Benefits Manager

JOB SUMMARY

The Benefits Manager will be responsible for leading all aspects of AFC’s benefits, retirement, and wellness including: strategy, design, administration, and compliance. In this hands-on role, the individual will manage AFC’s employee benefit programs; work closely with brokers to evaluate and benchmark benefits and retirement programs to ensure competitiveness in the market. The person will analyze and oversee the design & development of benefit programs, ensuring the plans are both competitive and cost effective. The incumbent will serve as a strategic partner to the Company, making data-driven decisions and applying a deep expertise of industry best practices, benchmarks, and emerging trends. The individual will be the internal point of contact and subject matter expert for employee benefit inquiries and activities, and serve as a company representative to external benefits consultants, brokers, carriers, vendors, and legal counsel.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Ensures the accuracy of all benefits enrollments in the HRIS to provide vendors with accurate eligibility information
• Assists employees regarding benefits questions, plan changes, and claim issues
• Processes and administers all leave-of-absence and accommodation requests
• Manages all disability paperwork
• Manage annual benefits renewal and open enrollment processes, including plan and vendor evaluation, cost and utilization analyses, and data audit and reconciliation
• Develop and manage vendor relationships
• Responsible for monthly vendor invoicing and reconciliation 
• Ensure benefit related system updates are completed successfully with a focus on automation and efficiency 
• Design, implement, and administer national employee benefit programs, including health, life and disability insurance, and retirement programs
• Regularly analyze benefit offerings, evaluating the usage, plan design, services, coverage, effectiveness, cost, plan experience, and competitive trends, and make appropriate short and long-term recommendations
• Identify gaps, and spearhead improvements of benefits policies, procedures, and processes
• Work closely with consultants/brokers to conduct benchmark analysis and identify industry trends
• Work with the company's external benefits broker to analyze and evaluate plan renewals for cost-effectiveness, negotiate for improved services and offerings to maintain the company's competitive position
• Oversee administration of the 401(k) plan including member experience and audit requirements

WHAT YOU BRING

• Minimum of 5 years of progressive benefits experience
• Knowledge and understanding of federal and state laws relating to benefit plans including (but not limited to) ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, ADA, PPACA, and FMLA
• Benefits administration experience including knowledge of health and welfare plans, leaves, time off practices, and retirement plans
• Experience assessing, selecting, and managing outstanding partners and vendors
• Impeccable communication skills; able to explain complex ideas in a simple, clear manner, deftly answer challenging benefits questions, and connect with a variety of audiences from senior leadership to employees
• Strong analytical and conceptual skills while also being creative and strategic; an aim to support decisions with data, and the ability to make data digestible to diverse audiences
• Strong knowledge of health, retirement, wellness, disability and leave plans as well as good working knowledge of tax, legal and immigration issues with respect to benefits
• Strong sense of urgency, attention to detail and accuracy, well organized and able to prioritize in a fast-paced, high-performing, and customer focused environment
• Bachelor’s degree preferred 
• CEBS designation preferred
• Experience with UKG preferred

Pay: $80,000 -$100,000 Annually (Salary)