Benefits & Wellness Manager

Lush North America supports over 262 (and growing!) retail stores in Canada and the USA, a mail order business based in Vancouver, and manufacturing centers in both Vancouver and Toronto. We're known worldwide for our unique bath and beauty products. We pride ourselves on amazing skin and hair care, personalized customer service, environmental activism and a vibrant store atmosphere. Charitable giving is at the heart of our business, and we believe it's our responsibility to advocate for the environment, animals and people in need. Lush is a values-led organization where decisions about our people programs have a direct impact on thousands of employees across North America.

About the role

As the Benefits and Wellness Manager, you will positively impact the staff experience at Lush by ensuring that benefits programs are of exceptional value and highly valued by our staff. You will ensure that our benefits processes are well-communicated, transparent, and user-friendly. This role will suit someone who enjoys taking ownership, creating structure, solving complicated benefits challenges, and making programs easier for people to understand and use.

Reporting to the Assistant Controller, the Benefits and Wellness Manager will manage relationships with US and Canadian benefits vendors, create and execute an annual plan for benefits and wellness communication and education, oversee the efficient administration of staff benefits, and measure and report on the success of such programs.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the administration of the benefits plans including researching/recommending strategies related to benefits costs, improving processes, and leading changes to plan design or carriers.
• Collaborate with all People and Culture departments, Payroll, and Finance to ensure Canadian and US Health, Dental and Vision Benefits, RRSP & 401k, and other programs are managed effectively.
• Spearhead the annual planning of the evolution of benefits and wellness at Lush, including the annual review of costs, ensuring that the budget is managed efficiently, and that benefits are good value for the company and the staff.
• Develop and coach the Benefits team by providing guidance, feedback, and support to ensure they are effective in their role.
• Lead the annual review of retirement plans including monitoring trends, best practices, utilization, and cost/benefit analysis to recommend opportunities for enhancements.
• Ensure that STD and LTD claims are well-managed to control costs and enhance employee experience. Collaborate with managers, HR Partners, and vendors to ensure roles are well-understood and the claims process is transparent and effective.
• Communicate benefits options during leaves and partner with payroll/accounting as required to ensure that premiums are paid.
• Partner with internal stakeholders to execute all aspects of Employee Benefit communications including inquiries from employees, open enrollment, new hire orientations, and special communications.
• Ensure that staff are provided with current, engaging information on benefits and wellness, including changes to benefits, benefits premiums, and education on benefits use. Provide effective communication tools and training to Managers and Business Partners to ensure they can support staff questions about benefits.
• Share results with stakeholders on benefits KPIs on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis.
• Participate and collaborate on initiatives and projects across the employee life cycle which affect staff’s journey and well-being in Lush, including ad hoc support for total rewards initiatives including bonus and compensation.
• Manage the inbox to ensure inquiries are handled quickly and reflect ‘best in class’ service. Partner with internal teams and external vendors to ensure billing and vendor relations are timely and best-in-class.
• Oversee benefits administration and reconciliation within ADP.
• Develop and communicate Disability and Leave policies.
• Ensure compliance with benefit plan applications; ACA, 401K and audit for discriminatory practices, COBRA compliance, policy enforcement.
• Ensure compliance with US national health care policies, HIPAA, FMLA, ERISA, and associated reporting requirements.
• Perform ad hoc benefit reporting, analysis, and audits as required to ensure compliance, cost-effectiveness, and staff satisfaction with benefits and wellness offerings.
• Manage the relationship with benefits consultants and vendors to ensure active monitoring of benefits usage, compliance/cost containment, transfer of data to applicable stakeholders, and adherence to service level agreements.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in benefits or HR (Benefits Specialist, HR Generalist, or Business Partner).
• 2+ years of people leadership experience.
• Strong, hands-on experience managing U.S. employee benefits.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration or a related field.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong conflict resolution skills.
• Strong project management skills, particularly in work involving multiple stakeholders.
• Creative and resourceful.
• Collaborative, proactive, and inclusive approach to business support.
• Excitement and a commitment to learn, understand, and relate to Lush’s core brand values.
• Thriving with a diverse company culture, celebrating the uniqueness of our staff and committed to inclusion.

Pay

Base Salary Range: $99,000 USD - $110,000 USD

Job Type: Permanent, Full Time. Remote - US