Associate Director, Benefits
Ardelyx, Inc.
5 months ago
Remote friendly (Newark, CA)
United States
Human Resources
Position Summary:
- Lead governance and execution of employee benefit programs; ensure benefits are competitive, compliant, cost-effective, and legally compliant.
- Oversee vendor partnerships, annual renewals and program evaluations; provide subject matter expertise on health/welfare, retirement, and well-being benefits.
Responsibilities:
- Administer employee benefits programs aligned with company objectives, local competitiveness, compliance, and employee experience.
- Oversee benefits education and enrollment for new hires, including developing and delivering onboarding benefits presentations, materials, and tools.
- Plan and execute annual open enrollment (timeliness, system configuration, communications, employee support).
- Manage the Leave of Absence program/process to ensure nationwide leaves comply with mandates, SDI/pay coordination, FMLA, and internal policies.
- Design, implement, and evaluate wellness and well-being initiatives.
- Monitor legislative/regulatory changes and ensure plans adhere to ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, and FMLA (including annual 5500 filings and plan audits).
- Manage employee benefits vendors, brokers, and consultants.
- Drive benefits communication/education to maximize employee understanding and engagement.
- Use employee feedback, market trends, and analytics to continuously improve employee experience.
- Collaborate with HR Operations, Payroll, IT, and HR teams to automate and streamline benefit processes.
- Serve as final point of escalation for complex benefit inquiries and sensitive claims issues.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business Administration, or Finance with 8–10 years of progressive benefits administration experience (life sciences/biotech preferred) or equivalent.
- Extensive experience managing self-funded health plans (claims monitoring, stop-loss coverage, financial performance).
- Deep knowledge of benefits compliance (ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA, ADA, and applicable state laws).
- Strong written/verbal communication; attention to detail; analytical and quantitative skills.
- Advanced Microsoft Excel; experience with HRIS (e.g., Paylocity) and leave administration platform (e.g., Tilt).
- Strong vendor management/negotiation; track record delivering cost-efficient, high-quality programs.
- Experience scaling programs in a high-growth, fast-paced environment.
- CEBS, SHRM-SCP, or PHR/SPHR highly valued.
Benefits (as listed):
- 401(k) with generous employer match; 12 weeks paid parental leave; up to 12 weeks living organ and bone marrow leave; equity incentive plans; health plans (medical, prescription drug, dental, vision); life insurance and disability; flexible time off; annual Winter Holiday shut down; at least 11 paid holidays.
- Lead governance and execution of employee benefit programs; ensure benefits are competitive, compliant, cost-effective, and legally compliant.
- Oversee vendor partnerships, annual renewals and program evaluations; provide subject matter expertise on health/welfare, retirement, and well-being benefits.
Responsibilities:
- Administer employee benefits programs aligned with company objectives, local competitiveness, compliance, and employee experience.
- Oversee benefits education and enrollment for new hires, including developing and delivering onboarding benefits presentations, materials, and tools.
- Plan and execute annual open enrollment (timeliness, system configuration, communications, employee support).
- Manage the Leave of Absence program/process to ensure nationwide leaves comply with mandates, SDI/pay coordination, FMLA, and internal policies.
- Design, implement, and evaluate wellness and well-being initiatives.
- Monitor legislative/regulatory changes and ensure plans adhere to ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, and FMLA (including annual 5500 filings and plan audits).
- Manage employee benefits vendors, brokers, and consultants.
- Drive benefits communication/education to maximize employee understanding and engagement.
- Use employee feedback, market trends, and analytics to continuously improve employee experience.
- Collaborate with HR Operations, Payroll, IT, and HR teams to automate and streamline benefit processes.
- Serve as final point of escalation for complex benefit inquiries and sensitive claims issues.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business Administration, or Finance with 8–10 years of progressive benefits administration experience (life sciences/biotech preferred) or equivalent.
- Extensive experience managing self-funded health plans (claims monitoring, stop-loss coverage, financial performance).
- Deep knowledge of benefits compliance (ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA, ADA, and applicable state laws).
- Strong written/verbal communication; attention to detail; analytical and quantitative skills.
- Advanced Microsoft Excel; experience with HRIS (e.g., Paylocity) and leave administration platform (e.g., Tilt).
- Strong vendor management/negotiation; track record delivering cost-efficient, high-quality programs.
- Experience scaling programs in a high-growth, fast-paced environment.
- CEBS, SHRM-SCP, or PHR/SPHR highly valued.
Benefits (as listed):
- 401(k) with generous employer match; 12 weeks paid parental leave; up to 12 weeks living organ and bone marrow leave; equity incentive plans; health plans (medical, prescription drug, dental, vision); life insurance and disability; flexible time off; annual Winter Holiday shut down; at least 11 paid holidays.