Manager, Benefits

Summary:

The Benefits Manager plays a critical role at the ASPCA, supporting disability and absence management and overseeing the Benefits team's communications strategy.

Who We Are

Our People ARE the ASPCA. The People team (HR) at the ASPCA enables the organization to thrive by empowering and valuing every team member and providing an exceptional workplace across our varied disciplines. To make the greatest impact on animals, we must support the people who do the work, so our staff feel investment from the organization and can effectively prioritize and engage with our mission, work together, and develop necessary skills and capabilities, so we can successfully serve the ASPCA's guiding vision that the United States is a humane community in which all animals are treated with respect and kindness.

What You'll Do

The ASPCA's Benefits team, part of our People team, works to ensure our people have thoughtfully designed employee benefit plans and time off policies, and skillfully administers requests for leaves of absence and workplace accommodations. The Benefits Manager supports these efforts by creating and executing communications strategies to elevate staff understanding of our benefits plans and programs, incorporating multiple communications channels and media to reach staff with different work environments and learning styles, and by administering leave and accommodation requests. This person will apply research and benefit plan requirements, engage in critical thinking, deploy emotional intelligence, and exercise sound judgment to support a complex workforce, frequently shifting between managing communications and processes for the full organization and one-on-one interactions with employees and managers, and always balancing empathy, confidentiality, professionalism, objectivity, and discretion.

The Benefits Manager reports directly to the Senior Director, Benefits and has no direct reports.

Where and When You'll Work

• This position is based at the ASPCA's 8th Avenue office in New York, NY but does not require full-time onsite work; the role allows for flexibility to work from home to the extent approved by the manager and Department Head.
• This position is generally expected to work Monday - Friday, approximately during standard business hours in the Eastern time zone and specifically be available by 9:00 AM ET on Monday mornings.
• This position requires the ability and willingness to report to ASPCA locations in New York, NY up to about 1-2 days per week, and travel up to 5% annually (1-2 trips per year), as needed.

What You'll Get

Compensation

Starting pay for the successful applicant will depend on a variety of factors, including but not limited to education, training, experience, location, business needs, internal equity, market demands or budgeted amount for the role. The target hiring range is for new hire offers only, and staff compensation may increase beyond the maximum hiring range based on performance over time. The maximum of the hiring range is reserved for candidates with the highest qualifications and relevant experience. The expected hiring salary range for this role is set forth below and may be modified in the future.

The target hiring range for this role is $83,000 - $88,000 annually.

Benefits

At the ASPCA, you don't have to choose between your passion and making a living. Our comprehensive benefits package helps ensure you can live a rewarding life at work and at home. Our benefits include, but are not limited to:

• Affordable health coverage, including medical, employer-paid dental, and optional vision coverage.
• Flexible time off that includes vacation time, sick and bereavement time, paid parental leave, 10 company paid holidays, and paid personal time off that allows you even more flexibility to observe the days that mean the most to you.
• Competitive financial incentives and retirement savings, including a 401(k) plan with generous employer contributions - we match dollar for dollar up to 4% and provide an additional 4% contribution toward your future each year.
• Robust professional development opportunities, including classes, on-the-job training, coaching and mentorship with industry-leading peers, internal mobility, opportunities to support in the field, and so much more.

Responsibilities:

Responsibility buckets are listed in general order of importance, and include but are not limited to:

Benefits Outreach and Communications

• Develop and execute the benefits communication strategy, including advance planning for required disclosures and annual events; designing campaigns to promote enhancements and engage staff; and employing flexibility to address unplanned developments such as new legal requirements and vendor changes.
• Maintain multiple communication channels for engaging employees and providing information, including comprehensive Workvivo pages and group updates, frequent features in the Scoop (the ASPCA's internal staff newsletter), emails, videos and webinars, flyers, mailings, etc., ensuring information is accurate, complete, and up-to-date, and content is user-friendly, accessible, and engaging.
• Draft and design all-staff emails, working with Benefits teammates and the Internal Communications team to finalize copy and coordinate timing for distribution.
• Work with vendors to obtain and leverage education materials and tools to maximize employee participationand engagement; maintain all-staff Box folders and ensure benefits materials on benefit plans and programs stay up-to-date; manage incoming physical mail at the ASPCA's 8th Avenue office from benefit plan vendors and others.
• Partner with teammates on project planning and execution for annual benefits open enrollment, including communication and outreach, Workday testing, fielding questions, and assisting with enrollment follow-up; create and update benefits orientation e-learning for new hires and summaries for prospective employees.

Disability and Absence Management

• Administer employee requests for leaves of absence and workplace accommodations, including correctly identifying and applying applicable laws, providing required forms and notices, maintaining timely communication with employees and managers, and ensuring complete and accurate documentation of the interactive process.
• Manage the interactive process for employee requests, appropriately balancing legal requirements, employee support, operational needs, and other relevant considerations, and maintaining discretion, confidentiality, and professionalism in all employe and manager interactions.
• Handle claims for disability and state paid family and medical leave (PFML) benefits, manage continuous and intermittent leaves and wage replacement in Workday, and document pay information for the Payroll team.
• Help identify and connect employees with supportive resources and educate managers on resources to share with team members in need of support.
• Create and maintain Workvivo content, job aids, and other communications related to time off, leave of absence, and workplace accommodation policies and processes.

Other Duties

• Back up Benefits teammates, including the other Benefits Manager, as needed.
• Engage in full People team, Benefits team, and cross-functional meetings and events.
• Support cross-functional work that impacts or involves employee benefits or absence management.
• Work on special projects as assigned by Senior Director, Benefits or Vice President, People.

Qualifications

• Working knowledge of benefit plan administration and related laws and regulations, including but not limited to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Code (IRC).
• Proficiency with disability and absence management, including leaves of absence and workplace accommodations, and strong understanding of applicable laws and regulations, including but not limited to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Pregnant Workers' Fairness Act (PWFA), and state leave laws.
• Strong interpersonal and customer service skills; must be comfortable interacting with all levels of employees and be able to maintain strict confidentiality of sensitive information, balance empathy with objectivity and professionalism, and use an assertive yet tactful approach in difficult situations.
• Effective oral and written communication skills, including the ability to explain complex, technical information to various audiences in an accessible way and integrate visual design principles into communications.
• Strong critical thinking and decision-making skills, ability to synthesize feedback from multiple parties and integrate research and evidence into problem-solving.
• Strong organization and time management skills, ability to manage multiple workstreams and deadlines in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment, while maintaining attention to detail, and ability to learn and use technology to streamline processes and automate tasks.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and collaborate as part of a team.
• Ability to exemplify ASPCA's core values, behavioral competencies, and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Education and Work Experience

• BA/BS degree or equivalent professional experience required, benefits and/or absence management certifications preferred
• At least 3 years of benefits administration and/or absence management experience required
• Some direct experience with both operating employe benefit plans (health and welfare, retirement plans, Section 125 plans, etc.) and administering requests for leaves of absence and workplace accommodations required
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Power Point, and Excel and with Canva or similar design software
• Human resources information systems (HRIS) experience preferred, Workday experience a plus
• Experience developing and executing a communications strategy preferred; experience creating employee benefits communications strongly preferred
• Internal communications experience utilizing a variety of different platforms, including emails, videos, webinars, flyers, mailings, and/or newsletters preferred
• Experience working with vendors is a plus
• Benefits and/or disability and absence management certifications (e.g. CEBS, QPA, QKA, RPA, CBP, CLMS, CDMS, etc.) are a plus

Qualifications:

Language:

Education and Work Experience:

Our EEO Policy:
The ASPCA is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.

Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain state or local laws. A reasonable accommodation is a change in the ASPCA's standard application process, which will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing undue hardship on the ASPCA. Please inform the ASPCA's People Team if you need an accommodation in order to complete any forms or to otherwise participate in the application process.

Individuals seeking employment are considered without regards to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.

ASPCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer (M/F/D/V).

About Us:
The ASPCA was founded in 1866 on the belief that animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment by humans and must be protected under the law. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation with more than two million supporters nationwide, the ASPCA is committed to preventing cruelty to dogs, cats, equines, and farm animals throughout the United States.

The ASPCA is headquartered in New York City, where we maintain a full-service animal hospital, spay/neuter clinic, mobile spay/neuter and primary pet care clinics, a rehabilitation center for canine victims of cruelty, kitten nursery, adoption center, and two community veterinary centers.

The ASPCA also operates programs and services that extend nationwide. We assist animals in need through on-the-ground disaster and cruelty interventions, behavioral rehabilitation, animal placement, legal and legislative advocacy, and the advancement of the sheltering and veterinary community through research, training, and resources.

At the ASPCA, we are committed to fostering a collaborative and compassionate culture and we welcome all voices to contribute to our lifesaving mission. Our staff represent a vast array of backgrounds and diversity dimensions, bringing with them valuable experiences and perspectives. They join the ASPCA to learn, grow, and continually do their best work on behalf of animals. We are inspired by our staff, partners, and the communities we support across the country who work to improve animal lives. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion at the ASPCA because it elevates our organizational culture, aligns with our Core Values, and enables us to move further and faster toward the ASPCA's vision - that all animals live good lives; valued by society, protected by its laws, and free from cruelty, pain and suffering.

Your Employee Rights Under the Family and Medical Leave Act:
Pursuant to regulations of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), we provide this notice to applicants about eligible employees' protected leave for certain reasons. Click on the link to learn more.

Applicants that are residents of Colorado: Per CO Senate Bill 23-058, we cannot generally request or require any age-related information (i.e., age, DOB, attendance or graduation dates from an educational institution) on an initial employment application; this includes any age-related inquiries in the initial interview. We are permitted to require/request additional application materials; if those materials contain any age-related information, an applicant may redact the information before submitting an initial employment application.

Indiana Applicants: Pursuant to Indiana law, we are providing notice that it is an unlawful employment practice for an employer to discriminate against a prospective employee on the basis of status as a veteran by: (1) refusing to employ an applicant for employment on the basis that the applicant is a veteran of the armed forces of the United States; or (2) refusing to employ an applicant for employment on the basis that the applicant is a member of the Indiana National Guard or a member of a reserve component. Should you feel that you were a victim of discrimination on the basis of veteran status, please let us know at careers@aspca.org. Alternatively, you can file a complaint with the following agencies at any time: Indiana Civil Rights Commission (ICRC) 100 North Senate Avenue, Room N103, Indianapolis, IN 46204; Office: (317) 232-2600 | Toll Free: (800) 628-2909; Hearing Impaired: (800) 743-3333 | Fax: (317) 232-6580; E-mail: icrc@crc.in.gov | Website: www.in.gov/icrc. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission - Indianapolis Field Office; 115 W. Washington Street South Tower Suite 600; Indianapolis, IN 46204; Phone: 463-999-1240; Fax: 317-226-7953; TTY: 1-800-669-6820;ASL Video Phone: 844-234-5122.