Corporate Benefits Manager

Manager Benefits

Summary of Position:

The corporate Benefits Manager position will work closely with the corporate Benefits Director and HR team in the day-to-day operations of group benefit programs (group health, dental, vision, short-term and long-term disability, worker’s compensation, life insurance, travel and accident plan, Health Savings Accounts, 401 (k) plans, pension plan, and retiree medical plans for union and non-union plans.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities:

• Researches employee benefit plans and vendors to identify those that present the best value. Help design, recommend and implement benefit programs.

• Serves as a contact for plan vendors and third-party administrators.

• Documents and maintains administrative procedures for assigned benefit processes.

• Coordinates daily benefit processing with administrators; Enrollments, COBRA, terminations, changes, beneficiaries, disability, accident, death claims, and rollovers, QDRO’s, distributions, loans, hardships, compliance testing.

• Manages retirement benefits to include 401(k) Plans, union pension Plan, Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan, and retiree medical benefits.

• Schedules and organizes quarterly Benefits Fiduciary Administration Committee meetings and assists with minutes and other related administrative duties.

• Assures 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 commissioners and other regulatory agencies. Reviews and analyzes changes to state and federal laws pertaining to benefits, and reports necessary or suggested changes to management.

• Oversees and is accountable for the processing of monthly vendor invoices and the preparation of vouchers for payment of administrative fees and claims for all group plans.

• Monitors administrative costs of benefit programs and recommends cost containment strategies including alternative methods for administration and funding.

• Reviews both short and long range cost estimates/projections and relevant statistical analysis regarding modifications in benefit programs and implementation of new programs.

• Completes and analyzes benefit surveys for industry trends and summarizes findings for annual review. Forecast trends and assist with future benefit designs.

• Creates, maintains and distributes materials for benefit orientations, open enrollment and summary plan descriptions. Revises and reissues all communications material on benefits from time to time.

• Provides customer service support to internal and external customers.

• Demonstrates employee relations experience, including conflict resolution, fostering positive workplace culture, and providing guidance on employee concerns to ensure a productive work environment.

Necessary Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business or related field and 8-10 years’ experience or any combination of education and experience that provides the requisite knowledge to successfully perform the job

• Proven knowledge of all pertinent federal and state regulations, filing and compliance requirements both adopted and pending affecting employee benefit programs, including Health Care Reform, PPACA, ERISA, COBRA, FMLA, ADA, ACA, SECURE Act 2.0, SECTION 125, Workers Compensation, Medicare, OBRA, Social Security and DOL requirements.

• Sound business acumen and well-developed assessment, judgment and critical thinking abilities

• Strong customer service orientation

• Ability to conduct research, analyze data, and develop robust action plans

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

• Strong negotiating skills and experience as well as strong presentation skills

• Strong analytical skills and a thorough knowledge of plan designs. Ability to understand, evaluate and make judgment on the proposals (RFP’s).

• Strong written and verbal communication skills in a corporate environment

• Must be able to manage competing demands and accept constructive feedback, while being extremely adaptable and flexible

• Demonstrated ability to organize priorities in order to reach the goals and deliverables of assigned projects through analytical and problem-solving expertise.

• Can fill in for Director Benefits when necessary

• Demonstrates competence in key areas of management and leadership expertise including: relationship management, communication, staff direction and motivation, financial planning and control, quality management, risk management, and the achievement of targets

• Ability to build relationships and work well across functions

Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is required to frequently sit with frequent forward bending and occasional rotation. The employee must rarely lift, carry and/or move up to 13 pounds and rarely lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. The employee is required to rarely push or pull up to 45 pounds horizontally. The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle or feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee is required occasionally to walk; climb stairs; and stand with rare rotation. Rarely the employee is required to squat repetitively or reach up to 74”. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Working Environment: Works in office environment and rarely site environment. This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.

A review of this position has excluded the marginal functions of the position that are incidental to the performance of fundamental job duties. All duties and responsibilities are essential job functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbent(s) will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently with or without accommodation. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities. The above job profile reflects the requisite knowledge, skills and abilities for this position and is not intended to be all encompassing. Other duties and responsibilities may be expected based on operational and departmental needs.