Benefits Manager (EMEA)

The Role

The Benefits Manager leads the efficient and effective delivery of employee Benefits within the EMEA region (Poland, Spain, UK, Ireland). This includes curating the benefits portfolio to ensure the offer for each country is aligned to Lumen strategy: is attractive to and meets the expectations of employees. Also, managing relationships with global Broker and local benefit suppliers, understanding and maintaining systems and processes both within Lumen and for each vendor. The Benefits Manager leads annual and monthly benefit activities including renewals and changes. The role involves resolving complex issues requiring in-depth analysis and seeing through to resolutions.

The Benefits Manager will be flexible in approach, contribute towards a positive working environment, compliance with labor regulations and continuous improvement in Benefits process.

The Main Responsibilities

•    Review and manage the benefits portfolio for each country within EMEA region; ensuring the offer is aligned to Lumen strategy: attractive and meets the expectations of employees. This may include identification, proposal and implementation of new benefits or retirement of benefits that are no longer valued by employees. 
•    Annual renewals: responsible for leading and delivering the annual benefit renewals for each country in region throughout the year 
•    Prepare annual benefit budget and analysis of spend
•    Build and maintain working relationships and communication routes with vendors across the Region
•    Manage relationships with brokers (AON), eg renewals and issues/open items requiring resolution. Escalating as necessary. 
•    Engage employees with benefits available by promoting and sharing relevant information via InsideLumen pages and other communication routes: ensure content on SharePoint benefit pages is relevant and up to date
•    Employee benefit communications eg changes to premiums, cover levels or enhancements
•    Primary contact for internal and external benefit customers, problem solving and resolution of complex benefit queries/issues; actively supporting positive customer experience
•    Onboarding: ensure new hires are aware of and are provided with benefits applicable to their country.
•    Monthly Payroll: monthly analysis and actions re benefit membership, SAP/SuccessFactors, benefit portals/platform and premium alignment, ultimately ensuring payroll reflects the correct costs and benefits for employees
•    Analyze monthly headcount data to identify changes which affect benefits, eg life insurance cover levels and associated premiums
•    Manage leaver benefits, action in vendor portals, notify HR Team of benefits and end dates for employee communication
•    Responsible for management of benefits enrolments and re-enrolments, membership updates, maintain data records in internal systems and vendor portals
•    Management of flexible benefit platform; accuracy of data, monthly/annual data exchange compliance, annual benefit renewal events (eg Choices UK)
•    Manage EMEA pension schemes, including renewals, auto enrolment, lump sum payments and membership
•    Manage risk benefits claims, eg ongoing income protection cases and critical illness claims; ensuring vendor and Lumen data aligned and payroll/ benefits correctly processed
•    Process invoices, reconciling data to ensure accuracy and respond to payment enquiries, vendor creation and bank account changes
•    Ensure all records and data are kept up to date including benefits and HR trackers
•    Accountable for the data accuracy and integrity in Lumen HRIS systems and vendor portals in accordance with Lumen policies and legal compliance. 
•    Take part in projects such as process improvement in respect of Payroll and HR systems, policies, services, and initiatives.
•    Communicate and collaborate with colleagues in EMEA HR & Payroll team: also with line managers, employees and external contacts where required. Partnership approach to problem solving.

What We Look For in a Candidate

• Flexible, “can do” approach
• Recent and relevant related work experience (employee benefits)
• Confident communicator; strong ability in spoken and written English
• Good attention to detail, takes responsibility for accuracy in written and numerical work
• Able to manage, organize and prioritize workload to meet deadlines
• Builds strong, positive working relationships with external vendors and internal partners
• Takes personal responsibility for customer satisfaction.
• Strong data analytical skills including ability to identify and understand downstream impacts
• Resilient and takes responsibility for resolving problems through to resolution
• Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office – particularly Excel including tools/ functionality to help analyse and validate data (eg pivot tables, v look up, use of formulae)
• Ideally some experience of using Payroll and/ or HR Information Systems including Time & Attendance

What to Expect Next