Under administrative direction from the Senior Manager, analyzes designs, plans, and implements benefit programs, policies and procedures. Responsible for ensuring programs meet employee needs, comply with legal requirements and are administered in a consistent responsive manner. Assures the effective use of HRIS in managing benefit enrollment/participation and relies on experience and judgement to plan and accomplish goals. Key Responsibilities Collaborates with supervisor on the design and planning of the Lab's benefit programs and implementation including: medical, dental, vision, group basic and supplemental life insurance, retiree plan, 403(b), 457(b) retirement plans, a legacy defined benefit plan, health savings and flexible spending health care and dependent care accounts. Presents at the benefits new hire orientation Analyzes utilization data and provides recommendations for Health & Wellness Program initiatives. Analyzes and provides audited data for 403b retirement plan audit request and applicable non—discrimination testing for FSAs and 5500s. Conducts appropriate audit of all benefit invoices to ensure alignment with budget and creates benefit POs. Responsible for ACA filings for all medical plans including 1095C mailings Responsible for enrollment and administration of 457(f) and all executive disability and life insurance plans. Responsible for administering the Lab's review process for employee contested denied claims. Collaborates with Leaves and Wellness teams in resolving employee issues or implementing best practices where functional areas align such as COBRA, FMLA and EAP. Review and manage Stop loss notices. Serves on benefits customer service team and responds to employee inquiries via case system. Also serves as escalation point for benefit issues resulting from plan encounters from senior benefits specialist. Continuously reviews benefit processes and systems and proposes best practice to create efficiency where applicable. Manages benefit plan configurations and testing in Workday alongside Benefit Specialist Collaborates with supervisor in planning and implementing annual open enrollment and benefit fairs. Serves as secretary for the Retirement Committee. Consults and advises employees and retirees on eligibility provisions and other matters related to benefits including employee advocacy as needed.. Coordinates and oversees alongside the senior benefits specialist, open enrollment processing, testing, corrections, builds, special inputs and troubleshooting. Maintains a strong working relationship with HRIS staff to coordinate information management. Responsible for limited employee benefits communication Provides input for presentations. Performs other adhoc responsibilities as assigned. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities BS Degree required. Master's preferred Considerable knowledge of benefits and pension administration, FMLA and COBRA regulation and requirements. Expertise in benefit database administration and employee benefit records management. At least four to six years progressive benefits work experience including plan design, analysis and administration. Must have good organizational and analytical skills. Ability to complete complex administrative tasks and prepare presentations to managers and employees as required. Ability to listen and ascertain the needs of employees; ability to plan, organize and facilitate meetings. Able to build effective working relationships across the organization and externally to get things done. Able to communicate effectively with others in writing and verbally. Good time management skills with ability to multitask when needed. Team player and able to function effectively in a complex production/research environment and a demonstrated ability to openness to new ideas and approaches. Ability to work with confidential information Interpersonal relationship skills sufficient to allow incumbent to work in a high-profile environment requiring discretion, judgment, tact, and diplomacy Pay Range: $73,305 - $122,730 About JAX: The Jackson Laboratory is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research institution with a National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center and nearly 3,000 employees in locations across the United States (Maine, Connecticut, California), Japan and China. Its mission is to discover precise genomic solutions for disease and empower the global biomedical community in the shared quest to improve human health. Founded in 1929, JAX applies over nine decades of expertise in genetics to increase understanding of human disease, advancing treatments and cures for cancer, neurological and immune disorders, diabetes, aging and heart disease. It models and interprets genomic complexity, integrates basic research with clinical application, educates current and future scientists, and provides critical data, tools and services to the global biomedical community. For more information, please visit www.jax.org. EEO Statement: The Jackson Laboratory provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment in all job classifications without regard to race, color, religion, age, mental disability, physical disability, medical condition, gender, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, marital status, national origin, veteran status, and other classifications protected by applicable state and local non-discrimination laws. Bar Harbor: The Jackson Laboratory's 43-acre scenic Bar Harbor campus is nestled between the Gulf of Maine and the mountains of Acadia National Park. Some of the best hiking and biking in the world (over 50 square miles of mountains, lakes, views, and dramatic coastline) is accessible from our campus. We are one mile from downtown Bar Harbor, which offers a vibrant downtown district with a plethora of restaurants, shops, museums, and galleries. Ellsworth: The Charles E. Hewett Center in Ellsworth, Maine, is a state-of-the-art facility that serves researchers world wide. The facility represents the culmination of nine decades of unmatched experience and leadership in breeding and caring for laboratory mice. Ellsworth, Maine, is one of Maine’s fastest growing cities. With a growth rate of nearly 20%, Ellsworth is a bustling year-round community and acts as a hub for surrounding towns. It is located nearby Acadia National Park and hosts numerous special events, concerts and festivals each year. Residents have access to fabulous shopping, recreation, museums, galleries, and dining at a variety of independent restaurants. Farmington: JAX Genomic Medicine is transforming medicine by improving patient care, lowering costs, and increasing life span and health span. JAX Genomic Medicine’s research focuses on the complex genetic causes of disease and on the development of genomic solutions tailored to each person's unique genetic makeup. JAX Genomic Medicine sits on a 17-acre site on the campus of the University of Connecticut Health Center. The 183,500-square-foot facility opened in the fall of 2014. Now, it houses over 300 biomedical researchers, technicians, and support staff in state-of-the-art computing facilities and laboratories. In Connecticut, JAX resides in the scenic town of Farmington, in the state’s capitol region. The Hartford region, which offers some of the best public schools in the country, is made up of both bigger cities and smaller, charming historic New England towns. JAX Genomic Medicine is also geographically located within 2 hours of Boston and New York and is close to multiple transportation systems, including bus lines, highways, railroads and international airports. Sacramento: The JAX® Mice, Clinical and Research Services facility is located in Sacramento, the state capital of California. Sacramento is less than a two-hour drive from San Francisco, Napa Valley, and scenic Lake Tahoe, and a short flight to both Los Angeles and Orange County. Sacramento is the birthplace of the nation’s Farm to Fork movement, and offers excellent restaurants, gastro-pubs, wineries, theaters, and museums. Outdoor activities are plentiful: Boating, white water rafting, and riding the scenic bicycle trails are popular. Housing and other costs of living are more affordable in Sacramento and its surrounding suburbs than in most other neighboring areas in the North Bay, making Sacramento one of the hottest housing markets in the country year after year. Augusta: JAX’s Maine Cancer Genomics Initiative (MCGI) is located in Augusta, Maine, in the Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care (HACCC), at Maine General Hospital. It began operations in 2016 with three overarching goals: to provide cancer genomic testing for Maine cancer patients; to develop and deliver physician education about clinical genomic cancer diagnostics; and to build a network in Maine of oncology practices conducting studies in genomic medicine.