The Benefits Program Manager is responsible for the strategic and day-to-day operations of group health and welfare programs and 401(K) programs.  This role ensures compliance with all applicable regulations, provides exceptional customer service to employees, and manages vendor relationships. The Benefits Program Manager plays a critical role in creating and managing a benefits program that allows us to attract and retain top talent.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIESBenefits AdministrationDrives the strategy and oversees the administration of all employee benefit programsAct as the project manager for all benefit and vendor changesPartner with Payroll and HRIS to ensure deductions file feeds are set up correctly and according to plan documentsManage carrier file feeds, running reports from vendors on employee and benefit changes and reconciliationsEnsure compliance with ERISA, HIPAA, and other relevant regulationsServe as primary contact for all plan vendors and third-party administratorsServe as an escalation point for benefits and leave related questions401K Administration: Administer the 401(k) retirement plan, including enrollment, contributions, distributions, and loan processing.Serve as the primary contact and vendor manager for the 401(k) planEnsure compliance with all 401(k) regulations,Coordinate and conduct employee education sessions on 401(k) plan features and investment optionsServe as a primary employee contact for all 401(k) questionsRenewal/Open Enrollment: Partner with Benefit Broker in evaluating plans performance, vetting new programs and making suggested enhancements to benefit plansPartner with Benefit Broker to negotiate benefit plan renewals and contractsDevelop and distribute open enrollment materials, including benefit guides and communication toolsConduct employee meetings and presentations to explain benefit plan changes and optionsPartner with the HRIS team to manage the benefits portal for open enrollmentEnsure updated feeds are sent to carriersAnalyze open enrollment data and provide recommendations for plan improvementsEvaluate vendor performance and ensure service level agreements are metCompliance and Reporting: Stay up-to-date on changes in benefits regulation, ensuring timeliness and accuracy of required filings and reporting to appropriate agencies.Prepare and file required benefit reports, including Form 5500.Distribute annual notices per federal and state regulations (SAR, Medicare, and group health plan documents.Work with vendors with non-discrimination testing, audits, and distribution of applicable SPD and SAR notices.Conduct regular audits of benefit programs to ensure accuracy and compliance.