Job Title
Benefits Manager
Job Description
The Benefits Manager will assist with the design, implementation, administration, and promotion of our employee benefits programs across People Incorporated. Reporting directly to the Senior Director of Benefits, this individual will collaborate to ensure that People Incorporated's benefit offerings remain highly competitive, fully compliant with regulations, and aligned with overall organizational goals. This role requires an experienced professional with vendor management expertise and project management skills to support benefit initiatives, manage partner relationships, and drive program rollouts.
The position is based in the New York City corporate headquarters and is hybrid in-office with the ability to work remotely up to 2 days per week.
About The Position
Benefits Strategy & Administration
- Manage employee benefits programs across the People Incorporated portfolio, including healthcare, life/disability, 401(k), voluntary benefits, and leave management.
- Serve as an escalation point for employee benefit questions, policy interpretations, and operational concerns.
- Evaluate existing benefit vendors and assist with RFPs and implementations as needed.
- Oversee the annual open enrollment process, including plan design decisions, benefits administration system testing, multi-channel communications, onsite events, and employee education.
Vendor Management & Strategic Partnerships
- Manage benefit vendor relationships, brokers, consultants, and administration partners to ensure all issues are escalated and resolved quickly and appropriately.
- Assist with monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs) and service level agreements (SLAs) for benefit vendors, ensuring high-quality execution, accountability, and continuous performance review.
- Lead benefits billing for multiple vendors including tracking administrative and claims costs and managing the intercompany billing process.
- Act as a key contact point for vendor service issues, financial reconciliations, and operational discrepancies.
Project Management & Process Optimization
- Manage projects related to benefits system integration, policy updates, structural plan changes, and process optimization.
- Develop detailed project plans, timelines, and milestone tracking for key HR and benefits initiatives. Coordinate with vendors to track updates.
- Tracks the status of contracts. Coordinates with Legal and Vendors as necessary to facilitate the review and approval of contracts.
- Partner with HRIS and our 3rd party benefits administrator to ensure seamless integrations, early detection of any issues, and oversight of the resolution.
Compliance & Governance
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant federal, state, and local laws and regulations governing benefits, including ERISA, COBRA, FMLA, ACA and HIPAA.
- Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local requirements across all benefit programs, assisting with required filings and disclosures including Form 5500s, 1095-Cs, RxDC, and non-discrimination testing.
- Perform regular plan audits and risk assessments in collaboration with internal and external audit teams.
Communication & Education
- Establish a benefits calendar with different benefits communication and promotion strategies from the various benefit partners. Enhance employee engagement, understanding, and program utilization.
- Maintain an employee resource database within the benefits administration system and ensure all materials are up to date.
- Partner with our vendors to coordinate employee education sessions for 401k and other benefit plans.
- Coordinate communication campaigns across all subsidiaries, ensuring accurate distribution lists and advance planning with the internal communications team.
The Role's Minimum Qualifications and Job Requirements:
- Education: Bachelor's degree in HR, Finance, or Business. CEBS or CBP certifications are a plus.
- Experience: 5+ years of experience in benefits administration with demonstrated experience managing multiple benefits plans and programs.
- Specific Knowledge, Skills, Certifications and Abilities:
- Demonstrated track record in vendor management, evaluating existing benefit vendors, and assisting with RFPs and implementations.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team, managing multiple projects, cross-functional HR technology, and deadlines.
- Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws and regulations governing employee benefits (ERISA, COBRA, FMLA, ACA, HIPAA, etc.).
- Adept in benefits administration systems and HRIS, especially Workday.
- Experience supporting varied populations, including hourly, part-time, salaried, union, and retirees.
- Strong analytical skills and attention to detail, with a data-driven approach to interpreting data, decision-making, and plan performance evaluation.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships across departments and companies.
% Travel Required (Approximate): ~5%