Associate Director, Health & Wellbeing Benefits - Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by an individual assigned to this job. Other duties may be assigned.

• Lead strategy and execution of health and wellbeing benefits programs across the U.S. and U.K., collaborating with internal and external partners to deliver comprehensive Total Rewards to all employees.
• Drive employee awareness, education, and engagement through communications, on-site events, wellbeing programs and challenges, etc.
• Manage vendor and carrier relationships, ensuring service quality, cost control, and compliance.
• Collaborate with benefits consultants to lead negotiations and renewals with providers, including governance, contract compliance, and communications for all benefits programs.
• Conduct evaluations and benchmarking of benefits programs using global industry trends to maintain competitive offerings.
• Lead annual benefits renewals, open enrollment processes, and employee communications, including change management plans.
• Partner with Total Rewards, HR, and external vendors to execute technology and operational initiatives that support benefits delivery.
• Oversee day-to-day benefits administration, monthly invoice reconciliation and payment, etc. ensuring programs operate as designed and issues are resolved efficiently.
• Oversee administration of leave of absence (FMLA, ADA, STD, LTD, etc.) programs and policies in accordance with applicable federal and state employment laws, in partnership with third party administrators and internal HR partners.
• Review all leaves on a regular basis with HR Business partners and proactively address any that are approaching FMLA exhaustion, oversee communications and employment decisions.
• Advise, counsel, and educate employees on leave policies, procedures, and programs as needed, in partnership with day-to-day administrative support from HR partners.
• Oversee administration of Worker’s Compensation program and policy, managing vendor relationship, annual renewals, audits, and quarterly case reviews with vendor and HR Business Partners.
• Resolve employee questions and concerns by interpreting benefit policies and procedures and escalating to carrier contacts as needed.
• Support audits, including but not limited to Worker’s Compensation, Non-Discrimination Testing, etc.
• Ensure ongoing compliance with health & welfare plan regulations and facilitate completion of required filings, reporting, documentation, and notifications.
• Assess day-to-day administration ensuring that benefits are delivered as designed and plan issues are resolved on a timely basis.
• Perform other duties and lead special projects as assigned by management.

Supervisory Responsibilities:
This position may have supervisory responsibility and will provide direction on day-to-day benefits and leave administration tasks performed by Human Resources Coordinators.

Interaction:
The incumbent works closely on a daily/weekly basis with Human Resources, Payroll, Finance, and the Company’s outside vendors and employees.

Education and Experience:
• Bachelor’s degree from accredited college or university required or equivalent experience
• 6-8 years of Health and Welfare benefits leadership experience including experience in a publicly owned, multi-state company
• Minimum 6 years hands on experience managing vendor relationships with insurance carriers, overseeing annual benefits enrollment, and leading communications strategy on benefits program to Senior Management and to employees
• Experience managing leaves of absence in coordination with state benefits preferred

Qualifications:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
• Strong working knowledge of strategy, design, and execution of programs in Health (e.g. Medical, Vision, Dental, Rx), Financial Wellness, and Life Wellbeing (e.g. Leave of Absence, Mental Health, Wellbeing) segments.
• Strong Plan Management skills across programs & categories (e.g. Health, EAP, Wellbeing, Leave of Absence, Mental Health, LGBTQ+, Women’s Health, DEI&B).
• Creativity, passion, and drive to build and maintain a benefits and wellbeing strategy that positively impacts culture and employee engagement.
• A self-starter with drive to lead recommendations to continually modernize and enhance existing benefits.
• Demonstrated ability to build strong relationships, collaborate, and drive execution with other HR Partners / indirect reports (e.g. HR Coordinators, Brokers, Carriers, IT, Legal, Finance).
• Strong project management and presentation skills including a history of leading and driving projects to completion.
• Demonstrated knowledge of ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, and other relevant laws as they pertain to Health and Welfare benefits.
• Strong financial, analytical, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication, influencing, relationship management, and negotiation skills.
• Proven experience influencing benefits strategy and creating employee communications strategy and content.
• Proven strong attention to detail, results oriented, with strong demonstrated analytical skills.
• Proven strong organizational and time management skills. Demonstrated ability to balance multiple priorities, meet deadlines and maintain a positive, solution-oriented approach.
• Demonstrated high level of customer service skills for internal stakeholders
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office: PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Outlook.
• Demonstrated knowledge of benefits systems and data reporting.

Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must me met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, talk, move between spaces, reach with hands and arms and stoop. Close vision and the need to focus on computer screen, use of hands, fingers and wrist to type on keyboard and manipulate mouse.

Work Environment:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Medical, Prescription, Dental, Vision Coverage
• Flexible Spending Account & Health Savings Account with Company match
• Employee Assistance Program
• Mental Health Resources
• Disability Coverage
• Life insurance
• Critical Illness and Accident Insurance
• Legal and Identity Theft Protection
• Pet Insurance
• Fertility and Maternity Assistance
• 401(k) with company match
• Flexible Time Off (FTO) and 11 paid holidays
• Paid Parental Leave