Hueman Private Investment Talent Solutions

Universal Pure is hiring a  Benefits Manager for a Full-time Remote position in Texas.

Must be able to travel to plant locations for open enrollment; must live within driving distance of Arlington, TX. 
 
As a Benefits Manager, the position serves as an internal expert for benefit plan administration, leave of absence, retirement, workers' compensation, and compliance. It also provides support for answering benefits questions, maintaining benefit plan portals, and liaising with vendors to ensure quality service delivery.

Universal Pure was founded in 2001 as a cold storage warehouse facility in Lincoln, NE with deep roots in the cold supply chain. Over time, our customers’ needs grew for other integrated food and beverage services, so we expanded their capabilities and footprint to meet the needs of our growing customer base. Now, Universal Pure is a one-stop-shop HPP service provider to the food and beverage industry, offering a suite of cold chain solutions at eight U.S. facilities across seven locations.

Key Responsibilities:  

• Analyze, design, implement, and administer employee benefits, leave of absence (LOA), compliance, and workers’ compensation processes.
• Support, design, and communication of annual open enrollment, new employee onboarding, and change management initiatives.
• Providing information to explain changes in benefits to employees and answering employee queries about benefits policies.
• Ensures the accuracy of the system setup, interface requirements, testing and ongoing auditing to ensure accurate data transmission with benefit programs.
• Assist with processing new hires, changes in benefits systems, and monitoring FMLA/STD/LTD requests and processes.
• Seek opportunities to help employees and effectively resolve issues.
• Lead periodic and ad hoc audits, including but not limited to enrollment, dependent eligibility, and compliance.
• Maintain and look for opportunities to streamline associated policies, procedures, and compliance, HRIS and vendor integrations.
• Conducting audits of benefits packages and policies to ensure that the company’s processes are compliant.
• Data file management, including transfer between HRIS systems and vendors.
• With high confidentiality, manage benefits database to ensure accurate employee and employer contributions for benefits, as well as ensuring that employees are knowledgeable of and have access to the benefits programs for which they are eligible.
• Investigate and process questions and information on data file error reports from vendors.
• Identify and align on the right metrics / measurable results to report to senior leadership.
• Participate in benefit surveys; perform research and analysis on market competitiveness, compliance, and employee benefit trends.
• Ensures compliance of benefits programs, utilizing knowledge of benefits legislation (COBRA, FMLA, HIPPA, PPACA, ADA) and through keeping current on rules and regulations impacting benefits programs.
• Ensure company compliance with all state and federal, preparation of reports and applications required by law to be filed with federal and state agencies.
• COBRA administration for all terminated employees and divorced spouses.  Ensure proper notification and compliance.

​Additional Responsibilities:

• ACA filing of forms 1094-C and 1095-C
• Ensure company compliance with federal and state laws, including updated summary plan documents (SPDs), annual plan notice distribution, non-discrimination testing, periodic audits of benefits plans & deductions to ensure plans remain compliant, and ensure reporting requirements are met timely.
• Administration of vendor relationships, purchase orders, invoices and payments related to the benefits.  Track and monitor benefit payments, ensure all payments are timely made, and prepare monthly reconciliation.
• Benefit benchmarking analysis as needed.
• Manage Leave of Absence process in partnership with Human Resources Generalists.
• Facilitate the annual requirements for regulatory tests and plan filings.
• Manage service awards program and platform with Terryberry.  Provide service reports and ensure employees receive their service awards.
• Overseeing benefit orientation for new hires.  Ensuring standardization in presentation at all locations.
• Support auditor requests as needed.
• Other projects or duties as assigned.

• Travel required to locations during open enrollment.
• Additional travel may be required for training purposes or to provide benefit support to HR Generalists.

• Bachelor's degree in human resources preferred or equivalent years in experience.
• Professional certification (CEBS, SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP, or similar) preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of hands-on experience managing employee benefits, retirement planning and absence programs in a complex matrix organization and/or start-up environment\
• Deep up-to-date knowledge of benefits- and absence-related compliance and associated reporting (NDT, Form 5500, ACA, FMLA, ADA, etc.)
• Strong knowledge of U.S. employment and benefit laws and regulations and compliance standards and initiatives under the EEOC, IRS, DOL and OSHA.
• Knowledge of state and federal laws and regulations about the processing of health and retirement benefits.
• In-depth understanding of state and local laws governing leave such as ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, and FMLA to ensure compliance.
• Experience in managing leave of absence, time-off, and workers’ compensation programs.

• Experience in Microsoft Suite, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Excellent analytical skills to research and evaluate benefits programs to make informed choices.
• Strong systems knowledge (UKG). Hands-on experience with vendor integration and payroll
• Strong project management, vendor management, employee relations, and effective verbal and written communication skills
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
• Excellent writing skills for reports and benefits information
• The ability to present information clearly and in a manner that is understandable to managers and employees and to answer questions.
• Must be analytical and enjoy reports and details.

Universal Pure is built on care. You can see it through our safety programs, employee training, recognitions, rewards and our relationships with employees, customers, suppliers, business partners and community members. At Universal Pure, we  are dedicated to integrity, trust and open communications while accepting responsibility and following through on their commitments.
 
If you are interested in learning more about a career with Universal pure as a Benefits Manager, apply today!