Benefits Manager

Location: Washington, DC
Schedule: 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM
FLSA: Exempt
Position Type: Full-Time/Regular

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is a leading international law firm with more than 900 lawyers in offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. We are currently seeking a Benefits Manager (Health) t in the Human Resources department, reporting to the Director of Benefits and Well-Being.

The role will reside in the Washington, DC office with hybrid work capabilities and will be responsible for the development and maintenance of benefit programs, primarily health program benefits, the daily support and development of the Benefits Analyst specializing in health programs, oversight for technological systems supporting benefits administration, and other team initiatives as defined. The Benefits Manager is expected to perform all responsibilities with a commitment to providing superior service to the firm's lawyers and staff, efficient and effective departmental operations, and an atmosphere of teamwork and continuous improvement. Above all, the Benefits Manager must fulfill the needs of the office in a manner which is consistent with the Firm's Core Values.

Key responsibilities of this position include :

Benefits Administration Leadership

Respond in a timely manner to escalated telephone and email requests for benefits information from lawyers and business service staff.

Partner with Director to execute benefits design and strategy.

Manage strategic direction and execution of benefit communication campaigns and resources, including identifying educational and informational opportunities for firm personnel regarding benefit offerings.

Internal and external point of contact for benefit plans such as medical, dental, vision, critical illness/accidental/hospitalization insurance, health savings and flexible spending accounts, executive physical and concierge medical partnerships, business travel insurance and family-care resources.

Lead the firm's participation in benefit surveys, including to maintain standard responses to common survey questions.

Coordinate compliance requirements such as the preparation of 5500 filings, ACA monitoring, and disclosure distributions of 1095s, SARs, CMS, HIPAA, and Medicare notices.

Oversee appropriate benefit updates following compensation changes for Partners, Sr Executives, lawyers and business services staff.

Open Enrollment

Lead annual Open Enrollment Benefits Campaign for team, including verifying and updating benefits, testing and communications.

Oversee all open enrollment/year-end auditing and file transfers to ensure an accurate and smooth enrollment and transition into new year.

Oversee COBRA Open Enrollment process with Benefits Analyst.

Benefits Team Development

Day-to-day resource to support Benefits Analyst in administration, issue resolution, and process management and improvement.

In partnership with the Director, direct and support learning and development of the Benefits Analyst and other team members as applicable.

Oversee cross-training, process documentation, and development and maintenance of other team resources with Director.

Provide support for Benefits team, as needed, to accommodate department leaves, projects and initiatives.

Carrier Liaison

Lead status meetings with benefit vendors regarding current and upcoming projects.

Serve as main day-to-day contact for benefit vendors.

Well-Being Program

Partner with Well-Being Benefits Manager to identify, propose, and implement strategic health-related well-being programming.

Systems and Payroll

Guide strategic benefit plan administration and related set-ups in the benefits platform (bswift) and HRIS (Workday), as applicable.

Oversee the strategic development and maintenance of eligibility files, primarily for health programs but as it relates, in general, to the entire benefits team when applicable.

Maintain spreadsheets and/or other documentation of all employee group set-ups, exceptions and changes in various systems.

Serve as primary benefits liaison with Information Services and third-party plan and program administrators.

Serve as a subject matter expert for health plan- and program-related aspects of the HR department's technology initiatives (e.g., HRIS design and implementation).

Qualifications (Experience, Knowledge, Skills & Abilities):

Bachelor's degree required; an advanced degree and/or professional certification helpful

Minimum of 5 years of related and progressively complex benefits experience to include supervisory experience

Demonstrated knowledge of healthcare group insurance and general benefit policies, practices and legal requirements

Thorough, in-depth knowledge of MS Office applications including Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint

Demonstrated mastery of HRIS (WorkDay preferred), benefits systems (bswift preferred) and file interfaces

Excellent interpersonal skills, including strong oral and written communication skills and the ability to communicate potentially detailed and complex information to others

Demonstrated ownership of areas of responsibility with an aptitude to anticipate and pro-actively execute tasks while identifying areas of enhancement, efficiencies and solutions as needed

Confidentiality, discretion and tact

Aptitude and willingness to work with complex procedures

Strong organizational skills including effective documentation management and attention to detail

Ability to manage multiple priorities and adjust to changing priorities and deadlines in a professional and positive manner

Ability to work independently and with a team

Strong work ethic with willingness and ability to assume new tasks and responsibilities

Demonstrated ability to exercise initiative, independent judgment, creativity and common sense

Strong service-orientation, and an ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with users, peers, office and firm management, and outside business partners

Ability to work well under pressure, facilitate solutions, and meet deadlines and milestones for projects assigned

Ability to work extended hours as necessary to fulfill time sensitive responsibilities

Commitment to professional growth and development for self and team

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP participates in E-Verify for purposes of verifying employment eligibility
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