This role is responsible for strategy development and effective execution, measurement, and communication of programs to include health, welfare, and wellbeing programs. This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of our benefits programs by leveraging data, analytics, and vendor partnerships to deliver innovative, cost-effective, and associate-focused solutions. This position will also manage the development of the overall FBIN health and wellbeing strategy in partnership with the Sr. Director, Benefits.  Position location:  Deerfield, IL – position is Hybrid RESPONSIBLIITIES:Partner with local HR teams and other key internal stakeholders to provide recommendations on benefit plans and programs. Responsible for developing strategies to manage plan costs, improve health of population, and define the associate experience to provide competitive benefits and comply with health care reform regulations.Provide recommendations on benefit programs based on detailed competitive analysis. Demonstrates an understanding of the market dynamics, benchmarking, key competitor benefit plan designs and industry trends. Partner with HR Business Partners, functional teams, and business leaders to ensure benefits programs are aligned with business goals and needs. Lead health & welfare benefit integrations for acquired companies. Support the annual renewal process with the Sr. Director, Benefits. Provide consultation to FBIN business units to ensure programs are meeting the unique needs of each business unit. Manage overall health & welfare vendor relationships except for the outsourced benefits administration vendor. This includes participating in negotiations with benefit vendors, managing renewals and contracts and evaluating vendor performance.Develop communication strategy and create/manage a communication calendar.Manage third-party communication partners.Negotiate and monitor vendor service level agreements and other vendor review mechanisms.Manage updates to policy and plan documents. Stays current on applicable laws and federal/state regulations.Overall responsibility for Health and Welfare compliance. Health & Welfare Strategy Responsibilities:Support the development of long-term benefits strategy including:Health and welfare strategyWellbeing strategyCommunication strategyRecommend health and welfare benefits that provide competitive benefits programs to support the organization’s workforce strategies and enhance associate engagement.Utilize data warehouse to provide executive dashboards and report on key trends and cost drivers.Work with outside consultants to co-lead annual rate renewal process for all FBIN.  Includes working with FBIN finance leaders on forecasting medical plan expenses across the enterprise as well as working with executive leadership on overall strategy and benefit recommendations.   Benefit Compliance Responsibilities:Partner with internal legal team on health and welfare plan governance.Partner with Sr. Manager, Retirement to complete periodic risk analysis and develop risk mitigation plans.Manage all required plan amendments and restatements, including summary plan description updates.   Work with the Sr. Manager, Retirement to develop an annual compliance calendar and work with benefit operations team members to ensure due dates for notice distributions, plan disclosures, and various plan-related regulatory filings are completed timely.Manage ERISA appeals process in coordination with benefits operations team.  QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor’s degree with at least 7-10 years of experience in employee benefits with a focus on health & welfare programs and/or benefit administration and operations. Team supervisory or management experience preferred.Strong HR benefit knowledge across health & welfare plans.Experience with vendor, consultant, and benefit program management.Knowledge of laws related to benefits (i.e., ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, DOL) and experience with 5500 filings is necessary.Strong analytical, organizational, financial modeling, and project management skills.Excellent communication skills with focus on confidentiality.Experience handling routine to complex benefit inquiries.Ability to multi-task and prioritize work on various projects simultaneously.Ability to work independently as well as in a team environment.Strong skills in MS Word, Excel and- PowerPoint.
