Manager, Benefits

Overview

We inspire purpose-filled living that brings beauty and quality to the modern home. Together, we achieve. Associates across our business drive results, innovate, and inspire. Drawn together by our shared values and passion for our customers and our brands, we deliver home furnishings that are expertly designed, responsibly sourced, and bring timeless style and function to people's homes. From the day we opened our first store in Chicago in 1962 to the digital innovations that engage millions of customers today, our iconic brand is over 60 years in the making-and our story is still unfolding.

We're here for it. We think you should be too. We're looking for a driven professional with an inclusive mindset to join our team as a Manager, Benefits.

This role leads the design, administration, and governance of all US and Canada benefit programs, and partners with vendors and HR leadership to ensure optimal delivery. This position brings a balance of thought leadership, customer focus, process rigor and analytical skills. As a leader on the team, this manager models leadership behaviors within Total Rewards and across the broader HR organization that support the Company's purpose and values.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Manage the administration of US and Canadian benefit and retirement programs through direct and indirect resources while ensuring compliance with applicable regulations
• Define and oversee execution of processes related to new hires, life events, retirement, employment terminations, etc.
• Identify, evaluate, and manage third-party administrators, advisors and other service providers.
• Provide regular feedback to vendors; collaborate with vendors to create, implement, and manage any process improvement initiatives
• Analyze expense trends and projections to identify opportunities and develop short-term and multi-year action plans.
• Evaluate external and internal factors to build optimal program design and delivery.
• Understand plan performance and trends, and provide actionable advice and creative solutions for all benefit programs.
• Lead and manage the implementation of new programs or benefit changes.
• Lead collaboration with Human Resources, Legal and Corporate Communications colleagues to create and deliver compelling employee communications regarding US and Canadian benefits programs.
• Partner with Payroll, Finance and HRIS colleagues to ensure compliance with internal and external audit requirements, accurate forecasting of benefit program expenses and accurate payroll deductions.
• Build strong and effective relationships with critical stakeholders and peers to share information, influence change, and leverage resources to deliver results.
• Manage all aspects of performance and development of direct reports to encourage professional growth.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Advanced knowledge of employee benefits, wellness, leave of absence and retirement programs, policies and legislations.
• Experience in partnering and negotiating with benefits brokers and vendors.
• Understanding of ERISA, HIPAA, financial reporting requirements and governance practices.
• Expertise in analyzing and leveraging data to recommend and develop appropriate forward-looking solutions.
• Strong problem solving, change management, negotiation and influencing skills.
• Excellent communication skills and professionalism to handle sensitive information.
• Skilled at working successfully in dynamic, fast-paced and ambiguous environments.
• Customer service focused.

Experience Required:

• 5+ years experience in employee benefits design, analytics, and administration; retail industry experience preferred
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business or related field preferred
• Experience with federal and state regulations affecting employee benefit programs, including ERISA, ACA, COBRA, FMLA, ADA, HIPAA, and Section 125
• A minimum of 1 year of leadership experience
• Intermediate to advanced excel skills
• Proficiency with HR systems; Workday experience a plus