Benefits Manager

The Benefits Manager is responsible for the day-to-day oversight and administration of Natixis’ employee benefit programs. Reporting to our Head of Human Resources Americas, this person will provide input into the design and administration of our benefits programs, drive change and communications, and continue to scale and elevate our employee benefit plan offerings to ensure we remain competitive in the market. We're seeking someone who both understands what competitive benefits look like in the financial services industry and can bring new, creative ideas and solutions to Natixis.

• Act as Benefit Plan Administrator, responsible for the oversight and operations of all benefit programs and plans including health, retirement, and leave programs; ensure compliance and effective operation of benefit vendors; reviews and authorizes monthly benefit expenses.
• Manage relationships with insurance carriers, benefits brokers, outside consultants, and auditors.
• Manage all leave programs (DBL, FML, NYPFL, Salary Continuation, Workers Comp) and draft policy revisions as needed.
• Participate on Retirement, Investment, and Administration Governance Committees, prepare presentations, and organize meetings.
• Work with Investment Advisor on execution of strategies approved by Retirement Committee.
• Manage projects relating to changes or modifications to existing benefits programs with a heavy emphasis on Retirement Benefits.
• Prepare 5500 forms and monitor plans for compliance; assist with Plan Document preparation, SPD preparation and amendments to plans.
• Prepare annual Benefits Budget, while making recommendations for better cost controls, monitoring, and processes; work toward out-sourcing of appropriate tasks and transactions.
• Perform data analysis and data audits; write and generate advanced reports.
• Process monthly/biweekly/weekly/daily reports from the Human Resources system to ensure that enrollments/terminations/billing occur on-time and accurately, and that data is audited for compliance, completeness, and validity.
• Monitor regulatory trends in benefits and evaluates costs and alternatives.
• Participate in contract renewals and benefit surveys.
• Plan and implement open enrollment; is responsible for all system configuration changes due to plan changes.
• Communicate and present recommendations on benefits topics for presentations, staff meetings, etc.
• Identify, develop, and execute effective benefits communication strategies, and implementation plans.
• Project management in various out-sourcing projects and implementation projects related to benefits and HR – such as Retirement Plan vendor/investment review, etc.
• Resolve employee questions and benefits inquiries by interpreting benefit policies and procedures.
• Execute wellness program and strategy.
• Prepare and distribute benefit communications.
• Develop, train, and supervise junior staff.

Qualifications

• 10 years of Benefits or other relevant HR experience
• Undergraduate degree, preferably with focus on business/human resources
• Experience in financial services preferred
• Experience working with Latin American and Canadian offices a plus, but not required
• Demonstrated knowledge of federal and state regulations and ability to apply them to administration/compliance of plans, including FMLA, NYPFL, ACA, ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, Social Security and DOL requirements
• Demonstrated analytical and conceptual thinking capabilities
• Strong negotiation and vendor management skills focusing on metric/SLA monitoring, issue management, calculation and process reviews, and employee escalation
• Ability to work autonomously with established practices and to work cooperatively with others
• Extremely high level of confidentiality
• Ability to prepare and maintain accurate records using pertinent software applications
• Solid MS Office (especially Excel) skills
• CEBS certification recommended

Natixis is an equal opportunity employer, committed to a workplace free of discrimination. Natixis will not tolerate any form of discrimination based on age, color, mental or physical handicap or disability, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, alienage, ancestry or citizenship status, race, religion, sex (including sex stereotyping, gender identity, gender expression or transgender status), veteran status, creed, genetic information or carrier status, or any other protected characteristic as established by law.

Respect for all means that we deal with each person as an individual and not as a member of any group. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. Management is expected to provide leadership in supporting the firms EEO program by taking steps to promote EEO in all facets of employment including recruitment, hiring, retention, promotion, performance assessment, and career-development opportunities.

The salary range for this position will be between $165,000 - 200,000. Natixis is required by law to include a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. Actual base salary will vary and will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant experience, education, skills set, applicable licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. Base salary is only one component of our total rewards package. Natixis also offers a generous benefits package, and you may be eligible for a discretionary incentive award depending on company and individual performance.