Senior Global Benefits Analyst

Description

Location: Portland, Oregon, Washington, DC, or Remote, US subject to review and approval of location

Position Status: Full-time Exempt, Regular

Salary Level: The pay range for this role is $64,000 - $85,000 USD annually, depending on location and experience.

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.

The Program / Department / Team (Program / Department Summary)

The People Team ensures that Mercy Corps has the people who will enable it to be a world-class, cutting edge, humanitarian organization, creating transformational change in the world. We do this through the recruitment, retention, and development of the best global talent. Our aim is to drive strategic thinking and planning at all levels of the organization; create a robust body of research to guide us internally and externally and steward the organizational culture. To achieve this, we align conversations on learning; keep the organization focused on what has the greatest impact; leverage our comparative advantages in the crowded and competitive international relief and development landscape; and assure we are constantly learning from our work and the external environment.

The Position (General Position Summary)

The Senior Global Benefits Analyst is a functional analyst reporting to the Director of Total Rewards and is responsible for data analysis to measure the effectiveness of Health, Welfare and Retirement plans, plan administration, and benefit policies. In addition to data analytics and plan administration, this role supports plan administration, communication, education, vendor management and benefits compliance.

The Senior Global Benefits Analyst provides subject matter expertise on all benefits plans to effectively manage plans, troubleshoot, and resolve issues as they arise. The successful candidate will support Open Enrollment and have an essential understanding of benefits data process flows, identifying gaps, and executing process efficiencies. The Senior Global Benefits Analyst must also manage priorities in a timely and accurate manner, provide tactical support to HR colleagues, interface with employees on escalated benefit issues, and demonstrate the ability to utilize benefits-related statistics and information to improve service delivery and resolution of complex issues.

Essential Responsibilities

●        Responsible for the tactical support of US and non-US benefits programs, policies, and initiatives.

●        Responsible for the evaluation of the organization’s benefits and current programs and their alignment to the philosophy, budget, and external value.

●        Facilitate the carrier/vendor marketing process (including preparing the Request for Proposal, working with the carriers/vendors to gather and negotiate quotes; compiling the analysis of the responses) and assist with the implementation of new vendors and/or carriers,

●        Complete accurate financial reports in a timely manner.

●        Supports with escalated HR request in a timely manner

●        Prepare benchmarking reports, benefits dashboards and summarize findings.

●        Prepare and/or review plans and other compliance documents.

●        Monitors market and internal analytic and research.

●        Supports the introduction of benefit initiatives in new countries and manages and reviews current programs in existing countries.

●        Identifies and leads innovation and process improvements that support the organization’s growth, efficiencies, and capability enhancement.

●        Assists with vendor relations and service levels and builds trust.

●        Ensures HR compliance of benefit plans with the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

●        Provides oversight on the administration of the organization’s benefits program including health and welfare, 403(b), leaves of absence, wellness program, workers’ compensation, executive benefits, and others.

●        Monitors the organization’s Wellness program and advocates for a culture of health.

●        Ensures that there is a connection and integration between the wellness program and other benefit programs.

●        Develops and communicates success criteria for the global wellness program.

●        Supports HR with the annual benefit renewals and US open enrollment process and ensures that plan design changes are aligned with budget, applicable mandates such as the ACA and the Mercy Corps benefit philosophy.

●        Evaluates and compares existing company benefits with the market surveys and other sources of information to maintain Mercy Corps’ position as employer of choice in the market.

●        Participates in area and industry surveys as needed.

●        To support global wellbeing, analyze country specific culture and programs, policies and trends  to identify frameworks for employee health and wellbeing that will attract, retain and reward employees.

●        Drives and analyzes internal and external data analytics to support and shape business decision-making.

●        Handles HR escalation of benefit inquiries and complaints to ensure quick, equitable, courteous resolution.

●        Partners with Finance to ensure accurate reporting of benefit costs for budgeting purposes.

●        Works with counsel to review, prepare and execute all benefit plans and processes to ensure compliance with Department of Labor, ERISA, IRS, etc.

●        Provides specialized support, ongoing training, and direction to team members.

●        Mentors and contributes to the development of junior team members.

●      Participates in other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Supervisory Responsibility

No direct supervisory responsibilities.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Director, Total Rewards

Works Directly With: People Team, Finance

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

●     Bachelor’s degree in human resources, HR Management, or Business with 5+ years of benefits or relevant experience

●     4+ years of comprehensive technical knowledge of benefits programs and plans.

●     Previous experience with management of multiple vendors.

●     Experience managing a Leave of Absence process and vendor.

●     Excellent written and verbal skills.

●     Strong customer service orientation and the ability to interface with all levels of employees.

●     Strong project management skills

●     Ability to create compelling and informative presentations and reports

●     Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite is required.

●     Experience with HRIS systems, benefits administration systems, retirement platforms and payroll systems.

●     Analytical thinking and problem-solving ability.

●     Current, in-depth knowledge of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Employment Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), Section 125 of the IRS and other legislation and regulations that affect the design and administration of the benefit plans.

●     Experience with annual plan filings and disclosures (e.g., 5500s, Medicare Part D, Summary Annual Report) and support all US based and international expatriate team member benefits programs, including medical, dental, vision, life, short- and long-term disability, retirement, expatriate benefits, and voluntary benefits.

●     Proven ability to originate, maintain and audit records.

●     HIPAA compliance training or certification preferred.

●     Multilingual is a significant plus; especially French, Spanish, or Arabic proficiency.

●     Familiarity with employee benefit/wellness/compensation program designs preferred.

●     Familiarity with U.S. labor/benefit laws and employer compliance requirements preferred.

●     Demonstrated ability to communicate with clarify, both written and verbal

Success Factors

The successful team member will be a self-directed learner, innovative, and action oriented. They should have the ability to work independently, employ effective time management skills, handle frequent interruptions, and shifting priorities, exhibit superior customer service skills and work effectively within a diverse team.

The ideal candidate will thrive in a fast-paced environment prone to rapid change and be willing to increase their responsibility level in the assigned areas. The ideal candidate will consistently demonstrate flexibility, resilience, and the ability to maintain positive relationships and composure, even under difficult circumstances.  The most successful Mercy Corps team members have a positive approach, a strong commitment to teamwork and personal accountability, and the ability to be flexible and ensure that effective communication is a priority in all situations.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position can be based within our Portland, OR or Washington DC officer, or remotely in the US, location subject to review and approval.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme**.** We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.