Find your purpose as the Benefits Manager at CentraCare. The Benefits Manager leads the administration and continuous improvement of employee benefits, well-being programs, and absence processes while supporting the overall benefit strategy for a large, complex healthcare workforce. The Benefits Manager partners closely with HR, Payroll, HRIS, Finance, Legal, Labor Relations, and external vendors to deliver a seamless and supportive employee experience. The Benefits Manager plays a key role in shaping long-term benefits strategy, evaluating plan performance, and recommending enhancements that strengthen recruitment, retention, and employee engagement.

Schedule:

• Full-time 80 hours every 2 weeks
• Monday-Friday Days
• Majority remote with occasional need for onsite meetings or trainings.

Pay and Benefits:

• Starting pay begins at $110,385.85  per year and increases with experience
• Salary range:  $110,385.85 - $165,611.63 per year
  • Salary range is based on a 1.0 FTE, reduced FTE will result in a prorated offer rate
• We offer a generous benefits package that includes medical, dental, flexible spending accounts, PTO, 401(k) retirement plan & match, LTD and STD, tuition reimbursement, discounts at local and national businesses and so much more! 

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 5+ years of progressive experience in benefits administration, leave management, or related HR specialty; experience in healthcare strongly preferred.
• 2+ years of people management experience with a demonstrated ability to influence, mentor, and guide teams.
• Experience with UKG and Oracle preferred.
• Experience working with unionized workforces preferred.
• Strong knowledge of federal and state benefits and leave regulations, including ACA, HIPAA, ERISA, and COBRA.
• Demonstrated ability to manage vendor relationships and benefit platforms at scale.
• Proven ability to build partnerships, influence decisions, and communicate complex topics clearly.
• Expert level proficiency in Microsoft Office suite (Excel, Work, PowerPoint, etc.).
• Excellent analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage sensitive information with discretion and professionalism.

Core Functions:

Benefits Administration and Strategy

• Serve as subject matter expert and provide daily oversight for employee benefit programs, including health, dental, life, disability, and supplemental benefit programs.
• Lead annual open enrollment, including planning, communications, issue resolution, and post-enrollment audits.
• Serve as the primary liaison with brokers, carriers, and third-party administrators; monitor service levels and escalate issues as needed.
• Analyze plan performance, utilization, and cost trends; recommend plan design changes or vendor adjustments to support cost-effectiveness and employee satisfaction.
• Ensure compliance with federal and state regulations (ACA, ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, etc.).
• Maintain accurate benefit records and collaborate with payroll, HRIS, and IS&T to ensure proper deductions and data integrity.
• Support wellness initiatives tailored to the unique needs of healthcare workers, including programs supporting physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
• Evaluate participation and outcomes; adjust strategies to improve engagement and impact. Use data to assess program performance, utilization, employee needs, and benchmark against market trends and peer companies.
• Partner with Labor Relations to ensure benefit and absence administration aligns with collective bargaining agreements.
• Support contract interpretation related to benefits and leaves; participate in discussions that support negotiations as needed.
• Lead complex projects within the benefits space including the research, development, implementation, and communication of advanced benefits and leaves strategies.

Absence Management

• Oversee all leave and company absence programs, including FMLA, state-specific leaves, and internal leave and time-off policies while partnering with our leave TPA.
• Ensure consistent, compliant administration of leaves across a 24/7 healthcare environment.
• Provide guidance to employees, managers, and HR partners on leave processes, timelines, and documentation.
• Coordinate with payroll and HRIS teams to ensure accurate tracking and pay processing during leaves.
• Other managerial duties as assigned.