Responsible for planning, developing, implementing, administering, and maintaining benefits, health, and wellness programs that support the company’s Total Rewards philosophy, objectives, competitive position, and local practices. Manages implementation, coordination, evaluation, and adaptation of health and wellness programs including medical, dental, prescription drug, life insurance, retirement, and short- and long-term disability. Provides TMS and leadership with ongoing consultation. Develops processes and tools which facilitate the administration and ongoing management of effective, equitable, and legally compliant programs. Negotiates benefits coverage, services, and costs with carriers and brokers. Interacts with internal WFM’s functions such as Legal and Procurement to ensure overall compliance with WFM’s policies.

Responsibilities:

• In support of Whole Health Plan clinical leadership, acts as the business lead for the Whole Health Plan, with responsibilities for the development, implementation, and monitoring of strategic objectives, operating plans, and engagement platforms.
• Responsible for monitoring and reporting of plan performance, vendor relations, budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, accounts payable management, and various health plan analytics as needed.
• Engages with leadership to design, develop and implement a competitive benefits, health, and wellness strategy that is aligned with and supports the company’s Total Reward philosophy.
• Supports organizational efforts to monitor, evaluate, and enhance all aspects of benefits, health, and wellness processes and administration.
• Monitors benefits practices company-wide to ensure uniform application, legal and procedural compliance, and timely and effective implementation.
• Monitors industry and the competition to understand the competitive environment and identify potential threats, challenges, and opportunities.
• Monitors global health and wellness practices and ensures compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
• Advises Team Members and plays a leadership role across the company in terms of health and wellness programs, practices, evaluation, and upgrades.
• Recommends changes to health and wellness programs by studying work force needs, industry trends, and evolving industry and competitor practices.
• Leads in the selection of benefits plans and providers enterprise-wide.

Skills:

• Applies subject matter expertise to influence benefits philosophy, vision, and strategic direction.
• Engages with TMS leaders to ensure effective benefits integration / inclusion in multi-faceted TMS and Total Rewards initiatives.
• Develops a network of contacts, including senior leaders, operational teams, peers, suppliers / vendors, and other organizational leaders.
• Negotiates with key stakeholders to advance the interests of the organization.
• Mediates difficult employee relations and/or other interactions as a neutral third-party.
• Engages with senior leadership to assess and recommend strategies to resolve critical benefits-related issues.
• Applies analytical skills to evaluate and interpret complex situations.
• Presents problem analysis and recommends solutions in a creative and logical manner.
• Handles a diverse range of issues requiring evaluation of a variety of factors, including business trends.
• Defines and drives continuous process improvement.
• Demonstrates strategic understanding of WFM’s business objectives, competitive strengths, and opportunities.
• Influences people-related program and process development, ensuring company initiatives remain at the leading edge of industry / market evolution. 
• Able to play a leadership role (formally and informally) working with others, in groups, in cross-functional settings, and with diverse stakeholders internally and externally.
• Ensures team commitment to and delivery of excellent customer service.

Education & Experience:

• BA/BS degree and 6-8 years’ relevant experience OR equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

At Whole Foods Market, we provide a fair and equal employment opportunity for all Team Members and candidates regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, marital status, disability, or any other legally protected characteristic. Whole Foods Market hires and promotes individuals solely based on qualifications for the position to be filled and business needs.