Senior Manager, US Benefits

Reporting to SVP People, Global Head of Compensation & Benefits, the Senior Manager, US Benefits will be a key contributor to helping Condé Nast with its people strategy. This person will play a key role in the design, governance, and communication of US benefits. Key projects will include, but are not limited to, ongoing comprehensive review of US healthcare plans (including retiree benefits plan design and administration), assessment of retirement plan market competitiveness, and consideration of union sensitivities across all offerings. Additionally, this role will bring rigor around operational excellence, and manage all related internal business lead and external vendor relationships.

To be successful in this role, this individual must be a US Benefits subject matter expert with a bias for action and a passion for building. This individual will be flexible and agile enough to navigate the Condé Nast ecosystem with speed and diplomacy. This person will have high learning agility and be an individual who is consistently educating him/herself in order to drive the required level of change and innovation to win. The successful candidate will be a doer who enjoys rolling up their sleeves.

• Recommend healthcare plan design, governance, and communication of US benefits, including ongoing comprehensive review of US healthcare plans, assessment of retirement plan market competitiveness, and consideration of union sensitivities across all offerings.
• Establish annual priorities and short/long-term strategy for benefit programs, and a holistic benefits and wellness approach and philosophy to guide decisions.
• Manage annual renewals and enrollment across internal and external resources.
• External vendor management: day-to-day vendor relationship management, strategy discussions regarding new solutions or plan enhancements, utilization reviews, operations optimization, bi-weekly meetings related to employee issues, discussions on ad hoc communications, changes or updates to our programs outside of our annual renewals, escalated issues related to members, reporting discussions, unforeseen/unplanned deliverables etc.
• Provide technical expertise and guidance on compliance; develop recommendations for governance framework and policy.
• Advise on marketplace trends, relevant local laws and other factors impacting plan performance and program competitiveness.
• Design and price benefit plans ensuring programs maximize positive benefits and wellness outcomes for employees while managing cost effectiveness. Develop solutions/recommendations for plan design and population health management to achieve targeted cost savings or plan improvements (performance and competitiveness) that align with the company's objectives.
• Track benefits utilization and spend data and identify cost-saving opportunities and provide budget oversight.
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations related to employee benefits, plan filings and audits are performed to maintain plan qualification and governmental compliance including but not limited to Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), DOL, and Internal Revenue Code. Work closely with internal legal counsel to develop required notices, plan amendments, plan documents, eligibility appeal responses and other required documentation and mailings including FAS 106 retiree information, SAR’s, etc. Ensure that proper claims procedures and appeals processes are followed for each of the Benefits plans.
• Lead the design, development and review of employee communications, education, and marketing material regarding Benefits, including development of training, summary plan descriptions and plan documents, to assist employee workforce and their dependents' understanding and value of benefits programs/services.
• Management of Leaves of Absence (FMLA, Maternity/Paternity, Disability, etc.) processes and policies, including evaluation of requests and accommodations. Evaluate requests for FMLA and determine their validity along with accommodations. Consult with legal counsel on complex case resolution and manage the Company’s external disability vendors to ensure their performance meets the Company’s standards.
• Lead Workday HR technology upgrades and recommend system automation as possible.
• Live and demonstrate the Condé Code.

Experience: 7+ years proven experience in benefits plan design and management. Experience working in large matrixed organizations preferred. Private company experience a plus.

Skills:

• Strong business acumen, excellent written/verbal communication, networking and interpersonal skills, and the ability to guide a team towards business goals.
• Ability to work independently in a highly matrixed organization, excel at meeting tight deadlines and comfort with juggling a variety of simultaneous projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, and ability to manage highly confidential and sensitive information.
• Deep expertise in US Benefits plan design norms, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of accounting and actuarial principles associated with financial reporting of Benefit programs.
• Workday HCM/Benefits and Google suite of products experience preferred.

The expected base salary range for this position is from $130,000-$160,000. Salary offers are based on a wide range of factors including but not limited to relevant skills, training, experience, and education.