Senior Manager Of Benefits

The Senior Manager of Benefits is responsible for ensuring that Nordic develops and maintains competitive, cost effective, and compliant Enterprise-wide benefit programs that meet corporate objectives to include providing high quality benefit plans and services to our employees. This role will manage and oversee the planning, design, communication, and compliant administration of Nordic-sponsored employee benefit plans. As a member of the Human Resources team, the Senior Manager of Benefits provides vision, active team leadership, and oversight to departmental operations and initiatives.

• Responsible for accurate Healthcare Reform Compliance and updates, as well as keeping apprised of federal, state, and local Benefits Compliance.
• Establish and maintain operational excellence to ensure that benefit plans are designed and delivered in a compliant and fiscally responsible manner, to include monitoring/reporting on costs (such as vendor costs, benefit costs and department costs).
• Administer employee benefits programs, including retirement plans, medical, dental, vision plans, life insurance plans, disability programs, and wellness programs.
• Create, update, and disseminate Benefit program policies, procedures, manuals, forms, and resource materials for new and existing programs through a variety of media.
• Monitor benefits inquiries and complaints to ensure quick, equitable, courteous resolution.
• Work on projects that may be assigned on an ad hoc basis and may assist other corporate initiatives, as necessary.
• Maintain contact with physicians, insurance companies, employees, and beneficiaries to facilitate proper and complete utilization of benefits for all employees.
• Oversee annual renewals of benefits plans and claim reviews for all benefit plans.
• Provide the Benefits team leadership by developing team members, establishing objectives, and overseeing work efforts to accomplish identified business goals/objectives and to support the employees’ career success/development.
• Determine, develop, and obtain executive approval for benefit plan changes/new plans and services; oversee the implementation of approved recommendations.
• Communicate with consultants to manage the brokerage/consulting arrangement for all Benefits contracts and the vendor relations and contract negotiations to ensure mitigation of risk and fiscal responsibility.
• Work with internal department to implement appropriate controls for Benefits and ensuring compliance with those internal control procedures and regulations.
• Provide education for employees regarding their benefits and deductions to help provide informed choices and support employee retention.
• Work with the Senior Director of Total Rewards to create, develop, and implement all benefits systems, services, and programs for the entire organization that competitively positions Nordic and its business lines.
• Develop and analyze benchmark data and trend information to ensure benefits strategy remains competitive.

• Demonstrated high level of integrity and ability to maintain strict confidentiality.
• Exceptional communication, planning, and organizational skills.
• A minimum of eight (8) years of progressively more responsible experience in employee benefits with at least five (5) years of managerial experience.
• Ability to establish and maintain strong working relationships with internal and external partners, and with Benefits Department personnel.
• Demonstrated outstanding problem solving and analytical ability.
• High degree of business and financial management acumen.
• Must demonstrate and embody Nordic’s maxims.
• Strong results orientation and superior work ethic.
• Track record of accomplishment in benefit program administration and outsourcing, vendor management, and cost management.
• Ability to work effectively with all managerial levels, including senior leadership.
• Demonstrated project planning, communication, and management skills.
• Advanced experience with the Microsoft Suite, including PowerPoint, Excel, and Word.
• Strong contract negotiation skills.
• Up to date knowledge of current trends, issues, and legislation affecting employee benefits.
• Superior ability to negotiate, persuade, and reach win/win solutions with groups/individuals that may have conflicting agendas.
• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business, or a related field (benefits certification(s) and/or a master’s degree is considered a plus), or equivalent combination of technical and functional experience.

• This role supports employees and leaders across the organization, which requires flexibility as occasional meetings may occur outside of normal business hours
• Ability to travel up to 10%
• Remote position. Occasional trips to the Nordic Home Office in Madison, WI would be expected