Manager of Benefits

Job Type:

MANAGER OF BENEFITS

Reporting to the Director of Benefits & Records, this role is strategically positioned to have positive impact across all levels of RAND.

• As Manager of Benefits, you will be pivotal in designing, implementing, and managing employee benefits and retirement programs to support RAND's staff with their physical, mental, emotional, financial, and social well-being.
• You will be responsible for ensuring that staff have access to comprehensive and competitive benefits that align with the total rewards strategy, along with resources to promote their overall well-being.
• This role requires an in-depth understanding of benefits administration, time off and leave programs, project and vendor management, and compliance, along with the ability to communicate health, welfare, wellness, and retirement programs.
• This position is vital in maintaining a positive employee experience and supporting RAND's commitment to overall well-being.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

May perform any or all of the following duties:

• Designs, manages, implements, and administers well-crafted benefit programs and initiatives that support leaders and various groups of benefit-eligible staff as applicable and assists with requests for proposals while considering benchmarking, legal and regulatory developments, and cost considerations. Recommends changes to plan design and administration that align with organizational objectives.
• Oversees administration and coordination of time off and leave programs including disability, FMLA, company-paid Birth Recovery and Parental (Bonding) leaves, Paid Family Leave, Workers' Compensation, and state sick leave.

• Builds strategic and effective relationships with internal stakeholders/business leaders and external consultants and benefit vendors to support total rewards initiatives.
• Assists with managing RAND's 35+ vendors and partners to promote effective benefits delivery, including implementing plan design changes, resolving operational issues, monitoring reporting and adherence of service-level agreements, and evaluating scorecards.
• Leads annual open enrollment process including, but not limited to, updating Workday system with plan and rule changes, coordinating with consultants and vendors on data feeds and required documentation, originating virtual and/or onsite benefit fairs, developing related communications, and educating Benefits team and staff on changes.
• Acts as an internal consultant to the business, working with leaders, HR, and other key stakeholders to understand how our benefits support their needs, the RAND mission, and implements suitable solutions.
• Provides ongoing support and guidance to managers to promote a culture of total rewards mindset across all levels of the organization.
• Develops metrics and benchmarking for various benefit processes and programs.
• Collaborates and coordinates with internal Workday Service Center team and external vendors to ensure system and data integrations are developed and enhanced to ensure effective user experiences.
• Ensures benefit plans, programs, and policies remain in compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; remains abreast of legal and regulatory developments and industry best practices.
• Leads, develops, and implements effective communication strategies that drive engagement and educates staff about company benefits programs.

• Works with internal partners and subject matter experts to develop customized and applicable educational programs that align with the needs and interests of multiple departments, groups, and staff levels.
• Manages employees to deliver strong performance;establish performance expectations;train and develop team by providing timely recognition, feedback, coaching, and support; assist with problem solving and guidance; allocate resources effectively to equitably distribute the workload while also identifying appropriate skill levels and talents; and support a safe work environment.

QUALIFICATIONS: KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS:

People Manager

• Manages employees to deliver strong performance;establish performance expectations;train and develop team by providing timely recognition, feedback, coaching, and support; assist with problem solving and guidance; allocate resources effectively to equitably distribute the workload while also identifying appropriate skill levels and talents; and support a safe work environment.

Benefits Management

• Designs, manages, implements, and administers well-crafted benefit programs and initiatives that support leaders and various groups of benefit-eligible staff as applicable and assists with requests for proposals while considering benchmarking, legal and regulatory developments, and cost considerations. Recommends changes to plan design and administration that align with organizational objectives.
• Oversees administration and coordination of time off and leave programs including disability, FMLA, company-paid Birth Recovery and Parental (Bonding) leaves, Paid Family Leave, Workers' Compensation, and state sick leave.
• Develops metrics and benchmarking for various benefit processes and programs.

Vendor and Relationship Management

• Builds strategic and effective relationships with internal stakeholders/business leaders and external consultants and benefit vendors to support total rewards initiatives.
• Assists with managing RAND's 35+ vendors and partners to promote effective benefits delivery, including implementing plan design changes, resolving operational issues, monitoring reporting and adherence of service-level agreements, and evaluating scorecards.
• Acts as an internal consultant to the business, working with leaders, HR, and other key stakeholders to understand how our benefits support their needs, the RAND mission, and implements suitable solutions.
• Provides ongoing support and guidance to managers to promote a culture of total rewards mindset across all levels of the organization.

Systems/Technical

• Leads annual open enrollment process including, but not limited to, updating Workday system with plan and rule changes, coordinating with consultants and vendors on data feeds and required documentation, and originating virtual and/or onsite benefit fairs.
• Collaborates and coordinates with internal Workday Service Center team and external vendors to ensure system and data integrations are developed and enhanced to ensure effective user experiences.
• Ensures benefit plans, programs, and policies remain in compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; remains abreast of legal and regulatory developments and industry best practices.

Communications and Education

• Leads, develops, and implements effective communication strategies that drive engagement and educates staff about company benefits programs to include open enrollment changes and system-related updates.

• Works with internal partners and subject matter experts to develop customized and applicable educational programs that align with the needs and interests of multiple departments, groups, and staff levels.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Professional designations (CEBS, GBA, RPA, SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP) desired.

EXPERIENCE

• 8+ years of progressively responsible HR experience including 10 years in management

• Proficient in Microsoft Office and experience with Workday benefits, absence modules, and vendor integration files.

• Exceptional communication skills, and able to demonstrate credibility to key stakeholders in both written and verbal communication.
• Strong analytic skills and ability to interpret data are required.
• Demonstrated knowledge of employee health, disability, wellness, and retirement programs and plans, including processes, procedures, and benefit contract language.
• Knowledge of all pertinent federal and state regulations, filing and compliance requirements both adopted and pending affecting employee benefit and time off programs, retirement plans, including ERISA, COBRA, FMLA, ADA, ACA, Section 125, Workers' Compensation, and Secure 2.0.

LOCATION(S)

• Santa Monica, CA; Washington DC (Arlington, VA); and Pittsburgh, PA.
• Occasional travel within the U.S. is required.

Salary Range: $120,900 - $184,500

• RAND considers a variety of factors when formulating an offer, including but not limited to, the specific role and associated responsibilities; a candidate's work experience, education/training, skills, expertise; and internal equity.The salary range includes base pay plus RAND's sabbatic pay (which provides additional compensation above base pay when vacation is taken). In addition, RAND provides strong benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, paid time-off and more.

Equal Opportunity Employer: race/color/religion/sex/sexual orientation/gender identity/national origin/disability/vet