Benefits Manager

Cowlitz Indian Tribe•Ridgefield, WA

8d•Onsite

About The Position

The Benefits Manager is responsible for the administration, compliance, and communication of all team member benefit programs, including health and welfare plans, 401k, leave programs, and wellness initiatives. This role ensures that the benefits offerings are competitive, cost-effective, and aligned with the organization's goals and legal requirements.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field plus ten (10) years of progressive experience in benefits administration at a manager or above level or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Five (5) years’ experience supervising, training, assessing, and developing benefits team members.
Must possess excellent interpersonal skills with an ability to foster a supportive and enabling team environment.
Experience working with HRIS and benefits administration platforms specifically Workday.
Strong knowledge of applicable benefits laws and regulations (ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA).
Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills to work effectively across teams and with external vendors.
Detail-oriented with a proven ability to deliver high-quality work.
Experience maintaining HRIS/HRMS data, specifically related to benefits and pre- and post-tax deductions and generating basic and custom reports.
High degree of accuracy in data entry and overall attention to detail; experience must demonstrate meticulous attention to detail and passion for accuracy.
Must be able to work effectively with others and communicate with team members at all levels, including managers, directors, and executives.
Must be comfortable holding team members, including management, accountable to the prescribed processes and procedures.
Able to prioritize effectively along with the flexibility to quickly shift priorities to meet business needs.
Extremely organized; able to work on multiple projects or tasks, often with large volumes of documents and records.
Strong customer service skills.
Effective oral and written communication skills.
Relevant experience requiring a high degree of discretion, maintaining confidentiality, and protecting team members’ privacy.
High level of proficiency in Microsoft Office; particularly Outlook, Word, and Excel (intermediate Excel skills desired).
Ability to consistently meet daily, weekly, and monthly deadlines.
Ability to sit or stand using a computer and telephone for the majority of the workday.
Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment with frequent interruptions.
Must be able to flexible hours as needed.
Must be willing to work in a smoking environment.
Must be willing to adhere to company health and safety measures.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience leading or managing a company's benefits program is strongly preferred.
Tribal Benefits experience preferred.
Certified Team Member Benefits Specialist (CEBS) preferred
World-at-Work Certification (CBP) preferred.
Professional in Human Resources (PHR) or Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) preferred.

Responsibilities

Administer and manage all team member benefits programs (health, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, retirement, wellness, and leave policies).
Evaluate and recommend benefit plan design changes based on market trends, company strategy, and team member needs.
Manage annual open enrollment process, including communication strategies, system updates, and vendor coordination.
Serve as the primary liaison between the company, benefits vendors, brokers, and consultants.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations (such as ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA, and IRS guidelines).
Resolve team member benefits inquiries and escalate complex issues to vendors or legal advisors as needed.
Analyze benefits data and trends to report on program performance, participation rates, and team member satisfaction.
Manage benefits budgets, reconcile billing statements, and approve vendor invoices.
Lead audits of benefit programs and prepare documentation for regulatory reporting (e.g., Form 5500 filings).
Partner with HR, Payroll, Finance, and Legal to ensure seamless benefits administration.
Continuously review and improve benefits communication materials to enhance team member understanding and engagement.
Support mergers, acquisitions, or organizational changes by managing benefits integration processes.
Participates in other Team Member initiatives to include Training, Recognition and Rewards programs.
Add provides direction and oversight to Benefits staff.
Maintain confidentiality of sensitive information.
Perform other duties as assigned.