Benefits Advisor Lead - Leave Advisor

Why USAA?

At USAA, our mission is to empower our members to achieve financial security through highly competitive products, exceptional service and trusted advice. We seek to be the #1 choice for the military community and their families.

Embrace a fulfilling career at USAA, where our core values – honesty, integrity, loyalty and service – define how we treat each other and our members. Be part of what truly makes us special and impactful.

We are proud to support active-duty military spouses. USAA roles may offer remote or hybrid flexibility for active-duty military spouses consistent with applicable policy and business needs.

The Opportunity

As a dedicated Benefits Advisor Lead - Leave Advisor, you will be responsible for the design, development, implementation, ongoing administration and assessment of employee leave plans, programs, and services. Ensures alignment with the total rewards philosophy and HR strategy. Provides strategic guidance and solutions for time off programs. Leads efforts to monitor enterprise risk regarding benefit programs and services associated with legislative, regulatory, market and expense trends.

We offer a flexible work environment that requires an individual to be in the office 4 days per week. This position will be based in San Antonio, TX office location. Relocation assistance is available for this position.

What you'll do:

• Applies expert knowledge to provide strategic guidance in the design, development, assessment, implementation and administration of benefit plans, programs, and services.
• Directs the analysis of organizational trends, market data, and industry practices to identify root causes and address benefit issues.
• Oversees the daily management of programs, regulatory compliance, contract compliance and contracted suppliers.
• Applies advanced principles, theories and concepts to determine optimal solutions.
• Provides insight and guidance to senior leadership on complex issues.
• Recommends changes to programs and success measures as appropriate.
• Researches and recommends alternative benefits programs and initiatives.
• Manages multifaceted programs with Enterprise wide risks.
• Provides oversight of other complex programs to ensure integration and alignment with the Total Rewards philosophy.
• Develops appropriate objectives for employee benefit programs to ensure program success and compliance with internal goals and external federal requirements.
• Monitors and evaluates the effectiveness of benefit programs and suppliers against stated objectives by using metrics and best practices with an Enterprise-wide impact.
• Ensures vendors are aligned with benefit program objectives and provide appropriate service levels to employees.
• Advises senior leadership on the legal and regulatory environment that may impact current and/or future employee benefit offerings.
• Evaluates and recommends changes and enhancements to programs to ensure compliance with federal regulations.
• Monitors the work of team members and provides direct feedback and coaching as needed.
• Develops a communication strategy around benefit plans, programs, and services to include open enrollment changes, pricing, plan details, and the various communication resources.
• Serves as a primary resource for escalated issues of an unusual nature.
• Monitors the annual benefits budget in partnership with Finance and vendors.
• Develops and oversees measures to ensure costs are minimized and efficiencies are realized.
• Analyzes financial impacts and recommends adjustments to programs to minimize financial risk.
• Leads and motivates cross-functional team members in designing business solutions for benefit plans, programs, and services with an enterprise-wide impact.
• Ensures risks associated with business activities are effectively identified, measured, monitored, and controlled in accordance with risk and compliance policies and procedures.

What you have:

• Bachelor's degree; OR 4 years of relevant education and/or experience
• 5+ years of experience in employee benefits including financial analysis, performance metric development, plan design and administration.
• Experience with benefits supplier contract management, regulatory compliance and day-to-day operations.
• Extensive project management experience to include requirement development and implementation.
• Knowledge of and ability to uphold the organization's and industry's HR standards, procedures and policies regarding human resources management.
• Knowledge of leave programs (including state and local leave requirements), market segments and marketplaces; ability to apply this knowledge to meet specific