Mgr Benefits Americas

Sasol•Houston, TX

10d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Benefits Manager is responsible for designing, administering, and continuously improving North American health and welfare benefit programs to ensure compliance with all applicable regulations and alignment with business strategy. This role serves as the primary liaison with vendors and internal stakeholders, manages enrollment and communications, monitors market competitiveness within the energy sector, and supports HR and leadership with data-driven insights on benefits, recognition, and total rewards for employees, including expatriates.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in HR or related field required
10-15 years’ experience working with various types of employee benefit plans
Knowledge of current benefits legislation
Knowledge of ERISA and other pension benefit legislation and regulatory requirements of IRS, DOL, & PBGC
Working knowledge of service provider activities, plan mergers and plan termination procedures
Must be capable to act in a supervisory role; past supervisory experience is required
Demonstrated strong client service skills with cross-functional teams
Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to engage and influence with all levels of the organization.
Demonstrates a trustworthy and confidential professional manner
Change/Project management experience – required
Action oriented with the ability to prioritize and do multiple tasks simultaneously.
Strong presentation and public speaking skills to deliver training initiatives and related topics to large audiences within the client group.
Experience working with non-traditional work schedules for rotational employees, pay practices and resolving issues with payroll as necessary.
Ability to work in a multi-site environment; travel required

Nice To Haves

Working knowledge of personnel/payroll systems for benefits administration, a plus

Responsibilities

Maintains North American health and welfare plans in compliance with government regulations (e.g. ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, IRS Section 125, etc.)
Coordinates vendor selection and serves as contact person for vendors.
Manages online enrollment system
Assists HR management with departmental budget by providing benefits data.
Develops, implements and administers healthy lifestyle programs
Coordinates creation, publication and delivery of employee benefit communications; including, annual Total Compensation Statements
Conducts meetings for new hires, to address benefit changes and to assist with interpretation of benefit plans for North America; includes expats working in the US
Recommends changes or improvements to benefit plan design; including, impacts of new legislation on current benefit plans and transactional activities
Maintains, domestic and international, market intelligence regarding employee benefit matters within the energy sector
Partners with Head of Total Rewards International Chemicals regarding benefit changes and implementation
Maintains routine administrative work required for North America and other Sasol US company sponsored benefit plans
Supports management with plan mergers or terminations due to acquisitions, mergers and divestitures.
Coordinates maintenance of participant data, recordkeeping services, fund management, trust administration, and actuarial valuation
Monitors service provider recordkeeping activities, administrative activities and plan data for qualified and non-qualified plans
Interacts with Finance, internal and external attorneys, auditors, benefit consultants, service providers and financial institutions
Maintains benefit survey data to review for competitiveness of plans
Supports and acts as advisor to Human Resources Business Partners
Manages long service award program for North America
Assists with leave activities related to employees not actively at work
Assists with implementation and rollout of recognition programs for North America
Ensures timely distribution of all federally required notices; including, Form 1095, SARs, SPDs, etc.