Benefits Manager, Miami

Job Summary

The Benefits Manager position is responsible for directing and planning the day-to-day operations of group benefits programs (group health, dental, vision, short-term and long-term disability, worker's compensation, life insurance, travel and accident plan, flexible spending plan, retirement plans, etc.). This position provides excellent customer service and designs quality benefits plans. The manager continually investigates new benefits programs, improves existing programs, and supervises and monitors benefits administration.

• Plan, implement, and administer retirement and health and welfare benefit programs.
• Manage day-to-day administration of benefit plans.
• Review and approve all benefits-related inputs to payroll, ensuring accuracy of benefit deductions, retroactive deductions, and leave-related payroll impacts.
• Collaborate with broker to prepare annual renewal change recommendations, monitor market trends, best practices, and benchmarking data.
• Manage annual Open Enrollment, including project planning, system configuration, vendor coordination, testing, employee and partner communications, and post-enrollment reconciliation.
• Lead benefits communications and education initiatives, ensuring team members and managers are well-informed and empowered to utilize benefits and wellness resources.
• Coordinate leaves of absence with Office Administrators and manage leave process with employees.
• Monitor effectiveness of benefit programs, advising Firm management of needed revisions to current programs and for developing new programs as required.
• Provide prompt and accurate administrative services to employees and partners regarding benefit programs.
• Develop and maintain statistical data about current benefit programs and proposed benefit changes to provide Firm management controls and protect future benefit costs and assist in decision-making.
• Stay current with local, state and federal laws to ensure compliance, ensuring timely and correct ACA reporting.
• Maintain records and files, including plan documents, summary plan descriptions and contracts related to various benefit programs.
• Ensure proper enrollment, termination, accuracy of deductions, vendor invoice processing, auditing, record-keeping and reporting of the Firm’s benefit programs.
• Develop estimated and actual costs of benefit plans for budget purposes with assistance from Firmwide Finance Department.
• Act as liaison between Firm and outside consultants, actuaries and carriers for problem solving, renewal, and contract negotiations.
• Develop and publish open enrollment materials annually.

• Computer proficiency and technical aptitude; ability to use Microsoft products, including PowerPoint; experience with HRIS and benefits databases.
• Project and team management/leadership skills and experience.
• Proven ability to work effectively in a team environment with associates.
• Effective planning and priority setting; ability to manage several complex projects simultaneously while working under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Strong analytical skills and thorough knowledge of plan designs.
• Ability to understand, evaluate and make judgments on proposals (RFPs).
• Knowledge of benefits contract language.
• Knowledge of all pertinent federal and state regulations, filing and compliance requirements, both adopted and pending, affecting employee benefits programs, including the ACA, ERISA, COBRA, FMLA, ADA, Section 125, workers’ compensation, Medicare, OBRA, and Social Security and DOL requirements.
• Excellent communication and organization skills.

• Bachelor’s degree in human resource management or related field, and three to five years of related benefits or employee benefits administration experience at an AMLAW 200 law firm.
• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, and/or CEBS professional designations preferred.

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Including lift/carry up to 10 pounds, typing/using a keyboard, writing by hand, collating/filing.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. This is largely a sedentary role, though some filing is required; it would require the ability to lift files, open filing cabinets and bend or stand on a stool as necessary. Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus.

This job description intends to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. It is not intended to include all duties and responsibilities.

Shutts & Bowen is an Equal Opportunity Employer.