Benefits Specialist
Greenwich, CT

Core Responsibilities

Responsible for the administration of Almy’s benefit programs in accordance with corporate objectives and in compliance with applicable legal requirements, benefits communication to ensure employee comprehension and appreciation, program tracking, analysis and reporting.

Shared Responsibilities

With Pittsfield HR Manager and HR Assistant, assess participant satisfaction, conduct labor market surveys for local practices, and communicate program features and issues.

Internal and/or External Relationships

CT & ME HR teams, Benefits Committee, Wellness/Occ Health Committee, Accounting & Finance depts., benefits providers/vendors, corporate auditors, all EE’s (as needed)

Basic Tasks

• Develop and maintain communication materials and mechanisms for benefit programs for all locations to communicate program features, design, updates, changes and issues, including Summary Plan Descriptions, forms and orientation materials. In Greenwich location, conduct employee benefit orientation and counseling, maintain standard communication mechanisms and conduct benefit exit meetings with terminees. Provide materials and coordinate benefit communication activities with Pittsfield Human Resources/Admin group.
  
  
• Manage relationships with providers, holding them accountable for meeting contractual obligations, service commitments and standards.
  
  
• Prepare and reconcile payments of group insurance premiums, working closely with Accounting Department to ensure accuracy. Maintain information and files pertaining to employee status and benefit participation. Maintain participant contribution information in the payroll and other HR files. Maintain files and information on programs, eligibility, participation and benefit levels.
  
  
• Administer the Retirement Savings (401k) Plan, including the processing of contributions, plan loans, hardship withdrawals, benefit payments, communication, and coordination of activities with Third Party Administrator and Plan Recordkeeper. Reconcile all Plan records. Participate in annual audit activities by providing documentation and preparing supporting schedules.
  
  
• Administer the claim processes for Almy’s benefit programs, including Connecticut Workers Compensation and Unemployment Insurance programs, and Short and Long-Term Disability for the company. Process payroll transactions for Third Party Sick Pay and taxable fringe benefits.
  
  
• Administer compliance with special programs such as COBRA, HIPAA and FMLA. Counsel Greenwich employees on the coordination of benefits for certain events such as leave of absence, disability and changes in status.
  
  
• Track benefits costs and participation. Identify and report activity, trends and variances. Utilize this information in the Benefit Budget preparation and analysis processes. Prepare journal entries and analyze resulting financial reports for benefit programs, investigating discrepancies and proposing solutions where applicable.
  
  
• Measure and analyze benefit programs and providers to assess performance against objectives in the areas of cost, employee satisfaction, service quality, performance benchmarks and legal compliance. Identify satisfaction issues, working in conjunction with Pittsfield HR/Admin for that location and conduct resolution. Develop and maintain reporting for company investment in benefit programs, employee satisfaction and labor market competitiveness.
  
  
• Participate in the development of program objectives. Research and benchmark local and world-class employer practices, coordinating with Pittsfield Human Resources/Admin group to cover that location. Participate in benefit surveys and analyze feedback.
  
  
• Participate in the Benefits Committee, a group comprised of corporate officers, Human Resources management and staff and employee representatives whose objective is to steer benefit improvement work at Almy. This group participates in raising issues, establishing priorities, monitoring good work process, receiving and/or developing and assessing recommendations for changes and focusing on communication to assure employee understanding and appreciation for Almy’s benefit programs. Prepare for meetings, make presentations as appropriate, participate in the issue identification and resolution process and record issues consensus and decisions.
  
  
• Participate in the development and administration of Almy’s Wellness and Occupational Health programs to support a company culture focused on safety, good health and productivity while protecting the privacy of all employees and dependents. Stay educated about the issues and competitive practices, participate in the definition of targets for improvement and the development of recommendations for interventions, policies, procedures, incentives, etc. Develop analytical methods to support program metrics, and develop and recommend reporting formats and methods.
  
  
• Represent the HR department functions on the CT Safety Team.
  
  
• Document and monitor procedures, both internal and with other departments and benefit providers, reporting, developing improvements and making recommendations to supervisor where deemed necessary.
  
  
• Participate in the development and implementation of new programs by coordinating the information reporting to providers or agents, monitoring implementation schedules and adherence to same and coordinating employee meetings.
  
  
• Contribute to the continuous improvement efforts of the organization.
  
  
• Participate in or support Human Resources departmental teams, including Process Teams, Project Teams and Administrative Teams.

Education Required

Bachelor’s Degree in a related field or equivalent work experience.

Experience Required

5 years experience in the employee benefits field, including

• Experience with supporting/involvement in the development and implementation of programs.
  
  
• Experience with administration, recordkeeping, analysis and reporting of Retirement Plans.
  
  
• Experience in effective communication of Benefit Programs.
  
  
• Experience in preparing and delivering presentations.
  
  
• Experience with HR Information Systems and report development and generation.

Position Requirements/Selection Factors

• Strong analytical interest, ability and skills.
  
  
• Ability to set priorities and maintain schedules.
  
  
• Proficiency with Windows based PC applications including Excel and Word. Access helpful but not required.
  
  
• Strong interpersonal and writing skills.
   
• Travel to Pittsfield

A competitive employer in Westchester and Fairfield counties for over thirty years, CM Almy is committed to working with our employees to achieve a satisfying and safe work environment and will use your creativity and improvement ideas to create total customer satisfaction. We currently have two locations in lower Fairfield County. Our Customer Service, Marketing, Product Management and Accounting Departments are located at Three American Lane (The Greenwich American Center) in Greenwich – right off of I-684. Our retail showroom is located on Sound Beach Avenue in Old Greenwich. These locations are supported by Human Resources and Administrative functions at our American Lane office. Most of our products come from our manufacturing facility in Central Maine. Please visit our website for more information about us at www.almy.com.

CM Almy is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

Please send your resume (attached as an MS Word file) and salary history/requirements to:

Contact Info:
E-mail: CT-HR@almy.com
Fax: 203-552-7605

Mailing Address:
Human Resources Dept.
C. M. Almy & Son, Inc.
P. O. Box 2644
Greenwich, CT 06836-2644

E-MAIL HUMAN RESOURCES