Manager - Benefits, Health & Welfare

About the role

This position owns the development and evolution of Kohler’s health and welfare strategy, while balancing cost, associate experience, and maintaining compliance. The scope of authority incorporates the suite of health and welfare plan offerings including medical, prescription drug, dental, life insurance, short and long-term disability, FMLA, and State Paid leaves.

Responsibilities

• Serves as program manager for all Health and Welfare plans in the US.
• Provides leadership to ensure effective and timely benefit plan design implementation and communication of all new benefit programs and changes.
• Influences Kohler’s benefits experience and associate retention through benefit designs that aim to meet Associate needs while remaining cost-effective for the company.
• Ensures accountability of the disability and leave administration program.
• Oversees implementation and transition of daily processes to support such programs.
• Maintains program effectiveness and identifies additional areas of opportunity.
• Manages the complexity of ever-changing regulatory environment including State-based paid leave laws and ensures appropriate coordination with company programs.
• Responsible for vendor management including sourcing, evaluating, selecting, and preparing recommendations for service providers/vendors that meet both the needs of the Associates and the company.
• Assesses vendor performance against pre-established performance standards at least annually.
• Evaluates annual renewals and develops cost analysis.
• Develops a strategy to ensure the integrity and accuracy of self-funded plans including oversight of periodic third-party audits.
• Reviews service provider contracts, agreements, and other documents to ensure compliance with Kohler Co., standards, provisions, and expectations of performance.
• Manages the vendor relationship with Prevea who operates the Prevea Kohler Health Center and Premise Health who operates the Kohler Woodlake Pharmacy.
• Responsible for overall reporting and disclosure legal compliance of health and welfare benefit plans to retain favorable tax status of the plans and to avoid financial penalties and potential lawsuits which could bring adverse publicity.
• Includes review and updating of all ERISA required documents, e.g., SPDs, SARs, 5500s as well as leading the annual filing and reporting required by the ACA.
• Integrates and analyzes employee benefit data collected from multiple sources, draws conclusions and presents results clearly, succinctly, and accurately.
• Conducts research and analysis in support of benefit plan development and/or modifications.
• Completes benefits surveys and benchmarking studies as needed.
• Leads the ongoing modernization of benefits delivery through effective associate communications and education programs for Kohler Co. benefit plans.
• This includes benefit highlights for recruiting, medical plan SBCs and other statutory notices.
• Serves in a consultative role to Global Shared Services in the administrative management of the health and welfare benefit plans.
• Provides guidance in areas such as policy interpretation and plan design intent.
• Also assists with knowledge transfer and resolution of escalated complex benefit issues.
• Proactively works to ensure continuous improvement in activities associated with providing benefits to Associates.
• Provides support to Director – US Benefits on an ongoing and ad hoc basis.
• Includes support for policy and plan design history and interpretation to ensure clear direction of program intent within the Kohler Co. culture.
• Assists in monitoring plan performance on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis, setting reserves for self-funded plans and maintaining metrics dashboard for use by senior management.
• Provides leadership, support, guidance, and direction to other department personnel.
• Responsible for the hiring, growth, and career development of their direct report(s).
• Assists in the analysis of benefit programs in the event of mergers or acquisitions.
• Includes development of comprehensive inventory of current plans, providers, costs, etc.
• Develops recommendation for plan integration and timetable.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or advanced degree preferred in Finance, HR, or general business.
• CEBS or CBP designation or course work toward designation desired.
• 8 years benefits administration or planning experience.
• Excellent written and oral communication abilities.
• Proven history of successful benefits implementations and communications.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
• Ability to work effectively on multiple tasks and manage internal and external resources.
• Ability to recognize and evaluate micro and macro impacts when developing solutions or making recommendations.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills to effectively influence the actions and decisions of managers, Associates, and vendors.
• Current knowledge of benefit trends, issues, and legislation affecting Health and Welfare plans.
• Strong results orientation and demonstrated project management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to professionally manage and lead one or more associates utilizing internal talent management resources and annual programming.

Skills

• Bachelor's degree or advanced degree preferred in Finance, HR, or general business.
• CEBS or CBP designation or course work toward designation desired.
• 8 years benefits administration or planning experience.
• Excellent written and oral communication abilities.
• Proven history of successful benefits implementations and communications.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
• Ability to work effectively on multiple tasks and manage internal and external resources.
• Ability to recognize and evaluate micro and macro impacts when developing solutions or making recommendations.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills to effectively influence the actions and decisions of managers, Associates, and vendors.
• Current knowledge of benefit trends, issues, and legislation affecting Health and Welfare plans.
• Strong results orientation and demonstrated project management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to professionally manage and lead one or more associates utilizing internal talent management resources and annual programming.

Benefits

Salary range for this position is $113,150 - $175,150. The specific salary offered to a candidate may be influenced by a variety of factors including the candidate’s experience, their education, and the work location. In addition, this position is eligible for a performance bonus/variable incentive compensation.

Pay

The specific salary offered to a candidate may be influenced by a variety of factors including the candidate’s experience, their education, and the work location.

Schedule

Onsite, four days per week – Kohler, WI