Manager, Benefits (Human Resources)

Kennedy Krieger Institute•Baltimore, MD

About The Position

The Manager, Benefits is responsible for overseeing the administration and compliance of various employee benefit programs, including the Employee Benefit Plan, Wellness Programming, Retirement Plan, Leave of Absence (LOA) program, and Workers Compensation benefits. This role involves supervising the benefits and LOA teams, collaborating with the Payroll and Business Solutions team for accurate administration and payroll deductions, and working with HR leadership on strategic planning, budgeting, benefit plan designs, and vendor management. The incumbent will also play a key role in evaluating broker/vendor relationships and contracts.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field required.
Minimum 6 years of benefits administration experience required.
Minimum 2 years of supervisory experience required.

Nice To Haves

Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) or similar certification is desired.
Master’s degree in Business Administration or related field preferred.
Preferably in the healthcare industry.

Responsibilities

Manage the Benefits and Leave of Absence (LOA) teams, defining goals, overseeing administration systems, processes, and policies, identifying areas for improvement, conducting meetings, delegating tasks, providing coaching, setting priorities, and managing performance.
Oversee daily operations of the Employee Benefit Plan administration, including data analysis, audits, system processes, new hire enrollment, life events, Evidence of Insurability (EOI), dependent certifications, tuition assistance programs, and Medical Flexible Savings Account (MFSA), Dependent Health Savings Account (DFSA), and Health Savings Account (HSA) plan administration. Troubleshoot processing errors with the Business Solutions team to ensure accurate payroll deductions.
Oversee the Keys to Wellness program, including program development, vendor collaboration, participation tracking, and outcome reporting.
Ensure plan configuration, maintenance, and optimization of benefits and absence applications within the HRIS platform in coordination with the Business Solutions team and benefit team, ensuring plans are administered according to specifications and compliance requirements.
Monitor benefit trends, benchmark benefit plan designs, and leverage brokers to design and recommend plan design changes, premiums, cost share, and innovative benefits while managing costs. Oversee delivery of census records and clarify questions for proposals.
Lead the Open Enrollment process, including setting the calendar, designing communications, and ensuring all plans are tested and operate properly for the new plan year.
Ensure Retirement Plans are administered according to summary plan descriptions, performing regular audits to confirm accurate enrollments, compliant contributions, appropriate deferrals, and proper plan documentation.
Oversee the administration and compliance of the frozen pension plan, including reviewing benefit calculations, monitoring distributions, and preparing annual reports for actuarial firms.
Oversee Leave of Absence (LOA) programming, including Family Medical Leave, short- and long-term disability benefits, Workers Compensation, and return to work programming. Coordinate with insurance carriers and ensure compliance with regulations. Address FMLA and ADA accommodation requests and manage light duty return to work options. Evaluate the LOA platform for improvements and monitor coordination of disability and workers compensation benefits.
Ensure accurate record keeping and compliance with federal, state, and local regulations (e.g., ERISA, HIPAA, OSHA, FMLA, ACA, COBRA), and support benefit and retirement plan audits. Respond to requests for documentation and information, make corrections as needed, and document them according to compliance requirements. Conduct or oversee discrimination testing and ensure compliance mailings are delivered timely.
Design workforce trainings on benefits, LOA, FMLA, and associated compliance matters. Present benefit information at New Hire Orientation.
Analyze benefits data to identify trends, cost drivers, and opportunities for improvement. Prepare and present reports on benefits utilization, costs, and ROI to Human Resources leadership.