Manager | Benefits

CentraCare•Saint Cloud, MN

7h•Hybrid

About The Position

Find your purpose as the Benefits Manager at CentraCare. The Benefits Manager leads the administration and continuous improvement of employee benefits, well-being programs, and absence processes while supporting the overall benefit strategy for a large, complex healthcare workforce. The Benefits Manager partners closely with HR, Payroll, HRIS, Finance, Legal, Labor Relations, and external vendors to deliver a seamless and supportive employee experience. The Benefits Manager plays a key role in shaping long-term benefits strategy, evaluating plan performance, and recommending enhancements that strengthen recruitment, retention, and employee engagement.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field (or equivalent experience).
5+ years of progressive experience in benefits administration, leave management, or related HR specialty; experience in healthcare strongly preferred.
2+ years of people management experience with a demonstrated ability to influence, mentor, and guide teams.
Strong knowledge of federal and state benefits and leave regulations, including ACA, HIPAA, ERISA, and COBRA.
Demonstrated ability to manage vendor relationships and benefit platforms at scale.
Proven ability to build partnerships, influence decisions, and communicate complex topics clearly.
Expert level proficiency in Microsoft Office suite (Excel, Work, PowerPoint, etc.).
Excellent analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to manage sensitive information with discretion and professionalism.

Nice To Haves

Experience with UKG and Oracle preferred.
Experience working with unionized workforces preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as subject matter expert and provide daily oversight for employee benefit programs, including health, dental, life, disability, and supplemental benefit programs.
Lead annual open enrollment, including planning, communications, issue resolution, and post-enrollment audits.
Serve as the primary liaison with brokers, carriers, and third-party administrators; monitor service levels and escalate issues as needed.
Analyze plan performance, utilization, and cost trends; recommend plan design changes or vendor adjustments to support cost-effectiveness and employee satisfaction.
Ensure compliance with federal and state regulations (ACA, ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, etc.).
Maintain accurate benefit records and collaborate with payroll, HRIS, and IS&T to ensure proper deductions and data integrity.
Support wellness initiatives tailored to the unique needs of healthcare workers, including programs supporting physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Evaluate participation and outcomes; adjust strategies to improve engagement and impact. Use data to assess program performance, utilization, employee needs, and benchmark against market trends and peer companies.
Partner with Labor Relations to ensure benefit and absence administration aligns with collective bargaining agreements.
Support contract interpretation related to benefits and leaves; participate in discussions that support negotiations as needed.
Lead complex projects within the benefits space including the research, development, implementation, and communication of advanced benefits and leaves strategies.
Oversee all leave and company absence programs, including FMLA, state-specific leaves, and internal leave and time-off policies while partnering with our leave TPA.
Ensure consistent, compliant administration of leaves across a 24/7 healthcare environment.
Provide guidance to employees, managers, and HR partners on leave processes, timelines, and documentation.
Coordinate with payroll and HRIS teams to ensure accurate tracking and pay processing during leaves.
Other managerial duties as assigned.