and manage the implementation, communication and administration of employee benefits and well-being programs such as medical, dental, vision, life, disability, COBRA, HSA, and any other employee benefit offerings.
• Lead the activities of the benefits, well-being, and leave/benefits payment administration area including managing benefit staff in day-to-day performance of job responsibilities. Assisting team with eligibility or benefit plan issues, Tier 2 customer service calls/emails, etc.

• Identifies benefit options by studying programs and obtaining advice from consultants.
• Recommends benefits programs to leadership by studying employee requirements, trends, and developments in benefits offered by other organizations.

• Manages relationships with vendors and carriers, including monitoring cost, service levels, processes and accuracy of data, primary point of contact for escalated benefits issues.
• Ensures compliance of benefit and 401(k) programs in accordance with regulatory and legislative requirements-- ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, ACA and other local regulatory and legislative requirements; coordinates preparation of filings with federal and state agencies, including IRS and DOL and other regulatory agencies.
• Manage the annual benefits open enrollment process ensure all milestones/goals are met

• Informs employees of benefit usage by preparing and distributing benefit reports.
• Resolves employee questions and problems by interpreting benefit policies and procedures.
• Prepares special reports by collecting, analyzing, and summarizing information and trends.

• Anticipate and respond to changes in benefits legislation and manage the implementation of corresponding programs, policies, and procedures.

• Contributes to team effort by accomplishing results as directed.

Position Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Finance, or Human Resources, or related field.
• Seven or more years of progressive benefits (health and welfare) experience in a large organization with strong reporting/financial emphasis. Five or more years in a manager capacity.
• Experience within a union environment highly desirable.
• Demonstrated experience with HRIS (UltiPro preferred).
• CCP, CEBS, CBP, or similar certification or progress toward certification preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of benefit program concepts.
• Ability to offer advanced solutions based on collected, summarized, and analyzed data.
• Advanced proficiency with the standard features of various personal computer word processing and spreadsheet software (Microsoft Excel, Access, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Internet, HRIS and other proprietary software).