Director of Benefits

Job Summary: The Director of Benefits will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the health, welfare and leave management benefits plans for employees. This includes developing benefit strategies that drive growth, attract/retain talent, optimize the workforce and drive productivity. The Director will lead efforts in administering and ensuring compliance with all leave of absence policies and processes, including FMLA, CFRA, ADA, and state-specific programs, while maintaining alignment with organizational goals and employee wellbeing. This position trains, coaches, and mentors team members and ensures they are performing consistently. Will partner with stakeholders to ensure alignment with company goals. This position serves as an integral part of the leadership teams by providing benefit expertise and influences leaders to execute operational and strategic business goals. This position supports Pipeline Health's Values through the provision of distinctive and compassionate care to our employees and patients.

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

Essential Functions:

• Contributing to the development of the total reward strategy across all businesses and functions, in collaboration with others, assuring internal equity and external competitiveness.
• Directs the administration, compliance, and communication of all leave of absence programs including but not limited to FMLA, CFRA, ADA, PDL, Workers' Compensation, and personal leaves.
• Oversees the interactive process related to ADA, ensuring reasonable accommodations are explored and documented in accordance with applicable laws.
• Partners with Human Resources, Legal, and department leaders to manage complex leave scenarios, mitigating risk while supporting employee needs.
• Manages all relationships with vendors associated to programs, reconciles, and approves invoices, and serves as point of contact for the organization.
• Develops and implements policies and workflows to ensure consistent and compliant leave management practices across the organization.
• Organizes, plans, and implements system functions related to total rewards.
• Develops health and welfare benefit strategy and directing the design, implementation, communication and cost control of health and welfare benefit programs
• Works with external vendors and consultants in the helath and welfare benefits plans to endure the company is positioned copetitively and stays current on trends/changes in both the utility industry and general industry.
• Evaluating the effectiveness of existing benefit programs, policies and guidelines and ensuring they are market competitive, cost effective, aligned with corporate goals and are in compliance with company policies, federal legislation and other government and regulatory requirements.
• Develops and executes communication strategies for benefits and leave programs to drive employee engagement and understanding.
• Support rate case filings and benefit-related financial strategies.
• Provides oversight, expertise, and guidance to team members responsible for all benefit and leave administration.
• Plans, leads, develops, coordinates, and implements policies, processes, training, initiatives, and surveys to support the organizations total reward and leave strategy needs.
• Monitors and ensures compliance with federal, state, and local employment and leave laws and reviews and modifies policies and practices to maintain compliance.
• Serves as trustee or administrator of retirement accounts and maintain compliance with all regulations regarding relevant legislation, duties, and expectations.
• Maintains knowledge of trends, best practices, regulatory changes, law, and new technologies in total rewards. applies this knowledge to communicate changes in policy, practice, and resources to upper management.
• Facilitates professional development, training, and certification activities for staff.
• Performs other duties as required.

Skills/Knowledge:

• Strong working knowledge of federal and state leave laws including FMLA, CFRA, ADA, PDL and Worker's Comp.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong supervisory and leadership skills.
• Ability to adapt to the needs of the organization and employees.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and to delegate them when appropriate.
• Thorough knowledge of compensation and benefit-related laws and regulations.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software.
• Proficiency with or the ability to quickly learn the organizations HRIS and talent management systems

Behavioral Standards:

• Treats everyone as their customer; utilizes scripting and other tools to ensure consistency in customer service; Expresses recognition and shows appreciation to others; fully utilizes AIDET principles; responds quickly to handle requests, complaints, and questions; displays a positive attitude.
• Demonstrates the highest level of professionalism, passion and care when interacting with patients, families, physicians, and hospital staff members.
• Using a lens of equity in all aspects of patient care delivery, education, and research to promote policies and practices to allow opportunities for all to thrive and reach their potential, embracing ingenuity to service our customers.

Collaboration/Teamwork:

• Attends staff meetings; follows HIPAA guidelines; follows patient rights policy; complies with the compliance program; demonstrates knowledge of role in a disaster; demonstrates knowledge of fire and fire drill procedures; working knowledge of hospital emergency codes; always utilizes standard precautions in the clinical setting; safely manages the environment of care by demonstrating a working knowledge of the requirements of the: Life Safety program, Utilities Management program, Hazardous Materials program, Emergency Preparedness program, Safety Management program, Medical Equipment Management program, Security Management program.
• Wears nametag properly; follows dress code policy; answers phone correctly and promptly; is prepared for meetings; meets deadlines; does not participate in gossip; acts ethically and treats others with respect; respects customer's and co-worker's time; establishes and maintains effective relationships with customers and co-workers.

Qualifications/Experience:

• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in benefits and leave management preferably in healthcare.
• Strong knowledge of ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, PPACA and other state specific leave regulations.
• Financial acumen to identify and implement cost-effective benefit and leave programs.
• Ability to collaborate and work independently.
• Demonstrated strong leadership experience with involvement in execution as well as the development of strategic initiatives.
• Ability to effectively lead people and get results through others. In-depth knowledge and experience in effectively leading the wide-spectrum of compensation and benefits programs and practices which supports results-oriented business.
• Critical thinking, service excellence and good interpersonal communication skills, ability to read/comprehend written instructions, strong organizational skills, ability to follow verbal instructions, and PC (computer) skills.
  A capacity to learn, synthesize, make critical judgments, work independently, place patients and families first, and collaborate with the team members who are recognized leaders within health care.