Benefits Manager (On-Site)

At NorthBay Health the Benefits Manager is responsible for the oversight, administration, compliance, and continuous improvement of employee benefits programs across the healthcare system. This role will be involved in the design, implementation, communication, and day-to-day administration of health and welfare plans, retirement programs, and wellness initiatives. The Benefits Manager ensures programs are competitive, compliant, cost-effective, and aligned with organizational goals, workforce needs, and the healthcare system’s mission and values.

This position serves as a key resource to leadership, HR partners, employees, vendors, brokers, and third-party administrators on all benefits-related matters and supports a high level of service in a complex, highly regulated healthcare environment.

Primary Responsibilities 

1. Manage the administration of employee benefits programs, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement plans, wellness programs, and voluntary benefits.

2. Oversee benefits operations for a diverse healthcare workforce, including multiple employee groups, varying schedules, union and non-union populations, and location-specific considerations as applicable.

3. Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, including but not limited to ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA/CFRA, Section 125, Medicare Part D, and related reporting requirements.

4. Lead annual open enrollment planning and execution, including system setup, employee communications, vendor coordination, education sessions, and issue resolution.

5. Partner with brokers, carriers, consultants, payroll, finance, legal, and internal HR teams to evaluate plan performance, resolve escalated issues, and implement program enhancements.

6. Manage vendor relationships and hold carriers and third-party administrators accountable for service, performance guarantees, contract terms, and issue resolution.

7. Analyze benefits utilization, trends, costs, and benchmarking data to support recommendations for plan design, cost containment, and employee experience improvements.

8. Participates in the development and maintenance of benefits policies, procedures, plan documents, summary plan descriptions, and employee communications.

9. Collaborate with payroll and HRIS teams to ensure accurate deductions, file feeds, eligibility rules, and benefits system integrity.

10. Oversee benefits coordination as applicable, including benefit continuation, disability coordination, and return-to-work benefit impacts.

11. Respond to complex or escalated employee benefits questions and provide guidance with a high level of customer service and confidentiality.

12. Support audits, filings, nondiscrimination testing, and benefits-related reconciliation and reporting activities.

13. Monitor legislative and market changes that may impact benefit programs and recommend appropriate action.

14. Supervise benefits staff, including work allocation, coaching, performance management, and professional development.

15. Participate in strategic total rewards initiatives and other HR projects as assigned.

Qualifications:

Education:  Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Healthcare Administration or related field required. 

Certification:  PHR/SPHR preferred

Experience/Skills: 

1. Minimum 5 to 7 years of progressively responsible experience in benefits administration required.
2. Prior experience in a healthcare organization, large employer, or complex multi-site environment strongly preferred
3. Prior leadership or supervisory experience required.
4. Experience supporting union-represented employees preferred.
5. Proven track record of planning, executing, and closing projects successfully, including the management of scope, timelines, and budgets.
6. Experience in developing and implementing business strategies and plans that align with organizational goals.
7. Demonstrates healthcare experience, with emphasis on business analytics and market assessment skills. 
8. Demonstrates strong analytical, problem solving, strategic thinking, critical thinking, decision modeling and organizational skills. 

Knowledge: 

1. Demonstrates proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, Word and other relevant software tools. 
2. Demonstrates ability to work in a collaborative team environment. 
3. Demonstrates excellent written and oral communication skills. Must be able to produce examples of written reports. 
4. Demonstrates ability to prepare and present high level presentations. Must be able to produce examples of presentations and related support materials. 
5. Advanced skills including analytical, critical-thinking and problem-solving skills to assess complex issues and develop solutions.
6. Advanced interpersonal and leadership skills to lead and work collaboratively and effectively with multi-disciplinary, cross-functional teams.

7. Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple projects simultaneously.

    

Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the True North values. True North values are a set of value-based behaviors that are to be consistently demonstrated, and role modeled by all employees that work at NorthBay Health. The True North values principles consist of Nurture/Care, Own It, Respect Relationships, Build Trust and Hardwire Excellence. Ability to communicate comfort at all levels of the organization. Ability to keep colleagues and vendors on task and on time. Ability to represent the System effectively to outside vendors, physicians, consultants, patients and employers.

Standards of Performance: Demonstrate performance by adhering to established policies and procedures and exhibiting the defined characteristics associated with attendance and punctuality.

Physical Effort: Attendance is an essential function of the job, remotely or in-person. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  While performing the duties of this job, must be able to spend multiple hours at the computer.  Occasional lifting supplies, squatting, and standing. 

Hours of Work: Exempt. Based on business need.