The Benefits Manager will be responsible for the operational management and customer service for the benefits department.

• Supervise and train a team of benefits professionals
• Respond to and resolve claims issues
• Respond to questions about benefit programs
• Manage process relating to leaves of absence
• Enhance and develop benefits related communications
• Manage and monitor Insurance Hotline and Insurance Mailbox
• Review utilization reports from insurance/benefit vendors to analyze trend and ROI
• Manage operational aspects of benefits administration
• Monitor compliance of federal and local legislation for benefits (i.e. CMS, DOL, COBRA, ACA, PFL, CAA, etc…)
• Work closely and build collaborate partnerships with insurance providers, consultants and legal advisors to develop and finalize administrative contracts and plan documents
• Complete annual benefits benchmarking surveys for various publications
• Participate in monthly HR managers meetings to provide insurance updates
• Provide census reports to individual disability vendor for purpose of enrolling partners to additional individual policies
• Participate monthly and host Chicago law firms round table
• Manage benefits related meetings (i.e. weekly insurance department, open enrollment, insurance update meeting with firm’s counsel)
• Manage open enrollment preparation, quality testing and task list
• Prepare and implement annual open enrollment with HRIS, IT and vendor carriers

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the Duties and Responsibilities (Duties) above satisfactorily and meet the requirements below. The requirements listed below are representative of the minimum knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. If you need such an accommodation, please email staffrecruiting@sidley.com (current employees should contact Human Resources). 

Education and/or Experience: 

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree
• A minimum of 7 years of benefits experience
• Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver high-quality results within tight deadlines
• High level of integrity and discretion when handling sensitive and confidential information

Preferred:

• Management experience
• Transformation and change leadership experience

Other Skills and Abilities:

The following will also be required of the successful candidate:

• Strong organizational skills
• Strong attention to detail
• Good judgment
• Strong interpersonal communication skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Able to work harmoniously and effectively with others
• Able to preserve confidentiality and exercise discretion
• Able to work under pressure
• Able to manage multiple projects with competing deadlines and priorities

Sidley Austin LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer