Position Overview

The Benefits Manager will be responsible for developing the U.S. benefits strategy and for managing day-to-day program administration including health insurance, dental and vision plans, retirement plans, life insurance, leave policies, and other voluntary benefits. This role will be responsible for managing the annual open enrollment process as well as for benefits compliance and invoicing/billing reconciliation. Additionally, this individual will be responsible for managing leave of absence and well-being initiatives. One of the Benefits and Leave Manager’s primary responsibilities will be to ensure adequate employee education and reinforcement among employees. The Manager will work with the Sr. Director of Total Rewards to co-create a Total Rewards framework of the future with a natural talent for collaborating with partners in People Ops, Finance, Legal and other departments, and believe in exceptional experiences for their clients through streamlined processes and a customer-centric mindset.

Essential job functions and responsibilities

• Benefits Management and Administration
  • Design, develop, and manage Outset’s benefits and well-being framework, including health benefits, well-being resources, retirement savings plan (401k), life insurance, education assistance and other benefits.
  • Oversee the day-to-day administration of benefits programs, including enrollment, claims processing, and communication with third-party providers.
  • Manage annual Open Enrollment, including benefits system setup and testing, partnership with broker for benefits selection, communications, data audits, data feeds to vendors, and employee education.
  • Review and approve benefit elections and life events in the benefits system as needed.
  • Partners with People Ops and Payroll to ensure systems are aligned to support benefits and plans. This includes ADP benefits and payroll administration, Mykplan for 401(k), People Ops dashboards, intranet, Culture Book, and the Newfront and Healthee platforms for benefits.
  • Manage the leave of absence process and maintain our LOA management system, Cocoon.
  • Maintain a good pulse on market data and drive best-in-class programs to ensure competitiveness in the marketplace.
  • Analyze benefits utilization and costs, preparing reports for senior management to support strategic decision-making.
• Compliance and Policy Development
  • Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations governing employee benefits, such as ERISA, ACA, and HIPAA.
  • Ensure that the annual, quarterly, and day-to-day requirements for benefits, 401(k), Section 125, employment and labor laws, and affirmative action compliance are met and maintained.
  • Develop and update policies and procedures related to employee benefits.
• Third-party vendor/partner management
  • Collaborate with benefit plan providers, insurers, and brokers to negotiate contracts, resolve issues, and optimize services.
  • Evaluate vendor performance and recommend changes as needed.
  • Actively participate in plan design with insurance carriers and financial institutions for optimal outcomes, resulting in rich health insurance coverage plans, simple administration of benefits programs, and year-over-year competitive renewals and managed group performance through excellent rapport and partnership with our benefits brokers.
  • Monitor employee satisfaction and make recommendations for improvements.
  • Process monthly billing for various vendors.
• Employee education and communication
  • Develop and execute communication strategies to educate employees about available benefits, changes to existing plans, and other relevant information.
  • Update New Hire and Open Enrollment materials and guide employees on benefit-related inquiries.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Social Sciences, Business Administration, or related field.
• 5 years of experience in People Operations with a distinct focus on leading initiatives in Benefits and LOA
• Excellent understanding of Benefits programs and administration.
• Strong familiarity with People systems and the landscape; experience with ADP Workforce Now preferred
• Highly collaborative and energetic team member who can influence the team, partner cross-functionally, communicate effectively, and provide highest level of customer service.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience implementing and managing programs in both large corporate environments & start-up environments.
• Solid understanding of state and federal laws pertaining to employment and labor, privacy, and other compliance protocols.
• Proven ability to think strategically and to translate strategic directives into tactical initiatives.
• Excellent business and People Operations acumen, including strong problem-solving skills, critical thinking, initiative, and ability to navigate in times of ambiguity.
• Ability to drive process improvement.
• Demonstrated experience in performing complex reporting and analysis.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

Compensation for this position: $120,000-140,000 Bonus Stock