Benefits Manager

Kyowa Kirin is a fast growing global specialty pharmaceutical company that applies state-of-the-art biotechnologies to discover and deliver novel medicines in four areas of unmet need: oncology, nephrology, immunology and CNS/movement disorders. The North America organization includes three offices (in New Jersey and California) that focus on drug discovery, product development, and commercialization. Together, we work as a close-knit team to understand clinical needs and advance innovations that can have a profound impact on patient lives.

As a patient centric organization that strives to deliver innovative medicines to meet unmet needs, we feel that it is critical to follow the safety guidelines defined by CDC and OSHA. We believe the COVID-19 vaccine is the best way to manage COVID risk to you, your colleagues, your family and our society. With that in mind, we are taking the essential step to ensure the safety of our employees during this health crisis by requiring all US employees, temporary workers, agency employees and independent contractors to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, where allowed by state or local law and where vaccine supply is readily available. In accordance with applicable law, individuals may seek an accommodation for medical or disability-related conditions or sincerely held religious beliefs.

The Benefits Manager is a subject matter expert for the Kyowa Kirin North America HR Department on all benefit programs and projects. Works to develop, design and seek out benefit programs that are cost effective and will help attract, motivate, and retain talent. Is responsible the administration of all benefits and retirement programs, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short- and long-term disability, and 401(k) plan. This role also provides support and consultation with Compensation matters. Keep up to date with ongoing legislation and ensure program compliance with local, state, and federal laws.

Key Responsibilities: 
Benefits Administration and Planning:
•    Develop programs and policies for benefits, and recommends programs by studying employee requirements, trends and developments in benefits offered by other organizations.
•    Support management’s decision-making process by analyzing benefit options and estimating costs.
•    Ensures that project and departmental milestones are met, adhering to approved budgets.
•    Manage vendors.  Work with vendors to maintain quality service, obtain up-to-date plan documents, and review plan documents to ensure accuracy. Review vendor proposals, contracts, and estimated costs. Upload contracts into QuickBase and work with legal and procurement to ensure timely review of documents, signatures, and creation of purchase orders (PO).
•    Ensures compliance with federal, state, and local requirements by studying existing laws, regulations, and updates to legal requirements. Manage health care benefit and 401(k) compliance including but not limited to the annual distribution of 1095Cs, 5500 filings, 401(k) audit, etc.
•    Partner with NY Life to ensure leave program is running effectively and to ensure our managers and employees are informed on the program. 
•    Assist with management and design of wellness initiatives and lead Wellness Committee.
•    Coordinate open enrollment and update communications (guide, handouts, portal, virtual benefits fair, decision support tool, etc.). 
•    Audit, review, and generate monthly invoices for benefit programs and ensure timely payment. 
•    Ensures the accuracy of all benefits enrollments in ADP to provide vendors with accurate eligibility information. 
•    Performs quality checks of benefits-related data and reviews payroll monthly to ensure benefit deductions are operating correctly.
•    Responsible for benefit plan setup in ADP.
•    Processes/approved enrollments quickly and accurately for new hires, QLEs, and open enrollment. 
•    Review benefits inbox daily and work with employees, HR, and managers to respond to employee questions and resolve issues with programs and/or vendors.
•    Other ad hoc projects/duties as needed.
Compensation Administration and Support:
•    Participate in compensation salary surveys and evaluate data to ensure market competitiveness.
•    Work with HR and Talent Acquisition teams to propose compensation offers for new hires, promotions, adjustments, and job changes. 
•    Conducts job evaluations and assesses FLSA status of roles.
•    Audit data in HR4U quarterly to ensure compensation records (such as base and bonus targets) are accurate.
•    Support annual salary increase planning and process and with other compensation projects.

Position Requirements:
•    Bachelor’s degree with or minimum of 5 years of benefits experience. Experience in the pharmaceutical industry and/or compensation experience is a plus.
•    Extensive knowledge of employee benefits and applicable laws.
•    Experience with cross-functional teams and demonstrated ability to partner effectively with others to address complex total rewards, compliance, and operational issues.
•    Strong communication and follow up skills.
•    Strong organization skills, attention to detail and ability to keep track of upcoming deadlines/commitments.
•    Proficiency with related computer applications, PowerPoint, Excel spreadsheets, word processing, and database applications.
•    Excellent proofreading, grammar, and spelling skills a must; able to skillfully proofread and perform editing as needed.
•    Ability to shift focus and prioritize as necessary, often under strict time constraints.
•    Very Good Written and Oral Communications Skills. Very Good Mathematical, Reasoning, and Problem-Solving Skills.
•    Knowledge of ADP Workforce Now is a plus.

KKNA and all of its employees have an obligation to act in accordance with the law and with integrity in all our operations and interactions

It is the policy of Kyowa Kirin North America, Inc. to provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons without regard to race, religion, creed, color, pregnancy, sex, age, national origin, disability, genetic trait or predisposition, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation or affection preference or citizenship status or any other category protected by law.

When you apply to a job on this site, the personal data contained in your application will be collected and stored by Kyowa Kirin, Inc. (“Controller”), which is located at 135 Route 202/206, Suite 6, Bedminster, NJ 07921 USA and can be contacted by emailing [email protected]. Controller’s data protection officer can be contacted at [email protected]. Your personal data will be processed for the purposes of managing Controller’s recruitment related activities, which include setting up and conducting interviews and tests for applicants, evaluating and assessing the results thereto, and as is otherwise needed in the recruitment and hiring processes. Such processing is legally permissible under Art. 6(1)(f) of General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (“GDPR”) as necessary for the purposes of the legitimate interests pursued by the Controller, which are the solicitation, evaluation, and selection of applicants for employment. 

Your personal data will be shared with Greenhouse Software, Inc., a cloud services provider located in the United States of America and engaged by Controller to help manage its recruitment and hiring process on Controller’s behalf. Accordingly, if you are located outside of the United States, your personal data will be transferred to the United States once you submit it through this site. The transfer will be made using appropriate additional safeguards under the standard contractual clauses approved by regulators for transfers of personal data outside the European Union.

Your personal data will be retained by Controller as long as Controller determines it is necessary to evaluate your application for employment.  Under the GDPR, if you are located in the European Union, you have the right to request access to your personal data, to request that your personal data be rectified or erased, and to request that processing of your personal data be restricted. You also have the right to data portability, and to lodge a complaint with an EU supervisory authority. If you have any questions about our use of your data, you may contact us by email at [email protected].

Kyowa Kirin does not accept agency resumes unless contacted directly by internal Kyowa Kirin Talent Acquisition. Please do not forward resumes to Kyowa Kirin employees or any other company location; Kyowa Kirin is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.