Senior Specialist, Benefit Operations

Working with Us Challenging. Meaningful. Life-changing. Those aren’t words that are usually associated with a job. But working at Bristol Myers Squibb is anything but usual. Here, uniquely interesting work happens every day, in every department. From optimizing a production line to the latest breakthroughs in cell therapy, this is work that transforms the lives of patients, and the careers of those who do it. You’ll get the chance to grow and thrive through opportunities uncommon in scale and scope, alongside high-achieving teams. Take your career farther than you thought possible. Bristol Myers Squibb recognizes the importance of balance and flexibility in our work environment. We offer a wide variety of competitive benefits, services and programs that provide our employees with the resources to pursue their goals, both at work and in their personal lives. Read more: careers.bms.com/working-with-us . Job Summary: The Senior Specialist, Benefit Operations plays a central role in managing and coordinating the administration of all company-sponsored health and welfare benefits and wellness programs. This position is primary for Canada and also provides support for US and Puerto Rico. This position provides Tier 2 support and works collaboratively with internal People Services teams, including Payroll, Communications, HR Business Partners and Workforce Administration, as well as external partners such as benefit administrators, insurance carriers, vendors, and brokers. Ultimately, our goal is to provide an exceptional customer experience, ensuring our benefit programs are not only effective and efficient, but also contribute to the well-being and success of our workforce and the broader community they support. Essential Functions: Utilize ServiceNow ticket system to research and provide resolution to Tier 2 benefits operations cases. Oversee the daily administration of company benefits programs, including medical, dental, vision, COBRA, retiree MAP & EGWP programs, HSA, FSAs, life insurance, disability, wellness programs, and all other ancillary plans. Responsible for implementations, enhancements, testing, deployment, execution, administration and communications of the Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) benefit plans and systems. Partner with Benefit Strategists and Service Delivery Management to determine feasibility to successfully operationalize proposed benefit additions or modifications. Participate in implementation meetings and provide SME knowledge of benefit operations, plan requirements, vendor deliverables and project plans. Identify opportunities for process automation, reducing manual tasks and creating streamlined and efficient processes. Serves as main point of contact for our benefit administrators, carriers and vendors for all operational activities, including understanding plan requirements. Collaborate with the Benefit Operations Team to assist in the planning and execution of Annual Enrollments. Partner with the Communications to ensure employees are well-informed about their benefit choices and timelines. Oversee benefit administrator to ensure successful delivery of contracted services within project timelines. Analyze enrollment data to identify trends and areas for improvement. Compile and present relevant data for second-level appeals. Review and update employee reference materials, or Knowledge Articles. Ensure articles are updated, if applicable, and reposted before articles expire. Prepare and submit and/or oversee vendor preparation of required government filings (5500s, SARs, 1095s, etc.) Prepare financial reports as needed. Audit and reconcile invoicing for carriers, vendors, etc. and provide support for the PO process. Assist with internal and external audits and benefit surveys, as required. Coordinate M&A activities for Benefit Operations (employee data load date coordination, requirements and enrollment windows, plan for specific M&A concessions, obtain data for Prism reports and historic archiving requirements, etc.) Collaborate with internal partners, carriers and vendors, to create and provide training and resources for benefits offerings, including webinars, workshops and informational materials. Monitor and analyze employee benefits utilization, costs and trends to identify opportunities for cost-saving, optimization and program improvements. Stay informed about industry best practices, emerging trends and regulation changes as it pertains to benefit operations. Special projects and seasonality of work may require the ability to work more than a 40 workweek. Education: Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration or related field or equivalent experience preferred. Professional certifications such as SHRM-CP, PHR or CEBS preferred. Experience: Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in benefits administration, with at least 3 years in a senior or lead role required, Canadian experience preferred. Experience with self-insured benefits plans or large, complex benefits programs required, RRSP and Medicare knowledge preferred. Experience with benefits administration software and HRIS platforms required, familiarity with Workday and Alight preferred. Prior experience implementing new benefit technologies, upgrading systems and operational redesigns strongly preferred. Skills: Strong analytical and MS Excel skills with exceptional attention to detail and the ability to interpret and present complex benefits data. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex benefits information to all stakeholders at all levels. Exceptional project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines. Agile workforce requires the ability to work in a highly collaborative, multifunctional team environment and the ability to deliver on individual goals with minimal supervision. Work Environment: Ability to work in