Benefits Manager

Are you an experienced benefit professional ready to drive the benefits offerings for a mission-based non-profit? Join Thresholds, a leading mental health provider in Chicagoland, as the Benefits Manager on our Total Rewards team. In this role, you will lead our Benefits team to plan, develop, and implement benefit and wellbeing programs, policies, and procedures and ensure that benefit plan design and administration comply with government rules and regulations. As a member of our Talent team, you will embed IDEAs: Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility to advance Social Justice in every aspect of your work.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Thresholds Benefits Programs

• Play a lead role in evaluating, recommending, developing, and implementing benefit plans and programs.
• Continually review and assess benefit strategies, programs and technologies, and benchmark them against external best practices and support inclusion in alignment with IDEAs strategies.
• Develop effective employee communications and education, especially during annual enrollments and for New Staff Orientations.
• Manage all leave of absence policies and processes.
• Manage Thresholds Retirement Plan and lead efforts to increase employee usage of the retirement savings plan, to optimize the company-match and catch-up contributions for employees over age 50.
• Responsible for ensuring all government-required testing, auditing and filing of the Agency’s health and welfare plans, and for all retirement programs such as the 403(b).
• Manage and supervise the Benefits team, which consists of the Benefits Analyst and dotted line supervision of the Total Rewards Analyst. This includes being responsible for: hiring, development/coaching, and performance management.
• Ensure compliance with all governmental regulations, including the Affordable Care Act (ACA), as related to benefits.
• Manage the Thresholds’ relationship with outside vendors and brokers.
• Ensure alignment and/or consistency across all Programs under Thresholds where appropriate.
• Serve as the lead for any subsidiary benefit and wellness program development and management.
• Ensure subsidiary compliance with all governmental regulations, as it relates to benefits.
• Lead any related Requests for Proposal (RFP) process for negotiating insurance premiums and costs for all plans.
• Prepare RFPs for potential benefit partners and products.
• Manages and oversee the benefit vendor invoicing.
• Manage benefit survey input and analysis, including data collection, reporting, etc.
• Maintain in‐depth knowledge and expertise in employee benefit services and make recommendations on pending legislative actions regarding benefits
  

Thresholds Wellbeing Programs

• Play a lead role in Thresholds-wide employee wellbeing strategy and program.
• Oversee the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which includes vendor management, tracking metrics, and leading efforts to increase EAP usage through promotion and employee engagement.
  

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources, other Bachelor’s Degree, or related field or equivalent work experience required.
  
• Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) or Certified Benefits Professional (CBP) certification is preferred.
• Thorough knowledge of current benefit laws and regulations.
• At least 5 years of progressive experience in benefits design and administration
• At least 2 years of management experience
  

What Thresholds offers:

• Competitive pay –Annual Salary begins at $100,000 and can increase based on experience and expertise.
• Generous PTO (9 federal holidays, 8 days of sick leave, 15-22 days personal and vacation)
• Robust and comprehensive benefits offering, including:
  • Choice of 4 medical insurance plans, Dental insurance, and vision insurance
  • 403(b) retirement plan with 3% employer match with 100% immediate vesting
  • Employee assistance program (EAP)
    

Thresholds is a mission-driven agency with a deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We foster an environment where all feel valued and respected, a place where every employee can be themselves, thrive, and support the agency’s mission. Visit our website to learn more.

As a leader in mental health and substance use services, we pride ourselves in being recognized as a Chicago Tribune Top Workplace and one of Chicago’s 101 Best & Brightest Companies to Work For, in the category of companies with more than 1,000 employees.


Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)