Health Benefits Program Manager

Job Description

5- Month contract

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RESPONSIBILITIES

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1. Manage and deliver employee health and welfare programs and education, including but not limited to medical, dental, vision, pharmacy, leave of absence, employee wellness, life insurance, savings accounts, and voluntary benefits.

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2. Lead project management for acquired companies, overseeing the design and implementation of competitive, harmonized benefits programs.

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3. Partner with ERISA counsel and vendors to ensure compliance requirements are met or exceeded for all retirement plans. Provide guidance regarding new and existing regulations related to plan financial reporting, including ACA and PCORI fees, government filings such as Form 5500, required notices and reporting, Summary Plan Descriptions (SPDs), plan amendments, and related requirements.

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4. Lead the communication and marketing of benefits programs to ensure the organization’s financial investment is optimized through employee understanding, engagement, attraction, and retention.

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5. Serve as a liaison and manage relationships with third-party benefits administrators, including performance and metrics reviews, continuous quality improvement initiatives, troubleshooting, and new program implementations.

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6. Coordinate compliance activities related to health and welfare benefit plans to ensure effective and compliant plan management.

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7. Drive complex, high-risk projects and serve as a subject matter expert to resolve technical issues. Handle highly complicated, sensitive, and nuanced escalations, including Tier 3 matters.

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8. Partner with HR, Benefits Administration, HR Operations, and HRIS teams to provide guidance and support for timely resolution of day-to-day matters and corrections.

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9. Provide leadership for projects and initiatives involving cross-functional teams, including internal shared services, benefits team members, and external vendors.

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10. Collaborate with HR partners to ensure a strong understanding of benefits programs and policies and effective coordination across teams.

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11. Ensure benefits programs and processes are appropriately documented, administered, and maintained to the highest standards of service, quality, and compliance.

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QUALIFICATIONS

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Education / Experience / Background

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• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent experience required; graduate degree preferred.

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• 8+ years of experience with a strong background in the design, development, and delivery of health and welfare benefit programs for large organizations with 10,000+ employees. A combination of corporate and consulting experience is preferred.

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• 2+ years of experience supporting mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activities.

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• Robust experience merging and managing complex medical, pharmacy, leave of absence, and employee wellbeing programs for acquired companies.

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• Experience working with multiple unions and benefit plan designs required.

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• Experience managing self-funded healthcare plans, including contracting, negotiation, audits, and day-to-day escalation management.

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• Demonstrated experience managing health and welfare benefits, including annual budgeting, ongoing cost management, and partnering with Finance on analysis and reporting.

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• Demonstrated experience with HRIS systems; Workday experience required.

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• Experience working in an environment with HR Shared Services or outsourced HR Operations.

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• Experience administering health and welfare, leave of absence, and wellbeing plans.

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KNOWLEDGE / SKILLS / ABILITIES

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• Comprehensive knowledge of health and welfare benefit plan principles and practices, including applicable state and federal regulations, compliance requirements, and operations.

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• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with an understanding of health and welfare actuarial concepts and the ability to assess, identify, and escalate issues when appropriate.

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• Ability to work independently with minimal direction while collaborating effectively across multiple internal and external functions, including Legal, HR, Benefits Administration, and HRIS.

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• Proven track record of building strong relationships and effective partnerships with employees, stakeholders, and vendors.

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• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with employees, vendor partners, and internal stakeholders at all levels.

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• Exceptional attention to detail.

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• Proven ability to develop, implement, and monitor processes to ensure high-quality benefits plan management.

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• Strong project management skills.

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• Proficiency with Google Workspace, including Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides.

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• Ability to effectively utilize AI tools such as ChatGPT and Gemini.

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• Strong ability to present information objectively and logically to support effective decision-making, along with strong negotiation and influencing skills.

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• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, team-oriented, hands-on, large-company matrix environment.

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• Ability to maintain confidentiality and appropriately handle sensitive information.

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• Knowledge of Canadian benefit plans is an asset.

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CERTIFICATIONS / LICENSES / TRAINING

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• Specialty health and welfare and/or benefits certification preferred.

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PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS / WORK ENVIRONMENT

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• Standard office environment with the ability to work collaboratively in a professional, fast-paced setting.

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• Ability to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

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