Benefits Manager (Local Hybrid Remote Opportunity)

Job Summary

The Benefits Manager will develop and implement benefits strategies in conjunction with the Benefits Director. Oversee the day-to-day benefits administration, including health and welfare, retirement plans, and other voluntary benefits. Also, includes major cyclical processes such annual enrollment, DOL and IRS-related audits and compliance filings. Contribute to the development of communication strategies and materials to educate employees about the available benefits and assist them in making informed decisions. Manage staff who are responsible for answering employee inquiries regarding benefits, troubleshoot issues, and resolve any concerns or discrepancies. Plans, directs, supervises, and evaluates workflow and deliverables of staff; identifies and implements methods for continuous improvement and ensures standard of work documentation. Cross training of staff is required to ensure the team backs up each other. Assist in developing and maintaining benefits-related policies, procedures, and documents. Provides support to other Human Resources functional areas where their work relies upon or impacts benefits administration.

Essential Job Functions

• Collaborate with the Benefits Director to ensure that benefits programs are maximizing efficiencies, align with HR information systems, and are appropriately administered.
• Oversee day-to-day benefits administration, including health and welfare, retirement plans, and other voluntary benefits.
• Manage major cyclical processes such as annual enrollment, DOL and IRS-related audits, and compliance filings.
• Collect, analyze, and report on benefits utilization, costs, and trends. Utilize data to evaluate plan effectiveness, identify opportunities for improvement, and provide recommendations to senior leadership on a quarterly basis.
• Support ELR in preparing for union negotiation and oversees the implementation of labor contract changes impacting employee benefits.
• Assists in developing, administering, and evaluating employee benefits programs, including health & welfare insurance, retirement plan and voluntary benefits.
• Stay informed on industry trends to ensure competitiveness and effectiveness of benefit plans.
• Participate in creating employee communication materials for benefits programs.
• Lead, direct and evaluate the performance of benefits staff.
• Monitor staff's ability to resolve and close customer service tickets promptly.
• Direct daily activities and make decisions regarding selection, development, evaluations and/or termination decisions of these positions.
• Oversees compliance activities and audits, including benefits compliance filings such as ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, ACA, 5500's and Annual Reports.
• Responsible for updating Summary Plan Descriptions, Summary Material Modifications and Plan documents in collaboration with UCMC Legal.
• Collaborates with the Benefits Director to ensure transactional activities are supported efficiently with established metrics to monitor deliverables.
• Assists in interpreting policy and responds to transactional benefit related inquiries.
• Performs other duties assigned.
• Supervises Benefits Analyst, Retirement Consultant, and Benefits Administration Consultant.

Key Competencies/Skills:

• Exceptionally organized and efficiency focused
• Ability to use rigorous logic and methods to solve difficult problems with effective solutions
• Ability to make strategic and tactical decisions and judgments on sensitive, confidential issues
• Strong leadership and team building skills
• Analytical thinking and problem solving
• Expert project management skills
• Strong interpersonal, influence, and oral and written communication skills
• Skill in examining operations and procedures, and developing and implementing new strategies and procedures
• Ability to make decisions and operate independently with respect to complex issues and business requirements with a high degree of exposure
• Ability to thrive in a changing environment and deal with ambiguity
• Competence in managing multiple projects simultaneously with a strong results/goal orientation
• Conflict management
• Negotiating skills
• Working knowledge of automated human resources information systems and related software (e.g. excel, word, power point, etc.)
• Thorough working knowledge of benefits concepts and theories

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related discipline, preferably HR or business
• 5-7 years of HR experience, with at least 3 years benefits background
• Previous experience in the administration of benefit programs, including a solid retirement foundation.
• Previous experience as a partner in program design is strongly preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in human resources or related field
• Previous experience as a partner in program design
• Certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) or Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS)

Position Details

• Job Type: Full Time
• Shift: Day Shift
• Department: Benefits
• CBA Code: Non-Union

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