Benefits Manager

City of Racine•Racine, WI

11d

About The Position

Under the direction of the Human Resources Director, the Benefits Manager plans, administers, evaluates, and coordinates the City of Racine’s employee and retiree benefit programs, wellness initiatives, and workplace safety strategies. The role ensures compliance with federal, state, and local requirements and manages vendor relationships, self-insured plan logistics, third-party administration, and retiree coverage. It serves as a liaison among employees, insurance carriers, and municipal administration and collaborates on the design and management of citywide benefits, including health and dental insurance, long-term disability, group life insurance, and wellness programs. The Benefits Manager directs benefits administration and vendor oversight, leads annual open enrollment, supervises the HR Benefits Coordinator, and oversees health and leave program operations. The position is responsible for statutory compliance, leave and disability administration, benefits-related financial analysis and reporting, and supporting labor negotiations. It also provides employee and retiree assistance, develops benefit communications and orientations, and champions municipal wellness initiatives.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Public Administration, Business Administration, Healthcare Management, or a closely related field.
At least five years of progressive professional experience in benefits administration and HR operations.
Experience with self-insured health plans, workers’ compensation, or public-sector leave administration.
Knowledge of group medical, dental, and life insurance contracts, claims processing, and benefits administration.
Ability to research and resolve complex benefits issues and interpret insurance contracts, policies, procedures, and regulations.
Thorough knowledge of employee benefit programs, including plan design, administration, and industry practices.
Knowledge of federal and state laws, regulations, and legal developments affecting employee benefits.
Knowledge of human resources, business administration, insurance management, contract law, and insurance underwriting principles.
Ability to interpret and apply City policies, procedures, and collective bargaining agreements related to employee and retiree benefits.
Ability to administer, evaluate, and recommend changes to employee benefit programs and plans.
Ability to research and analyze complex information, evaluate alternatives, and develop recommendations.
Ability to maintain accurate records and prepare and present reports.
Proficiency with word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and benefits administration software.
Ability to plan, prioritize, and manage multiple assignments and projects effectively.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, retirees, vendors, and the public.
Effective verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to present information to individuals, boards, and committees.
Strong working knowledge of municipal HRIS and ERP systems, such as Tyler Munis, ADP, or Workday; benefits enrollment platforms; and advanced spreadsheet analysis.

Responsibilities

Direct the administration, evaluation, and delivery of health, dental, vision, life, disability, wellness, and statutory retirement programs, including coordination with the Wisconsin Retirement System.
Research, analyze, administer, and evaluate employee benefit programs and recommend the design, modification, elimination, or development of benefits for collectively bargained and non-represented employees.
Lead annual open enrollment, including vendor contract negotiations, plan configuration, employee and retiree education, and system audits.
Manage the performance and contract compliance of third-party administrators, pharmacy benefit managers, stop-loss providers, and insurance brokers for the City’s self-insured health plans.
Develop and administer workflows for benefit adjustments related to employment separations, qualifying life events, COBRA notices, and retirement transitions.
Supervise the HR Benefits Coordinator and oversee day-to-day health and leave program administration.
Develop and implement benefits communications, including a benefits website, written communications, training programs, and new employee orientations.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local requirements, including ACA reporting, ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, and FMLA/WFMLA.
Review, approve, and monitor ADA accommodation and family medical leave requests.
Oversee short-term disability claims, workers’ compensation program integration, and return-to-work fitness-for-duty processes.
Work with Finance and HR leadership to track claims expenditures, analyze utilization trends, and assist with annual municipal budget preparation.
Coordinate government filings, nondiscrimination evaluations, state reporting, and distribution of summary plan descriptions.
Develop and implement written policies and procedures for workers’ compensation program administration.
Interact with elected officials, committees, and policymakers; present benefit program recommendations to boards, committees, and commissions; and represent the department to professional groups, community agencies, and the public.
Maintain effective working relationships with the public, department heads, City personnel, and governing bodies.
Resolve complex benefit claims, coverage disputes, and administrative appeals for employees, retirees, and dependents.
Support labor negotiations and collective bargaining by providing cost analyses, plan comparisons, and benefit impact statements.
Administer benefits orientations for new hires and coordinate pre-retirement counseling for eligible staff.
Design and promote municipal wellness initiatives to increase health risk awareness, reduce long-term claims costs, and support employee well-being.
Perform other duties as assigned and maintain consistent, reliable attendance.