Manager - HR

Position: Manager Benefits - HR Benefits
Key Responsibilities The Manager, Benefits reports to the Director, Benefits and Absence and is responsible for the strategic design, development, implementation, communication, and ongoing administration of the Company’s Health & Welfare benefit programs for active employees and retirees. This position provides leadership and subject matter expertise across the full Health & Welfare portfolio and is accountable for Health & Welfare Strategy and Plan Management Lead the strategy, design, implementation, and ongoing administration of the Company’s comprehensive Health & Welfare benefit programs, including:

Self-insured medical plans

Prescription drug benefits

Dental and vision plans

Life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), and other tax-advantaged benefit accounts

Employee wellbeing programs and initiatives

Voluntary and supplemental benefit programs

Educational assistance programs

Catastrophic Assistance and Relief (CARE) program

Other Health & Welfare programs and employee benefit offerings

Retiree medical plans

Develop and execute Health & Welfare strategies that support the Company's Total Rewards philosophy, business objectives, workforce needs, and employee value proposition.

Evaluate plan design opportunities, emerging benefit trends, utilization, employee demographics, market practices, and cost drivers to develop recommendations for benefit enhancements, changes, or new programs.

Lead the evaluation of opportunities to improve quality, affordability, access, employee experience, and administrative efficiency across the Health & Welfare portfolio.

Financial Management and Analytics Manage multi-million-dollar Health & Welfare benefit budgets, forecasts, funding activities, and financial analysis.

Partner with Finance, actuaries, consultants, and vendors to evaluate program costs, utilization trends, claims experience, and emerging cost drivers.

Monitor benefit program performance and identify opportunities to manage healthcare costs while maintaining competitive, high-quality benefits for employees and their families.

Develop business cases, financial analyses, and recommendations to support benefit strategy and investment decisions.

Establish and monitor key performance indicators and metrics to evaluate program effectiveness, vendor performance, employee engagement, utilization, and financial results.

Vendor and Partner Management Develop and maintain strong strategic partnerships with health plans, pharmacy benefit managers, benefit administrators, consultants, wellbeing partners, and other benefit vendors.

Lead vendor governance activities, including performance reviews, service-level monitoring, issue resolution, implementation activities, contract renewals, and ongoing vendor management.

Partner with Procurement, Legal, and Finance on vendor selection, contracting, renewals, competitive bidding activities, and evaluation of benefit solutions.

Hold vendors accountable for delivering contractual commitments, service standards, financial guarantees, and a high-quality participant experience.

Benefits Administration and Employee Experience Provide leadership and oversight for the day-to-day administration of Health & Welfare benefit programs, ensuring accurate, efficient, and consistent service delivery.

Oversee annual Open Enrollment, new program implementations, plan changes, and other benefit enrollment activities.

Lead the development and execution of benefits communications that educate employees about their benefits, increase awareness and engagement, promote healthcare consumerism, and help employees make informed benefit decisions.

Monitor and resolve complex or escalated benefits issues involving eligibility, enrollment, coverage, claims, and vendor service.

Identify opportunities to simplify benefits administration and improve the employee experience through technology, process improvements, automation, and vendor capabilities.

Governance and Compliance Ensure Health & Welfare benefit programs are administered in accordance with applicable federal and state requirements and Company plan provisions.

Maintain and oversee benefit plan documentation, including Summary Plan Descriptions (SPDs), plan documents, policies, procedures, employee communications, and required notices.

Coordinate required Health & Welfare compliance activities, filings, notices, audits, including applicable Affordable Care Act reporting, Summary Annual Reports, PCORI…