Manager, Benefits - Advantage Solutions

Manager Benefits

The Benefits Manager is responsible for the daily execution, administration, and adherence to compliance of the benefits programs, including Health and Welfare, 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan, and Wellness.  Manage benefits programs, ensuring they are competitive, comply with regulations, and are cost-effective.  Oversee benefit team and vendors, ensuring customer service and communication requirements are met.

Job Will Remain Open Until Filled

The Company is one of North America’s leading sales and marketing agencies specializing in outsourced sales, merchandising, category management, and marketing services to manufacturers, suppliers, and producers of food products and consumer packaged goods. The Company services a variety of trade channels including grocery, mass merchandise, specialty, convenience, drug, dollar, club, hardware, consumer electronics, and home centers. We bridge the gap between manufacturers and retailers, providing consumers access to the best products available in the marketplace today.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities
Benefit Program Management
• Assists the VP, Benefits in the development and design of ADV’s benefit programs to support ADV employees and meet the Company’s financial objectives and goals.
• Monitor the marketplace to ensure competitive & best practices in benefits, manage preparation and distribution of communications to employees on our benefits programs and applicable policies.
• Manage the 401(k) plan, including audits, compliance filings, and non-discrimination testing.
• Coordinates and leads the work to develop, design, implement and support new/existing programs and benefits administration internally and with external vendors.
• Researches and evaluates complex employee benefits issues; develop effective solutions and options; develop costing and implementation proposals.
• Responsible for benefits reporting and analysis required by local and corporate management.
• Develops and manages reporting for Health Care Reform requirements.
• Assures company compliance with provisions of Health Care Reform, HIPAA, COBRA, various state compliance reporting, and other applicable legislation.
• Identifies system changes that might be needed due to legal or contractual changes affecting benefits.

Benefit Systems Management
• Oversees the configuration and data set-up of the HCM and benefits section.
• Guides data troubleshooting and audits in the processing or retrieval of employee benefits data in the HCM and vendor systems.
• Identifies necessary changes in business processes to ensure efficient and accurate workflow and the best utilization of system capabilities to fit the business needs.
• Works with HR, Payroll, and Finance to develop and implement improved processes.

Team Management
• Provides supervision and leadership to the Benefits team. Responsibilities include working closely with staff to provide support and direction, training coordination, and career succession. Daily supervisory duties include staffing, performance management process, and overseeing daily work to ensure processes, procedures, and service level agreements are aligned with the Total Rewards Team strategy.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Direct Reports
- Hires, retains, trains, coaches, guides, directs, and develops direct reports using company-wide processes, tools and resources

Indirect Reports
- May delegate work of others and provide guidance, direction and mentoring to indirect reports

Travel and/or Driving Requirements

- Travel is an essential duty and function of this job. Driving is not an essential duty or function of this job.
- Travel up to 10%

Minimum Qualifications
Education Level: (Preferred): Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources or related field preferred. Extensive benefits experience could be considered in place of degree.

Field of Study/Area of Experience: 5-7 years of experience including progressive experience in benefits plan design, management, and compliance.

Tools/Software: Enterprise software experience with human capital management systems
Self-service and web service offerings

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• Knowledge of fundamental issues surrounding health and welfare programs, including financial planning and analysis
• Functional experience in benefits design and administration
• Advanced knowledge of applicable state and federal regulations
• Project management experience, including strategy development, technology design, and leadership skills
• Vendor relationship management
• Negotiate skillfully in tough situations with both internal and external groups
• Displays the ability to achieve desired results through verbal and written communications.
• Train, delegate, coach, motivate and follow up on staff to achieve desired results
• Forecasts, sets objectives, anticipates, structures tasks, and establishes priorities
• Ability to identify performance challenges or issues and work with associates to improve/correct those issues.
• Works cooperatively with others toward common group objectives, demonstrates respect for the ideas and contributions of other team members, cultivates positive relationships with other associates, and provides assistance and support to others

Environmental & Physical Requirements

Office / Sedentary Requirements
The incumbent must be able to perform the essential functions of the job. Work is performed primarily in a remote office environment. Typically requires the ability to sit for extended periods (66%+ each day), the ability to hear the telephone, the ability to enter data on a computer, and may also require the ability to lift to 10 pounds.

Additional Information Regarding Job Duties and Job Descriptions

Job duties include additional responsibilities as assigned by one’s supervisor or other manager related to the position/department. This job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for the position. The Company reserves the right at any time with or without notice to alter or change job responsibilities, reassign or transfer job positions, or assign additional job responsibilities, subject to applicable law. The Company shall provide reasonable accommodations of known disabilities to enable a qualified applicant or employee to apply for employment, perform the essential functions of the job, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment as required by the law.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of associates so classified.

The Company is committed to providing equal opportunity in all employment practices without regard to age, race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, physical or mental disability, or any other category protected by law. As part of this commitment, the Company shall provide reasonable accommodations of known disabilities to enable an applicant or employee to apply for employment, perform the essential functions of the job, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment as required by the law.