Benefits Manager

About the Role

Caribou is looking for a Benefits Manager to manage and maintain our health and welfare, retirement, leave, and voluntary benefit programs in a highly effective and meaningful way in an effort to attract and retain top talent. As a member of Caribou’s People & Culture (P&C) team, you will report to the Sr. Director, People Operations and work closely with colleagues in P&C, Accounting, and Finance. The Benefits Manager will:

Benefit Evaluation & Selection

• Ensure the health and welfare benefit program designs and overall strategies align with Caribou’s values and  meet the needs of our population.
• Along with the broker, research employee benefit plans and vendors to identify those that present the best value. 
• Recommend, design and implement new benefit programs under the direction of the Sr. Director, People Operations  and the Chief People Officer.

Benefits Administration 

• Coordinate daily benefits administration, including  qualifying  life events and other workforce related moves such as terminations, beneficiaries, disability, accident and death claims, and rollovers. 
• Provide customer service support to internal and external customers, ensuring timeline communication according to our SOPs. 
• Perform internal leave processing (employee communication, process with disability carrier and for payroll purposes). Resolve leave questions, stay up-to-date on state leave laws.  
• Responsible for HRIS benefits administration.
• Manage and lead the company’s Open Enrollment process.

Carrier and Vendor Management

• Own and foster productive relationship between Caribou and all of its carriers and vendors that service the company’s benefit offering.
• Serve as primary contact for plan carriers, vendors and third-party administrators. Coordinate transfer of data to external contacts for services, premiums and plan administration. Ensure timeliness and accuracy of required reporting and fees.
• Review and process all vendor invoices for accuracy on a timely basis.

Processes and Communication

• Assist in the development of communication tools to enhance understanding of the company's benefits package. 
• Assist in the design and distribution of materials for benefits orientations, open enrollment and summary plan descriptions. 
• Document and maintain administrative procedures for assigned benefits processes, and ensure compliance with applicable government regulations. 
• Evaluate and revise internal processes to ensure Caribu is positioned for success when addressing benefits, leave, and retirement related issues. 

About You

You are a skilled practitioner with deep Benefits knowledge (health and welfare, retirement, leave, etc.) and have experience applying that skillset to help build and design impactful Benefits offerings. You have:

• 5+ years of professional experience with managing and administering Health & Welfare and retirement Benefit programs.
• Proven history of creating and/or implementing strategies, analyzing data and drawing conclusions and identifying solutions.
• Knowledge of Benefits planning tools and methods, and market trends.
• Working knowledge of current benefits laws and regulations.
• Communicate clearly, kindly, and effectively with colleagues and vendors.
• Strong organizational, time management, and planning skills.
• Proficiency with benefits modules within HRIS systems; experience with Zenefits a plus.
• The ability to manage multiple stakeholders and dynamic data. 

How We will take care of you

Everyone at Caribou is a valued team member, and we always strive to live up to our value Take Care of Each Other. Our compensation and benefits package includes: 

• Competitive compensation: $110K - $120K 
• Equity in a high-growth company
• 401k savings program with 3% company contribution
• Generous paid time off including: 20 days accrued PTO per year, 14 annual company holidays, 16-weeks paid parental leave, bereavement leave, and volunteer day
• Robust wellness benefits including company-paid plans for health, dental, vision, mental health, disability and basic life insurance
• Optional benefits to suit your individual circumstances such as HSAs, FSAs, supplemental life and medical insurance, and pet insurance
• Up to $1,000 per year for eligible professional development expenses