Manager, Benefits

This job plays a pivotal role in ensuring that our benefits programs are not just effective, but also a testament to our dedication to our employees' well-being and professional growth. The Benefits Manager will spearhead the development and administration of benefits programs that are not only highly valued and utilized but also cost-effective. These programs are designed to attract, engage, and retain a diverse and exceptional workforce. In this role, you will oversee the entire lifecycle of our benefits programs, from the initial research and proposal stages to implementation, administration, legal compliance, and evaluation of employee utilization and value.

• Leads a team of benefits professionals, supports their development, and partners with People Organization team stakeholders to implement and support employee benefit programs.
• Provides strategic expertise regarding benefit strategy, market trends, legislation, and benefit policy/plan design.
• Designs, evaluates, and recommends new or enhanced benefit programs aligned with changing employee needs and business landscape, using data driven insights, market benchmarking, cost analysis, and employee impact.
• Leads vendor selection activities (including RFPs), contract negotiations and reviews, and completion of required agreements and security reviews.
• Oversees health and welfare, well-being, and related benefit programs to ensure alignment with employee needs and business priorities. Monitors vendor performance to confirm service commitments are met.
• Directs the implementation and ongoing administration of benefit programs, including employee communications and education. Ensures programs meet legal and regulatory requirements, including required filings, plan documents, and employee notices, and that these are completed accurately and on time.
• Partners with Total Rewards leadership to set priorities and align time and resources to business needs.
• Identifies and escalates issues that may affect the company, legal compliance, vendor contracts or service changes, the budget, or employees. Consults with the Benefits Consultant, internal Legal, ERISA counsel, and other subject matter experts as needed to support informed decision-making.
• Oversees benefits systems and data integrations, including open enrollment to ensure accurate data, strong security controls, and efficient operations.
• Develops and manages the annual benefits budget. Partners with Finance to forecast costs, analyze variances, and recommend corrective actions as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• 8+ years w/Bachelor’s degree; 1+ years supervisory/management
• Additional experience may be accepted in lieu of education or degree

Additional Experience

• Minimum 6 years experience in health and welfare benefits management. Experience overseeing benefit enrollment/administration software systems to support employee self-service in online enrollment, education, and plan selection decision making. Experience working for a benefits broker in addition to managing corporate benefits a plus. Experience managing service levels vs. Service Level Agreements of benefits broker and vendor/carriers a plus.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities
 

• Ability to manage and mentor/develop a diverse team of benefits professionals of varying experience levels. Includes organizational skills to assign work that successfully engages, develops and cross-trains direct reports. Also includes ability to successfully manage remote, and in-office staff.
• In-depth knowledge of current health & welfare, well-being, and retirement medical programs required to compete for high caliber talent
• Strong understanding of legal/regulatory and compliance challenges related to benefits programs. Includes ERISA and IRS regulations, government filings such as 5500's, ACA reporting, non-discrimination testing, summary annual reports, summary plan descriptions, etc.
• Solid understanding of leave administration, workers' compensation and associated legal/compliance requirements
• Proven ability to independently initiate and execute projects with a strong attention to details and deadlines; and promotes collaboration between multiple teams in, and outside of the People Organization toward successful project completion.
• Proven ability to oversee and/or develop benefit communication/education materials/programs targeting specific audiences such as: new benefit proposal to executive leaders; benefit marketing and education materials for employees; benefits microsite targeting employees, dependents, or job candidates.
• Strong problem solving, oral presentation, persuasion and written communication skills adapted to the target audience.
• Solid understanding of Microsoft Office 365 software to include MSWord, Outlook, Excel, and Powerpoint. Experience with One Note, Teams and other Microsoft tools a plus.
• Considers it a strength to ask for help when needed, and seek out opinions of others in fulfilling the roles purpose - delivery of highly valued benefits.

Licenses
• Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS)-IFEBP. Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS)-IFEBP Upon Hire Pref'

Base Pay Information

The national base pay range at the end is a good-faith estimate of what Delta Dental may pay for new hires. Actual pay may vary based on Delta Dental’s assessment of the candidate’s knowledge, skills, abilities (KSAs), related experience, education, certifications and ability to meet required minimum job qualifications. Other factors impacting pay include prevailing wages in the work location and internal equity. 
Pay Grade 22. $92,500 - $200,400