Benefits Administrator (FT)

SUMMARY
The Benefits Administrator is a salaried exempt, in person, position at GTRS responsible for executing on the administration functions of the (GTRS) Grand Traverse Resort and Spa group benefit program offerings (group health, dental, vision, short-term and long-term disability, worker's compensation, life insurance, various supplemental insurance plan options, flexible spending plan, 401K retirement plan, and COBRA, etc.). The position manages the work-related injury process, OSHA filing, FMLA leave administration and support managers with questions on EST employee usage. Additionally, the Benefits Administrator will provide excellent customer service, conducting 1 on 1 benefits meetings for new hires and works to find creative opportunities to enhance and educate the GTRS workforce on benefits and wellness.
This position reports to the Director of Human Resources and will work cooperatively with the Recruitment and Employment Manager, Vice President of Finance, Controller and Payroll Manager during specific times or work functions. The Benefits Administrator will support the Director of Human Resources on product selection and plan design while administering and handling all day-to-day administrative duties.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• Determines benefits eligibility, distributes benefits enrollment materials, enrolls employees with carriers and ensures the accuracy of all benefits enrollments in the HRCM system (Dayforce) to provide vendors with accurate eligibility information, coordinating the transfer of data to external contacts for services, premiums, and plan administration.
• Conducts daily benefits processing. Handles enrollments, COBRA, terminations, changes, beneficiaries, disability, accident and death claims, rollovers, distributions, loans, hardships, and compliance testing. Serves as the primary contact for plan vendors and third-party administrators.
• Creates SOP’s and documents and maintains administrative procedures for assigned benefits processes.
• Develop communication plans and strategies to enhance understanding of the company’s benefit offerings.
• Presents and assists at new hire orientation, leads open enrollment meetings, provides support on benefit claims, processes life change events, educates on plan options/changes, navigates benefits utilization questions, processes, and explains termination of benefits, and other situations as needed.
• Distributes materials for benefits orientations, open enrollment and summary plan descriptions.
• Performs quality checks of benefits-related data and plays a key role in plan audits by providing all necessary data timely and as requested.
• Responds to benefits inquiries from managers and employees on plan provisions, benefits enrollments, status changes and other general inquiries.
• Processes and administers all leave-of-absence requests and disability paperwork: medical, personal, disability, EST and FMLA.
• Effectively interprets EST, FMLA and ADA implications as they relate to leave of absences/disabilities.
• Administers the employee savings plans that may include the company’s 401(k) plan, personal savings plans, and deferred compensation programs.
• Responds to 401(k) inquiries from managers and employees relating to enrollments, plan changes and contribution amounts. Manages the annual catch-up contribution enrollment.
• Administers the tuition reimbursement program.
• Provides necessary reports for allocation/billing charges.
• Ensures compliance with applicable government regulations: HIPPA, ERISA, IRS, DOL, Insurance Commissioners, etc. Ensures timeliness and accuracy of required reporting and fees.
• Maintains employee benefit files, maintain group benefits database and update employee deductions and arrears for benefit elections as needed.
• Gathers employee data and reconciles the processing of monthly billings and the preparation of vouchers for payment of administrative fees for all group plans.
• Allocates group health and dental claims monthly and review quarterly.
• Conducts plan audits. Prepares, collects, and organizes data for actuarial assessments. Review data in conjunction with actuarial evaluation.
• Reviews and processes all work related injuries with the workers compensation insurance carrier and risk management carriers; maintains OSHA logs, ensuring OSHA compliance.
• Works cooperatively with the Director of Human Resources and Vice President of Finance on the following:
◦ Analyzing current benefits, evaluating the use, services, coverage, effectiveness, cost, plan experience and competitive trends in benefits programs, and identifying the company's stance.
◦ Surveying industry trends. Completes benefit surveys and reviews information obtained from the results. Analyzes complex benefits information.