Benefits Manager

Benefits ManagerBe part of a growing, successful company in an exciting and challenging field. Border States is 100% employee-owned, which means you're empowered to make decisions, find solutions and receive rewards for your hard work. This position will be located in: Fargo, ND.Job SummaryThe Manager of Benefits is responsible for the strategic leadership, governance, administration, compliance, and continuous improvement of the Company's health and welfare, retirement, employee ownership, leave, and well-being programs. The role develops and executes benefits strategies that support organizational objectives, employee-owner well-being, talent attraction and retention, regulatory compliance, and effective cost management. The Benefits Manager provides leadership and oversight for the Benefits team ensuring accurate administration, exceptional service delivery, and operational excellence across all benefit programs. This position partners with internal stakeholders, vendors, brokers, payroll, finance, and HR leadership to evaluate plan performance, manage financial risk, ensure compliance, and recommend program enhancements that support Border States' employee-owner culture.ResponsibilitiesEssential FunctionsProvides leadership and oversight for the administration, support, and communication of all company benefit plans.Provides strategic partnership with the benefits broker and Director to evaluate plan utilization, costs, market trends, and regulatory developments, and identifies opportunities for plan enhancements.Leads the annual review of benefit programs and is accountable for recommending plan design changes that balance employee-owner experience, market competitiveness, cost effectiveness, and regulatory requirements.Provides leadership and oversight for the administration of the Company's ESOP and 401(k) plans, ensuring compliance, operational excellence, accurate reporting, and effective participant education and support.Manages the annual open enrollment process, including open enrollment signatures and tasks.Oversees leave administration and ensure compliance with FMLA, company policies, and applicable federal and state regulations.Partners with the HRIS team to optimize systems, improve operational efficiency, and support effective administration of benefits and HR processes.Provides strategic partnership to Payroll to ensure accurate benefit-related payroll processing, regulatory compliance, and efficient execution of employee-owner programs.Ensures benefits processes comply with ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, and other applicable regulations.Identifies opportunities to streamline processes, enhance compliance, and improve employee experience.Provides oversight of HR operations to ensure consistent processes, regulatory compliance, and data integrity.Directly supervises and develops the Benefits team including recruiting, onboarding, coaching, performance management, and professional development.Establishes departmental objectives, service standards, and key performance indicators.Leads annual benefits renewal strategy and executive recommendations.Oversees enterprise retirement plan governance, fiduciary coordination, and investment review support.Reviews major vendor contracts, performance guarantees, and service agreements.Develops workforce well-being strategies and population health initiatives.Provides executive reporting related to benefit costs, trends, compliance, and employee-owner engagement.Identifies benefits-related risks and develops mitigation strategies.Partners with HR leadership on talent attraction, retention, and total rewards strategy.Non-Essential FunctionsWorks with Border States retirees to discuss benefits continuation, ESOP, and 401k distributions and Medicare eligibility.Oversees benefits educational sessions for new hires and newly acquired companies.Responsible for all benefit tasks associated with acquisitions; including benefit comparisons, decisions regarding the timing of benefit transitions, and plan terminations and mergers.Works with Total Reward Director and Finance to update the annual budget for benefits and wellness.Leads the POW! Wellness team: holds monthly meetings and manages monthly assignments for team members.Works with BCBS to resolve issues and set up onsite training.Assists with benefit issues and may act as a liaison between employee-owners and benefit providers.Qualifications4-year business or human resource degree or the equivalent in related work experience. 10+ years' prior work experience with benefits and or wellness programs preferred. HR certification a plus. Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, and PowerPoint) preferred.Skills and AbilitiesExcellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills. Maintains confidentiality of HR information and records. Ability to effectively plan, organize and use independent judgement. Attention to detail and organizational skills. Excellent customer service skills include being competent, accurate, responsive, and engaged.Physical RequirementsFrequency at which you would carry/lift in a typical day: Occasionally 0 – 33% Frequently 34 – 66% Continuously: 67 – 100% Lift from Waist: < than 10 lbs. - Not at all 10 to 25 lbs. - Not at all 26 to 50 lbs. - Not at all 51 to 75 lbs. - Not at all 75 to 100 lbs. - Not at all 100+ lbs. - Not at all Lift from Floor: < than 10 lbs. - Frequently 10 to 25 lbs. - Frequently 26 to 50 lbs. - Occasionally 51 to 75 lbs. - Not at all 75 to 100 lbs. - Not at all 100+ lbs. - Not at all Carried for Distance: < than 10 lbs. - Not at all 10 to 25 lbs. - Not at all 26 to 50 lbs. - Not at all 51 to 75 lbs. - Not at all 75 to 100 lbs. - Not at all 100+ lbs. - Not at all Physical Activity Frequency at which you would do the following in a typical day: Sitting (a continuous period of being seated) - Continuously Standing (for sustained periods of time) - Frequently Walking (moving about on foot to accomplish tasks) - Frequently Bending/stooping (downward and forward) - Occasionally Crawling (moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet) - Not at all Climbing/Walking Stairs (ascending or descending) - Frequently Reaching (extending arms in any direction) - Frequently Crouching/squatting (bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine) - Occasionally Kneeling (bending legs at knee to come to rest on knee(s)) - Occasionally Balancing (maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling) - Occasionally Repetitive motion (substantial movement (motions) or the wrists, hands, and/or fingers) - Continuously Pivoting (movement in any direction with one foot, keeping the other in contact with the floor) - Occasionally Pushing/Pulling (using upper extremities to press against or draw or tug) - Occasionally Grasping (Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm) - Continuously Fingering (picking, pinching, typing; working with primarily fingers and not whole hand) - Continuously Talking (expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word) - Frequently Driving (the control and operation of a motor vehicle) - Occasionally Desk work (work usually performed at a desk) - Continuously Use of a computer - Continuously Use of a telephone - Frequently Hearing (Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels) - Continuously Exposure (to adverse weather & temperature conditions) - Not at all Travel (travel needed to perform job duties) - Frequently