Apply on Employer Site

Merck · 10 hours ago

Sr. Specialist, Operations - Benefits- United States & Puerto Rico - Hyrid

Rahway, NJ

Full-time

Hybrid

Senior Level

$104K/yr - $164K/yr

6+ years exp

Merck is a leading company in the healthcare sector, and they are seeking a Senior Specialist in Operations focused on Benefits. This role is crucial for administering the company's Total Rewards program, specifically overseeing operations related to the United States Pension plan and Puerto Rico Retirement and Health & Welfare benefit plans, while collaborating with various stakeholders.

BiotechnologyHealth CareMedicalPharmaceutical

Comp. & Benefits

No H1B

Responsibilities

Lead ongoing administration and special projects for United States and Puerto Rico Pension, 401(k), and Health and Welfare plans (e.g. annual enrollment planning and execution, facilitating quarterly Puerto Rico benefits committee approvals, financial oversight, reporting, plan audit(s) validation, regulatory filings, benefits education/outreach)

Primary responsible party for daily activities related to Puerto Rico Health & Wellness plan administration

Partner with team members in Centers of Expertise (COEs), Payroll, Legal, Finance, Labor Relations, and the HRBP community regarding various HR inquiries, projects, and Mergers & Acquisitions activity/site closures for Puerto Rico and supporting US

Manage processes with vendors including participant United States scalations, audit, and actuarial governance, departmental budget tracking, year-end compliance handling, payroll testing

Guide transitioning executives and employees in their understanding of key compensation & benefits programs at critical moments in their career lifecycle

Review and research employee and retiree issues to ensure a seamless participant experience

Partner with outside vendors and lead the resolution of issues that escalate through the Human Resources Support Center, and further partner with benefit providers to resolve escalations

Provide sensitive, empathetic, timely benefits support to employees and families through challenging life circumstances (e.g. retirement, long-term disability, death)

Deep knowledge of United States and Puerto Rico benefits programs (Pension, 401(k), Retiree Medical, Health & Welfare), ERISA and other United States benefits regulations

Organized, effective communicator with the ability to respond to difficult situations and maintain confidentiality

Strong judgment, analytical, and problem-solving skills

Ability to work with plan actuaries and strong understanding of plan financials

Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and work independently

Qualification

Benefits AdministrationPension Plan KnowledgeHealth & Welfare PlansAnalytical ThinkingProject ManagementEmpathyBilingual (English/Spanish)Attention to DetailOrganizational SkillsCommunication Skills

Required

Minimum of a Bachelor's degree, or currently in pursuit of degree completion, or equivalent relevant work experience

Minimum of 6 years' experience in benefits administration and support or related experience (with Master's degree, minimum experience is 4 years)

Bilingual (English and Spanish) required

Strong organizational, analytical and communication skills, empathy, and attention to detail

Deep knowledge of United States and Puerto Rico benefits programs (Pension, 401(k), Retiree Medical, Health & Welfare), ERISA and other United States benefits regulations

Organized, effective communicator with the ability to respond to difficult situations and maintain confidentiality

Strong judgment, analytical, and problem-solving skills

Ability to work with plan actuaries and strong understanding of plan financials

Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and work independently

Accountability, Adaptability, Administration Management, Analytical Thinking, Benefits Administration, Benefits Planning, Change Management, Compliance Reviews, Financial Review, HR Analytics, HR Automation, HR Documentation, HR Process Design, Human Resource Management, Human Resources Processes, Process Improvements, Project Management