SUMMARY:

The Benefits Manager plays a critical role at the ASPCA, supporting disability and absence management and overseeing the Benefits team’s communications strategy.

WHO WE ARE

Our People ARE the ASPCA. The People team (HR) at the ASPCA enables the organization to thrive by empowering and valuing every team member and providing an exceptional workplace across our varied disciplines. To make the greatest impact on animals, we must support the people who do the work, so our staff feel investment from the organization and can effectively prioritize and engage with our mission, work together, and develop necessary skills and capabilities, so we can successfully serve the ASPCA’s guiding vision that the United States is a humane community in which all animals are treated with respect and kindness.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Working knowledge of benefit plan administration and related laws and regulations, including but not limited to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Code (IRC).
• Proficiency with disability and absence management, including leaves of absence and workplace accommodations, and strong understanding of applicable laws and regulations, including but not limited to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Pregnant Workers’ Fairness Act (PWFA), and state leave laws.
• Strong interpersonal and customer service skills; must be comfortable interacting with all levels of employees and be able to maintain strict confidentiality of sensitive information, balance empathy with objectivity and professionalism, and use an assertive yet tactful approach in difficult situations.
• Effective oral and written communication skills, including the ability to explain complex, technical information to various audiences in an accessible way and integrate visual design principles into communications.
• Strong critical thinking and decision-making skills, ability to synthesize feedback from multiple parties and integrate research and evidence into problem-solving.
• Strong organization and time management skills, ability to manage multiple workstreams and deadlines in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment, while maintaining attention to detail, and ability to learn and use technology to streamline processes and automate tasks.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and collaborate as part of a team.
• Ability to exemplify ASPCA’s core values, behavioral competencies, and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE

• BA/BS degree or equivalent professional experience required, benefits and/or absence management certifications preferred
• At least 3 years of benefits administration and/or absence management experience required
• Some direct experience with both operating employe benefit plans (health and welfare, retirement plans, Section 125 plans, etc.) and administering requests for leaves of absence and workplace accommodations required
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Power Point, and Excel and with Canva or similar design software
• Human resources information systems (HRIS) experience preferred, Workday experience a plus
• Experience developing and executing a communications strategy preferred; experience creating employee benefits communications strongly preferred
• Internal communications experience utilizing a variety of different platforms, including emails, videos, webinars, flyers, mailings, and/or newsletters preferred
• Experience working with vendors is a plus
• Benefits and/or disability and absence management certifications (e.g. CEBS, QPA, QKA, RPA, CBP, CLMS, CDMS, etc.) are a plus

QUALIFICATIONS:

See above for qualifications details.

EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE:

Bachelors

OUR EEO POLICY:

The ASPCA is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.
Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain state or local laws. A reasonable accommodation is a change in the ASPCA’s standard application process, which will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing undue hardship on the ASPCA. Please inform the ASPCA’s People Team if you need an accommodation in order to complete any forms or to otherwise participate in the application process.
Individuals seeking employment are considered without regards to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.
ASPCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer (M/F/D/V).

ABOUT US:

The ASPCA was founded in 1866 on the belief that animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment by humans and must be protected under the law. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation with more than two million supporters nationwide, the ASPCA is committed to preventing cruelty to dogs, cats, equines, and farm animals throughout the United States.
The ASPCA is headquartered in New York City, where we maintain a full-service animal hospital, spay/neuter clinic, mobile spay/neuter and primary pet care clinics, a rehabilitation center for canine victims of cruelty, kitten nursery, adoption center, and two community veterinary centers.
The ASPCA also operates programs and services that extend nationwide. We assist animals in need through on-the-ground disaster and cruelty interventions, behavioral rehabilitation, animal placement, legal and legislative advocacy, and the advancement of the sheltering and veterinary community through research, training, and resources.
At the ASPCA, we are committed to fostering a collaborative and compassionate culture and we welcome all voices to contribute to our lifesaving mission. Our staff represent a vast array of backgrounds and diversity dimensions, bringing with them valuable experiences and perspectives. They join the ASPCA to learn, grow, and continually do their best work on behalf of animals. We are inspired by our staff, partners, and the communities we support across the country who work to improve animal lives. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion at the ASPCA because it elevates our organizational culture, aligns with our Core Values, and enables us to move further and faster toward the ASPCA’s vision – that all animals live good lives; valued by society, protected by its laws, and free from cruelty, pain and suffering.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

The ASPCA’s Benefits team, part of our People team, works to ensure our people have thoughtfully designed employee benefit plans and time off policies, and skillfully administers requests for leaves of absence and workplace accommodations. The Benefits Manager supports these efforts by creating and executing communications strategies to elevate staff understanding of our benefits plans and programs, incorporating multiple communications channels and media to reach staff with different work environments and learning styles, and by administering leave and accommodation requests. This person will apply research and benefit plan requirements, engage in critical thinking, deploy emotional intelligence, and exercise sound judgment to support a complex workforce, frequently shifting between managing communications and processes for the full organization and one-on-one interactions with employees and managers, and always balancing empathy, confidentiality, professionalism, objectivity, and discretion.
The Benefits Manager reports directly to the Senior Director, Benefits and has no direct reports.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Responsibility buckets are listed in general order of importance, and include but are not limited to:

OTHER DUTIES

• Back up Benefits teammates, including the other Benefits Manager, as needed.
• Engage in full People team, Benefits team, and cross-functional meetings and events.
• Support cross-functional work that impacts or involves employee benefits or absence management.
• Work on special projects as assigned by Senior Director, Benefits or Vice President, People.