Senior Manager, Total Wellness & Benefits Programs

Chicago Transit Authority•Chicago, IL

6d•$140,627 - $152,159•Onsite

About The Position

Serves as the total health and benefits expert for CTA employees, overseeing employee benefits and wellbeing activities and staff. The role covers wellness education, financial literacy, health insurance, other employee welfare initiatives, and serving as an employee ombudsman for benefit- and wellness-related matters. The Senior Manager manages employee-wide health and wellness initiatives, improves existing programs, and oversees and participates in vendor Requests for Proposals for employee health services and programs. The position plans, implements, communicates, and oversees Authority benefit plans and wellness programs. It manages vendor relationships, leads annual enrollment, oversees program design and administration, and ensures programs are cost-effective, competitive, and compliant with applicable laws, management direction, and negotiated labor contracts. The role uses data to guide initiatives, assess program outcomes, report trends and financial impacts to senior management, and support continuous improvement. The Senior Manager hires, trains, develops, monitors, and evaluates staff and recommends personnel actions for approval. The position works in a general office environment, travels to CTA locations around the Chicagoland area, and may encounter ordinary garage and shop conditions during field visits. Exempt non-union employees must live within the CTA Statutory Service Area when hired or within six months of starting employment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Marketing, Communications, Health Education, or a clinical or health-related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience relating to the position.
Five years of administration experience designing and implementing benefits and wellness programs, unless an equivalent combination of education and experience applies.
Detailed knowledge of project management practices and techniques.
Detailed knowledge of practices and methods for designing communication strategies and marketing plans related to 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, current trends, and HR metrics.
Working knowledge of human resources theories and principles.
Working knowledge of event planning and coordination 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, 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.
Exempt non-union employees must live within the CTA Statutory Service Area when hired or within six months of beginning CTA employment.

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 its design and administration.
Lead planning and delivery of wellness initiatives that promote healthy lifestyles, mental wellbeing, and employee participation.
Manage wellness program activities and coordinate with vendors, departmental managers, healthcare providers, and consultants.
Use CTA Employee Assistance resources, including on-site and post-incident EAP services, wellness coaches, and related trainings, to support employee wellbeing.
Research, design, and create wellness initiatives suited to Authority needs and encourage employees and families to adopt healthy lifestyles.
Use relevant data and vendor partnerships to develop and evolve 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 benefit program information, procedures, and changes to current and former employees.
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 the design, development, and implementation of benefits 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 benefit initiatives for compliance with legal requirements and reporting obligations, including ERISA, HIPAA, IRS, DOL, and the Affordable Care Act.
Monitor industry best practices and drive continuous improvement in employee health and year-over-year employer costs.
Analyze Authority wellness data and report health and wellness metrics and trends to senior management.
Consult with Authority leaders and departments to align efforts with population health goals.
Gather and analyze data to measure internal and external wellness program success.
Prepare 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.