Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.

The Program / Department / Team
The People Team ensures that Mercy Corps has the people who will enable it to be a world-class, cutting edge, humanitarian organization, creating transformational change in the world. We do this through the recruitment, retention, and development of the best global talent. Our aim is to drive strategic thinking and planning at all levels of the organization; create a robust body of research to guide us internally and externally and steward the organizational culture. To achieve this, we align conversations on learning; keep the organization focused on what has the greatest impact; leverage our comparative advantages in the crowded and competitive international relief and development landscape; and assure we are constantly learning from our work and the external environment.

The Position
The Senior Benefits Analyst is a functional analyst reporting to the Director of Total Rewards and is responsible for data analysis, administration of Health, Welfare and Retirement plans, leave of absence as well as supporting the Total Rewards team. In addition to data analytics and administration, this role supports plan administration, communication, education, vendor management and benefits compliance.
The Senior Benefits Analyst provides subject matter expertise on all benefits plans to effectively manage plans, troubleshoot, and resolve issues as they arise. The successful candidate will manage Open Enrollment and have an essential understanding of benefits data process flows, identifying gaps, and executing process efficiencies. The Senior Benefits Analyst must also manage numerous priorities in a timely and accurate manner, work with HR colleagues, interface with employees regarding benefit issues, and demonstrate the ability to utilize benefits-related statistics and information to improve service delivery and resolution of complex issues.

Essential Responsibilities
Personal Leadership

• Consistently demonstrates flexibility, resilience, and ability to maintain positive relationships and composure, even under difficult circumstances.
• Promote Mercy Corps’ culture by promoting the development and advancement of ideas which allows for innovative approaches to problem-solving within existing policy and procedural requirements.
• Maintain high ethical standards and treat people with respect and dignity.
• Demonstrate an awareness of one’s personal strengths and development needs.

Global Benefits

• This position is responsible for the operational management of US and non-US benefits programs, policies, and initiatives.
• Supports the global benefits philosophy and strategy development in a collaborative way and is responsible for the evaluation of the organization’s initiatives and current programs and their alignment to the philosophy, budget, and external value.
• Facilitate the carrier/vendor marketing process (including preparing the Request for Proposal, working with the carriers/vendors to gather and negotiate quotes; compiling the analysis of the responses) and assist with the implementation of new vendors and/or carriers.
• Complete accurate financial reports and administrative tasks in a timely manner (e.g., monthly medical & dental claims experience reports and updating the client’s open items worksheet on a weekly basis).
• Prepare benchmarking reports, benefits dashboards and summarize findings.
• Prepare and/or review plans and other compliance documents.
• Provide benefit enrollment support, including designing and drafting enrollment materials / communications and assisting with enrollment meetings as needed.
• Oversees market and internal analytic and research.
• Supports benefit initiatives in new countries and manages and reviews current programs in existing countries.
• Implements new or modified benefit plans and policies and supervises the administration of existing plans and processes.
• Identifies and leads innovation and process improvements that support the organization’s growth, efficiencies, and capability enhancement.
• Assists with vendor relations and service levels and builds trust.
• Ensures compliance of benefit plans with the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
• Provides day to day oversight on the administration of the organization’s benefits program including health and welfare, 403(b), leaves of absence, wellness program, workers’ compensation, executive benefits, and others.
• Oversees the organization’s Wellness program and advocates for a culture of health.
• Ensures that there is a connection and integration between the wellness program and other benefit programs.
• Develops and communicates success criteria for the global wellness program.
• May lead the annual benefit renewals and US open enrollment process and ensure that plan design changes are aligned with budget, applicable mandates such as the ACA and the Mercy Corps benefit philosophy.
• Ensures service levels are achieved and/or action plans developed and implemented to address deficiencies.
• Evaluates and compares existing company benefits with the market surveys and other sources of information to maintain Mercy Corps’ position as employer of choice in the market.
• Participates in area and industry surveys as needed.
• Analyzes country-specific culture, programs, policies, trends, labor market and legislations that would help develop competitive, flexible, and compliant country-specific programs that feature a degree of consistency but allow flexible and differentiation that will attract, retain, and reward employees.
• Drives and analyzes internal and external data analytics to support and shape business decision-making.
• Assists with global benefits communication strategy and deliverables in a way that is innovative, clear and supports employees.
• Handles escalation of benefit inquiries and complaints to ensure quick, equitable, courteous resolution.
• Oversees billing and funding of benefit programs, ensuring timely and accurate payment.
• Partners with Finance to ensure accurate reporting of benefit costs for budgeting purposes.
• Works with counsel to review, prepare and execute all benefit plans and processes to ensure compliance with Department of Labor, ERISA, IRS, etc.
• Provides specialized support, ongoing training, and direction to team members.
• Mentors and contributes to the development of junior team members.
• Communicates with clarity.
• Participates in other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibility
No direct supervisor responsibilities.

Accountability
Reports Directly To: Director – Total Rewards
Works Directly With: People Team and Finance.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, HR Management, or Business with 5+ years of benefits or relevant experience.
• Comprehensive technical knowledge of benefits programs and plans.
• Previous experience with management of multiple vendors.
• Experience managing a Leave of Absence process and vendor.
• Excellent written and verbal skills.
• Strong customer service orientation and the ability to interface with all levels of employees.
• Strong project management skills Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite is required.
• Experience with HRIS systems, benefits administration systems, retirement platforms and payroll systems.
• Ability to effectively manage vendors.
• Analytical thinking and problem-solving ability.
• Maintain a current, in-depth knowledge of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Employment Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), Section 125 of the IRS and other legislation and regulations that affect the design and administration of the benefit plans.
• Experience with annual plan filings and disclosures (e.g., 5500s, Medicare Part D, Summary Annual Report) and support all US based and international expatriate team member benefits programs, including medical, dental, vision, life, short- and long-term disability, retirement, expatriate benefits, and voluntary benefits.
• Proven ability to originate, maintain and audit records.
• Familiarity with employee benefit/wellness/compensation program designs, as well as U.S. labor/benefit laws and employer compliance requirements, is highly beneficial.
• Proven experience and intermediate skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Google Suites.
• HIPAA compliance training or certification preferred.
• Multilingual is a significant plus; especially French, Spanish, or Arabic proficiency.

Success Factors
The successful team member will be an avid learner, self-directed, innovative and action oriented. Furthermore, they must have the ability to work independently, employ effective time management skills, handle frequent interruptions, and shift priorities, exhibit superior customer service skills and work effectively with a wide variety of individuals including team members based overseas. Additionally, the individual will thrive in a fast-paced environment prone to rapid change and be willing to increase their responsibility level in the assigned areas. The most successful Mercy Corps team members have a positive approach, a strong commitment to teamwork and personal accountability, and the ability to be flexible and ensure that effective communication is a priority in all situations.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position may be remote. The team member is required to have the capacity to work remotely.

Ongoing Learning
In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.
We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity
Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.
We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics
Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

Covid-19 Vaccine Policy for US-Based Employees
Mercy Corps has determined that, in an effort to protect the health, safety, and well-being of all Mercy Corps employees working in the United States, all U.S.-based employees must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, regardless of prior COVID-19 infection status. This policy is necessary to ensure not only the safety of our workforce, but the ongoing functionality of the organization.

This policy will be revised as needed to comply with federal, state, and local requirements, and to respond to changing guidance from public health authorities.

For new employees this requirement goes into effect within 10 business days of employment. Team members that travel are expected to comply with host-country requirements, including vaccinations. Failure to comply may impact your employment. Proof of vaccination or exemption must be provided.