Location: Midwest (TX, MO, IL or Central Time Zone)

Department: Benefits

Position Type: Full Time-Exempt

Summary/Objective

The Manager of Benefit Operations is responsible for directing a team on the administration of employee benefit programs including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short term and long-term disability, and voluntary programs. This position follows policies or procedures that support their compliance and administration. This position also provides operational guidance for client sponsored Health and Welfare Plan deduction processing. Ensures that a positive, high quality customer focused team is established and managed effectively.  The Manager of Benefits Operations will work collaboratively with other members of the organization to continually improve processes and services to our clients.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide guidance, direction and support to the Benefits team
• Provide oversight of general plan administration.
• Supervise the set up and maintenance of client benefit plan setup
• Supervise the maintenance and execution of eligibility and enrollment for all benefits plans
• Lead the team through the Annual Open Enrollment project plans to include milestones for client delivery, communication and auditing results
• Mentor the team on recommending new plans and making premium cost share recommendations (contribution strategies) to clients.
• Actively manage team performance.
  • Establish clearly defined individual performance goals and objectives; communicate these to team members through 1-on-1 meetings and performance planning and review sessions; provide periodic performance feedback and conduct annual performance reviews on all team members
  • Develop and administer corrective action and performance improvement plans
  • Facilitate professional development, training, and certification activities for staff.
• Coordinate timely resolution to client inquiries by working closely with internal department teams, ensuring service level agreements are met and client satisfaction is achieved
• Gather and maintain client service data in the CRM/HR Services database.
• Maintain confidentiality of all client and employee information.
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state and local employment laws.

JOB REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Ability to work in dynamic, rapidly changing environment, adapting to changing requirements and collaborating with a wide range of colleagues to quickly deliver solutions
• Maintains social, ethical, and organizational norms; firmly adheres to codes of conduct and ethical principles
• Writes and speaks clearly, informatively and persuasively; adapts style to meet needs, listens and seeks clarification. Responds well to questions, demonstrates group presentation skills and participates in meetings
• Effectively manages emotional or difficult customer situations, responds promptly to customer needs, solicits customer feedback to improve service, responds to request for service and assistance, meets commitments
• Focuses on building relationships, effectively resolving conflict and maintaining confidentiality, approaches others in a tactful manner, treats others with respect and consideration regardless of status or position
• Volunteers readily, undertakes self-development activities, seeks increased responsibilities, asks for and offers help as needed when appropriate
• Able to adapt to changes in the work environment, manages competing demands, changes approach or method to best fit the situation, able to deal with frequent change, delay or unexpected events
• Identifies problems in a timely manner, gathers and analyzes information skillfully; develops alternative solutions
• Follows instructions and responds to Management’s direction, takes responsibility for own actions, keeps commitments, commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals, completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with alternative plan; ability to work independently with minimal supervision

Education and Experience:

• Experience with a PEO or an outsourcing provider required.
• At least five (5) years prior relevant employee benefits experience, with at least two (2) years in a similar benefits management or direct management or supervisory experience required. 
• Experience leading a team through Annual Open Enrollment required.
• Experience with PrismHR and Client Space preferred.
• Related business degree or any other combination of education and/or years of experience equivalent required.

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times.

Travel

• Travel to corporate headquarters as needed.

Hours of Work

• Normal business hours are 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM CST