The Benefits Manager is responsible for the strategic design, implementation, and administration of comprehensive employee benefits programs, including health and welfare plans, 401(k) retirement plans, and other employee perks.
This role ensures all programs align with organizational goals, support employee well-being, and comply with federal and state regulations. The Benefits Manager also oversees relationships with external vendors and service providers, ensuring contractual obligations, service levels, and cost control measures are consistently met. Additionally, they collaborate with internal stakeholders to promote benefit offerings, support wellness initiatives, and enhance the overall employee experience.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Administer employee benefits programs, including retirement plans, basic health, and voluntary products.
- Work with brokers to evaluate and benchmark existing company benefits, as well as execute on the benefit strategy.
- Plan, develop, and/or participate in area and industry surveys. Analyzes results of surveys and develops specific recommendations for review by management.
- Ensure timely plan compliance, including review of necessary benefit documentation, benefit agreements and insurance policies.
- Complies with federal, state, and local legal requirements by studying existing and new legislation; obtaining qualified opinions; enforcing adherence to requirements; and working with senior leadership on needed actions.
- Collaborate with internal partners on plan education.
- Participate in developing and executing department goals and objectives.
- Recommend new approaches, policies and procedures to effect continual improvements in efficiency of department and services performed.
- Maximize efficiency by identifying operational issues arising during day to day administration and recommending / proposing enhancements.
- Consults with and advises employees on health and welfare and 401(k) plans’ eligibility, plan provisions, and other service issues.
- Manage/lead wellness initiatives for the company working closely with the medical plan provider and senior leadership.
- Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications, establishing personal networks; and participating in professional societies.
- Manages relationship with third party leave administrator and partner with the Human Resources Business Partners to coordinate the leave process in accordance with plan requirements and legal regulations.
- Manages all employee eligibility, enrollment and billing with providers and through HRIS. Work with HRIS benefits administrator to ensure regular audit of enrollment data is performed to ensure all plan members are accurately enrolled based on benefit elections and company-paid benefits.
- Ensure all provider billing is accurately allocated to the appropriate company/GL account/cost centers and submitted to accounting for payment.
- Initiates proactive employee communications for employee benefits. Acts as primary benefits Subject Matter Expert by training and keeping HR staff updated on benefit changes and impacts to employees.
- Ensures COBRA is administered in a compliant and cost-effective manner.
- Acts as HRIS benefits module system subject matter expert.
- Performs related work and additional duties as needed or required.
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