Benefits Manager

Main Purpose

The primary purpose of this position is to serve as the Benefits Subject Matter Expert (SME) for the U.S. organization. Operating as a high-impact individual contributor, you are responsible for the strategic design, technical execution, and continuous optimization of all health, welfare, and retirement programs. A critical priority for this position is leading the transition of our benefits function from a manual state to an automated systems driven operation.

You will independently own vendor relationships, manage the integrity of complex data flows, and architect the long-term benefits roadmap to ensure a seamless experience for our workforce. Additionally, this role serves as the lead for leave of absence compliance and acts as a key collaborator within the broader HR team to drive organizational excellence.

*This position is located onsite in Austin, TX (at The Domain), five days per week, with the option to work from home on Thursdays.

Qualifications & Skills

• Five or more years of direct benefits and compensation experience.
• Multi-state benefits experience
• Experience with HCM/payroll platforms
• HR or benefits certification
• Excellent relationship building skills and the ability to inspire collaboration
• Ability to engage in problem solving and taking initiative, while utilizing a solutions-oriented approach
• Professional attitude and ability to deal effectively with all levels of the organization
• Ability to share authority and responsibility in complex and fast-moving projects
• Ability to formulate a clear point of view on complicated issues and create well-structured narratives to express it.
• Highly data driven with considerable ability to analyze and evaluate data
• The ability to translate data into metrics
• Ability to learn and effectively use new technology
• Unwavering integrity and ethical behavior in all matters, including working with confidential data
• Advanced Excel and Google Sheets skills
• An ability to effectively prioritize in a multi-task environment and work under pressure
• Ability to work productively with minimal supervision
• Highly proficient with utilizing several tools to enable real-time collaboration with a globally distributed workforce such as Miro, Monday, Salesforce, Google Meet, Zoom, Slack, etc
• A commitment to driving the Indeed Flex mission: to help people get jobs, instantly

Responsibilities & Duties

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential responsibilities and duties of the position.

• As the primary benefits SME, you will independently maintain, design and implement a comprehensive U.S. benefits strategy to attract, retain, and motivate employees. 
• Develop appropriate communication strategy and communication materials to support employee understanding.  Prepare and communicate information to employees and former employees about benefit programs, procedures, changes, and government-mandated disclosures.
• Revise and reissue employee and plan communication in a timely manner, such as new hire and open enrollment materials, SAR, SPD, SMM and other ERISA documents that require distribution, and Medicare Part D notices.
• Maintain relationships with broker/consultant and benefit vendors, creating a positive working relationship. Escalate vendor concerns for resolution. Identify inefficiencies and make recommendations for programs. 
• Ensure all plan documents and Summary Plan Descriptions are complete and updated.
• Manage the benefit enrollment and change process including open enrollment and new or changed benefit plans.
• Oversee execution of 401(k) plan audits and testing.
• Analyze claim reports for large claims, trends, or discrepancies and communicate as needed.
• Promote open and transparent communication channels within the company.  Recognize and celebrate employee achievements. Participate in engagement strategies to nurture a positive work culture.
• Partner with the employee experience team to monitor the motivation of employees to ensure a high level of employee engagement. Creating plans and projects to increase employee involvement in wellness activities. 
• Partner with the HRBP on the evaluation of positions and the application of existing job classifications, assignment of job levels, salary ranges, and FLSA status to positions. Makes recommendations for revisions and/or changes.
• Partner with the HRBP or lead annual market surveys and recommendations regarding changes in salary plans; oversee all activity related to compensation surveys throughout the year and audit survey output, market trends, and market competitive pay positions to ensure salary plans meet overall company goals and objectives.
• Maintain monthly ACA compliance data and prepare annual IRS tax reporting for approval and submission.
• Support preparation of the annual 5500 reporting for approval and submission.
• Produce people analytics reporting as needed.
• Ensure total rewards programs comply with U.S. local, state, and federal legal requirements.
• Maintain current knowledge of and analyze U.S. government regulations related to, but not inclusive of ERISA, PPACA, FMLA, HIPAA and COBRA.
• Remain abreast of current and emerging benefit program trends and prevailing practices among similar organizations; communicate suggested changes to management.
• Maintain documentation of current processes and procedures required for the administration and communication of all employee benefits, updating as necessary.
• Use independent decision-making authority to resolve benefit issues.
• Participate in HR and payroll system upgrades, testing, and implementations.
• Perform miscellaneous duties as assigned.

• $85,000 to $105,000 annual salary
• Medical, Dental, Vision, and 401K
• Performance-based bonus totaling 8% of annual salary
• Access to Company & Employee Benefits
• 25 days PTO (prorated) + Birthday Off
• 8 Paid Holidays 
• Duvet days (½ day off every quarter)
• Volunteer days

Work Environment

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment to complete daily responsibilities and duties.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is required to sit or stand at a desk indoors for most of the day; and is occasionally required to climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.  The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

This position requires the employee to drive.

Position Type / Expected Hours of Work

Full-Time Position. Hours are Monday - Friday, 8 AM - 5 PM. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand. 

Travel

This position requires minimal travel, less than 10% of the time. Most travel is outside of the local area and will require overnight accommodations. 

All travel is subject to the Indeed Flex travel policy and will be recompensed per the policy. It is the responsibility of the employee to understand and abide by the Indeed Flex Travel Policy in order to receive appropriate expense reimbursements. 

AAP/EEO Statement

We’re an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.

Other Duties

Please note, this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time, with or without notice.