WHAT YOUR ROLE WILL LOOK LIKE

• Manage, administer, and serve as the primary point of contact for all employee benefits including health, dental, life, and disability.
• Manage and administer leaves of absence and requests for accommodations, including communicating and collaborating with employees, managers, insurance carriers, benefit providers, third party administrators, and state agencies.
• Provide oversight and guidance to other members of the HR team for claim submission, reporting, and tracking Workers’ Compensation claims. Work directly with employees, managers, and others regarding claims that result in lost time.
• Ensure benefit plans and leaves of absence, and the administration of benefits and leaves of absence, comply with applicable federal and state legal requirements including ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, and COBRA. Continuously stay well-informed of legal and regulatory developments relating to benefits and leaves of absence.
• Maintain all plan and other benefit documents for compliance, accuracy, and distribution, and ensure plan provisions are followed. Comply with accompanying reporting requirements.
• Develop and maintain relationships with employees and managers. Maintain employee and manager confidence and trust by being a knowledgeable and prompt advisor and resource. Protect sensitive and confidential information with discretion and professionalism.
• Provide hands on support to employees regarding eligibility, enrollment, claims, and qualifying events.
• Advise employees and managers on policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements regarding benefits and leaves of absence.
• Administer benefit plan enrollment, maintenance, changes, and terminations. Process required documents through payroll and insurance carriers and other providers to ensure accurate enrollment and administration, billing, recordkeeping, and payroll deductions.
• Develop, prepare, generate, and analyze reports relating to benefits, leaves of absence, and other ad-hoc reports as needed.
• Evaluate and monitor benefit offers to ensure they are cost-effective and competitive. Analyze utilization data, identify trends, and make recommendations to ensure the benefits meet the needs of our employees and their families.
• Develop and maintain relationships with outside partners including benefits brokers, insurance carriers, third party administrators, and other benefit providers. Collaborate with our benefits broker, insurance carriers, and other benefit providers to solicit and evaluate proposals to maintain and enhance our benefit offerings.
• Manage the benefits budget which includes preparing the annual budget for renewal discussions, forecasting expenses, and identifying opportunities for cost savings that do not negatively impact the employee experience.
• Lead the annual renewal process including evaluating plans, reviewing costs, and making recommendations for changes to our benefit offerings.
• Develop and deliver communication materials that are clear and concise, design the open enrollment process in our HRIS system, conduct informational group meetings, and provide one-on-one support to employees.
• Interact with customers and co-workers in a respectful and courteous manner.
• Support Eastern’s policies and procedures and comply with all applicable regulatory standards.
• Be receptive to and competently use new technologies.
• Willingly complete other duties as assigned.

WHAT YOU’LL BRING TO THIS ROLE

• Education: Associate’s degree in Human Resources Management preferred; Human Resources Certification (SHRM or HRCI) a plus.
• Experience: Minimum 8 years’ Human Resources experience focusing on benefits and leave administration.
• Proficiency with HRIS systems including online benefit administration required; experience with ADP Workforce Now a plus.
• Extensive knowledge and understanding of applicable laws and regulations governing benefits and leaves of absence.
• Experience with or knowledge of self-insured health plans.
• Ability to establish and maintain a rapport with employees and managers.
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities to ensure deadlines are met.
• Experience as a flexible and proactive problem solver adept at achieving results in a team oriented and collaborative environment.
• Ability to use discretion and sound judgment in managing complex processes, decisions, and handling sensitive information.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Travel to other locations as needed, including during open enrollment (October).