Senior Benefits Specialist

POSITION TITLE: Senior Benefits Specialist

REPORTS TO: Total Rewards Manager

FLSA: Exempt

SALARY RANGE: $65,000 - $75,000

LOCATION: Denver, CO Corporate Office

JOIN OUR TEAM

At VASA Fitness, we want to create an uplifting experience for everyone by offering inclusive, accessible, and on-trend fitness. The foundation of our brand is rooted in a culture centered on unity, passion, love, integrity, fun, and trust. Because our culture is alive-embodied by members and team members alike-VASA is a place where lives are changed because of authentic connections made within our supportive community.

BENEFITS

We offer a competitive, all-encompassing benefits package which includes healthcare benefits for employees who work 20+ hours per week. All employees receive two complimentary gym memberships-one for themselves and another to give away-plus 401k options.

• 40 hours per week employees: Flexible Vacation Plan (salary) & Paid Holidays (in addition to above)

Come join VASA Fitness and join a passionate, fun, and united team!

We are proud to be a Great Place to Work certified company!

The VASA Fitness human resources team is looking for a Senior Benefits Specialist who has a passion for creating a wholistic total rewards strategy that matches the values and goals of VASA Fitness. If you thrive in a collaborative and dynamic work environment, this opportunity is for you. We are looking for someone who shares our UPLIFT values of United, Passionate, Love, Integrity, Fun and Trust.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Senior Benefits Specialist develops a wholistic total rewards strategy that creates, develops, and administers competitive benefit strategies that support attracting and retaining talent throughout the organization.

Duties/Responsibilities

Benefits Administration

• Supports the benefits and total rewards strategy that aligns with VASA's culture and being a great place to work.
• Must have a strategic mindset to drive work that supports company total reward strategy.
• Ensures proper administration of employee insurance programs including health insurance plans, dental, vision, life, disability.
• Ensures proper administration of employee savings plans that may include the company's 401(k) plan, personal savings plans.
• Advises and informs employees of changes and developments related to benefits including eligibility, coverage, and provisions.

• Develops and maintains strong proactive communication with new and existing employees regarding benefits eligibility and offerings.
• Performs bill reconciliations for benefit vendors.

• Facilitates accurate and timely delivery of employer contributions and employee payroll deductions to carriers, plan administrators, or other appropriate service providers.

• Completes reports to manage measurement and stability period for PPACA compliance.
• Ensures benefits administration complies with all federal and state laws, with the applicable provisions of COBRA, HIPAA, and ERISA.
• Assist outsourced vendors with compliance reporting and makes compliance recommendations.
• Leads and coordinates all aspects of Open Enrollment efforts including recommendations of benefits design and cost structure, set up of enrollment within ADP, designing communication to employees and ensuring all compliance and enrollments are complete and set up for the new plan year.
• Manage insurance broker to deliver relevant and effective benefits offerings and designs all benefits related policies.
• Conducts benefits meetings with team members and answers escalated benefits-related questions.
• Creates and streamlines processes to assist team members in finding answers to benefits related questions.
• Audits employee hours to ensure benefits eligibility is maintained.
• Establishes and maintains carrier connection with Vendor through HRIS system.
• Ensures that all benefits related enrollments and changes are processed correctly.

Leave Administration

• Oversees all Leave of Absence requests.
• Partners with HR field team on determining appropriate workplace accommodations.
• Communicates with employees regarding their needs for leave and/or modified work schedules. Ensures that employees are aware of their responsibilities and of any documentation and notice required to qualify for and to take leave.
• Handles the FMLA leave administration process from the employees' initial notice of the need for leave to the return to work. This includes gathering and completing all required paperwork, determining leave eligibility, designating leave as FMLA-qualifying, requesting medical certification as needed, and accounting for intermittent and reduced schedule leave use.
• Maintains reasonable communication with employees on leave to facilitate smooth and timely return to work; relays communication between employees and their managers during leave within reason.
• Advises managers and employees on the interaction of leave laws with paid time off, workers compensation, and short-term and long-term disability benefits.
• Oversees the return-to-work process for employees returning from FMLA and other leave types.
• Facilitates other leave requests, which may include accommodation requests under the ADA.
• Administers other company time-off programs as assigned in accordance with internal policy and applicable laws.
• Drafts and/or recommends revisions to company leave policies to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Maintains complete and accurate records of leave and accommodation requests in accordance with specified legal requirements and documentation of best practices.
• Preserves confidentiality of employee medical documentation and files.
• Maintains knowledge of all applicable leave and accommodation laws including the FMLA, ADA, and state and local laws.

Workers' Compensation

• Ensures proper administration of workers compensation program and compliance reporting with all state and local regulations.
• Maintains and facilitates open communication concerning new and older claims with the carrier, employee, and appropriate supervisor regarding accommodations that may be requested .
• Develops and maintains strong proactive communication with carrier and clubs regarding claims and safety audits.
• Facilitates accurate and timely delivery monthly premium submission, and annual audit reconciliations with carrier.

Required Skills/Abilities

The qualifications for this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• 4-5+ years' experience in benefits & leave of absence position
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience is required.
• Proficiency with HRIS systems and Microsoft Office products required.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with good negotiation tactics.
• Proactive and independent with the ability to take initiative.
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Familiarity with laws, regulations, and best practices for benefit administration and compliance
• Proficient with or the ability to quickly learn applicant-tracking software or other recruitment systems.

COMPETENCIES

The competencies for successful performance in this role include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Relationship building
• Detail oriented
• Results-driven
• Effective time management
• Strong verbal and written communications skills and interpersonal savvy
• Organizational and political agility
• Influencing and partnering

Requirements:
Compensation: $65,000-$75,000 Pay Transparency In order to support the Fair Compensation Strategy by the US Govt., HR Dept., clients are required to adhere to "Pay Transparency Law"; in the impacted states; that have mandated the employers to list the salary ranges in Job advertisements or postings for job opportunities and Job promotions.