Senior Manager, Total Wellness & Benefits Programs

Chicago Transit Authority•Chicago, IL

About The Position

Serves as a total health and benefits expert for the CTA employee population. Oversees the activities and staff relating to employee benefits and wellbeing at the Authority, including wellness education, financial literacy, health insurance, and other employee welfare initiatives, and acts as an employee ombudsman regarding benefit- and wellness-related matters. Manages employee-wide health and wellness initiatives and seeks improvements to and support for existing wellness programs. Oversees and participates in Requests for Proposals (RFPs) from outside vendors for employee health services and programs. The position oversees the design and administration of the Employee Wellness Program, promotes healthy lifestyles and mental wellbeing, and uses data and vendor partnerships to develop and improve wellness initiatives. It plans, implements, communicates, and oversees Authority benefit plans, vendor relationships, RFPs, annual enrollment, plan offerings, and benefit communications. It ensures health plans address Authority needs and comply with applicable laws, reporting requirements, management direction, and negotiated labor contracts. The Senior Manager analyzes wellness and benefits data, reports metrics and trends to senior management, aligns wellness efforts across Authority departments, and prepares an annual report on the financial impact of benefits and wellness programs. The role also hires, trains, develops, monitors, and evaluates staff. This exempt, non-union position requires residence within the CTA Statutory Service Area at hire or within six months of starting employment, and travel to CTA locations throughout the Chicagoland area.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Marketing, Communications, Health Education, a clinical or health-related field, or a related field, plus five years of administration experience designing and implementing benefits and wellness programs; or an equivalent combination of education and experience relating to the position.
Detailed knowledge of project management practices and techniques.
Detailed knowledge of communication strategy and marketing plan design, particularly for benefits and wellness programs.
Detailed knowledge of laws and regulations relating to health and wellness benefits.
Detailed knowledge of benefits design and administration methods and practices.
Working knowledge of human resources management, including current trends and HR metrics.
Working knowledge of human resources theories and principles.
Working knowledge of event planning and coordinating practices and methods.
General knowledge of trade contracts and unions.
Strong data management, analysis, and reporting skills.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Strong verbal, written communication, and presentation skills.
Strong organizational and prioritization skills.
Intermediate software skills, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, the Internet, and Oracle database.
Ability to manage and motivate staff members.
Ability to drive results by identifying and resolving significant problems within the scope of responsibility.
Must live within the CTA Statutory Service Area at employment or within six months of beginning employment at CTA.
Must travel to various CTA remote locations throughout the Chicagoland area.

Nice To Haves

Certified Benefits Professional certification.
Certified Wellness Practitioner certification.
Additional related professional certifications.

Responsibilities

Oversee all aspects of the Employee Wellness Program, including program design and administration.
Lead planning and delivery of wellness programs that promote healthy lifestyles, mental wellbeing, and employee participation.
Manage wellness program activities and relationships with vendors, departmental managers, healthcare providers, and consultants.
Direct strategic use of Employee Assistance resources, including on-site and post-incident EAP services, wellness coaches, and related training.
Research, design, and create wellness initiatives tailored to Authority needs and encourage employees and their families to adopt healthy lifestyles.
Use relevant data and vendor partnerships to develop and continuously improve wellness initiatives.
Plan, implement, communicate, and oversee Authority benefit plans.
Manage relationships with health and welfare plan vendors to achieve cost-effective, high-performance results.
Oversee RFPs to ensure programs are competitive, cost-effective, and compliant with federal and state regulations.
Prepare and communicate information to current and former employees about benefit programs, procedures, and changes.
Set short- and long-term goals for health benefit programs.
Lead annual enrollment, including decisions about plan offerings, design changes, and rates.
Review and approve benefit and wellness communication strategies and marketing plans.
Ensure health plan designs meet Authority needs and comply with management direction and negotiated labor contracts.
Review health and welfare initiatives for compliance with applicable legal requirements and reporting, including ERISA, HIPAA, IRS, DOL, and Affordable Care Act requirements.
Stay current with best practices to improve employee health and reduce related employer costs year over year.
Analyze Authority wellness information and data and report health and wellness metrics and trends to senior management.
Consult with Authority leadership and departments to align efforts and reinforce total population health goals.
Measure the success of internal and external wellness programs and initiatives using data analysis.
Compile an annual comprehensive report on the financial impact of benefit and wellness programs.
Hire, train, develop, monitor, and evaluate staff; review and recommend personnel actions for approval.
Perform related duties as assigned.