Sr. Benefits Analyst - Health and Welfare Operations at Pacific Life

Job description

Job Description: Providing for loved ones, planning rewarding retirements, saving enough for whatever lies ahead – our policyholders count on us to be there when it matters most. It’s a big ask, but it’s one that we have the power to deliver when we work together. We collaborate and innovate – pushing one another to transform not just Pacific Life, but the entire industry for the better. Why? Because it’s the right thing to do. Pacific Life is more than a job, it’s a career with purpose. It’s a career where you have the support, balance, and resources to make a positive impact on the future – including your own. We’re actively seeking a talented Senior Benefits Analyst to join our People Experience Benefits team in Newport Beach, CA, Omaha, NE, or Charlotte, NC. This is a hybrid position requiring four days per week in the office. Base pay range noted is for Newport Beach, CA. As a Senior Benefits Analyst you will serve as a key operational leader within the People Experience Benefits team, with primary responsibility for Health and Welfare operations . This role will oversee the day-to-day governance and delivery of Health and Welfare programs, lead Annual Enrollment operations, manage critical vendor partnerships, and ensure operational excellence, compliance, and a positive employee experience. The ideal candidate will bring strong benefits expertise, strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, and the ability to independently lead complex operational initiatives. How you’ll help move us forward: Own the operational delivery and administration of Health and Welfare benefit programs, serving as the primary subject matter expert and accountable for medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, spending accounts, voluntary benefits, and wellbeing programs. Provide oversight of Health and Welfare vendor partnerships, including governance, performance management, service delivery, issue resolution, and continuous improvement initiatives. Serve as the primary escalation point for complex and high-priority benefits matters, including employee appeals, claims and eligibility disputes, vendor escalations, and sensitive employee situations, partnering with Shared Services, vendors, Legal, Payroll, and HR stakeholders to drive resolution and mitigate operational and compliance risks. Lead Annual Enrollment operations end-to-end, including project planning, systems configurations, testing, vendor coordination, integrations, employee communications, audit controls, and issue resolution. Analyze benefits data, operational metrics, employee feedback, and vendor performance to identify trends, mitigate risks, and develop recommendations for leadership. Collaborate closely with internal stakeholders, including HR partners, Finance, Communications, and Legal, to optimize Benefits. Oversee operational reporting, dashboards, and performance metrics across all Health and Welfare programs and vendor partners, leveraging data and trends to evaluate service delivery, compliance, and operational effectiveness. Lead compliance activities for employee benefit programs, ensuring adherence to applicable federal and state regulations, including ACA, HIPAA, ERISA, COBRA, and Section 125 requirements. Lead operational projects and benefit implementations, driving successful execution, stakeholder alignment, and continuous process improvement. Oversee benefits-related audits, reconciliations, and financial controls, such as HSA, disability, billing, and carrier funding processes. Collaborate with HRIS, Payroll and IT teams to oversee integrations of benefits data between Workday and external vendors, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and resolving any related issues. Assist with vendor contracting processes including risk ranking and due diligence. Provide oversight of company time off policies and programs, ensuring compliance with applicable regulations, policy governance, and operational effectiveness. Stay current on industry trends, best p