US Benefits Lead

Are you ready to unleash your entrepreneurial spirit and make a significant impact on the lives of our employees? We are seeking a US Benefits Lead based in Gaithersburg, Maryland. This role focuses on working with colleagues and outside service providers to ensure our benefits strategy and execution reflect the needs of AstraZeneca and our employees.

What you'll do

As the USBenefits Lead, you will help develop the US benefits strategy and oversee key benefit plans including healthcare, retirement savings, life, disability and various other benefit plans and policies. You will serve as a subject matter expert on the plans’ provisions and operations, ensuring efficient administration in accordance with legal requirements. You will oversee the management of plan documents and provider contracts, monitor plan cost, designand participation, oversee compliance matters, and drive communication/education strategy of the various plans. As part of the role, you will mentor a team of benefits professionals.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Create and implement benefit strategy through development and management of key benefit programs

• Supervise review of benefits provisions, monitoringfinancial impact, complianceand competitiveness of package to market. 

• Lead all aspects of the documentation and communication of benefit programs with a key focus on employee experience

• Be responsible for the review of benefit policies, ensuring adherence with regulatory, legal and compliance requirements

• Handle benefits integration activity related to mergers and acquisitions

• Manage relationships with consultants, vendors, and insurance providers ensuring benefit programs are being enhanced

• Ensure alignment of benefit program delivery with wider HR and business objectives

• Leverage benefits technology platforms and HRIS systems to streamline processes, improve data analytics/reporting and enhance the employee experience

• Help to build team capabilities within the function to ensure delivery against objectives and that we maintain a critical focus on our talent pipeline

• Help build awareness of our benefits programs/process with key US and Global stakeholders

Essential for the role

• Bachelor’sdegree in a related field

• 4+ years experience overseeing and designing US employee healthcare and retirement savings plans

• Experience working in a large, matrixed organization with a significant population of US employees

• Significant experience working with third-party outsourced benefit administrators

• In-depth expertise of policies, processes, proceduresand legislation pertaining to healthcare, retirement savings, and other benefit areas

• Experience managing benefit-related merger and acquisition activities

• Advanced communication skills to engage and influence major stakeholders and internal clients

• Significant experience managing cross-functional projects

• Experience using technology to minimize inefficiencies and focus on value-add work

• High level proficiency in Excel, Power Point, and Word

Desirable for the role

• Master’sdegree in a related field

• Experience working in a consulting firm handling benefits design

• Workday experience

• CEBS certification
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Office Working Requirements

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That’s why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn’t mean we’re not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

The annual base pay (or hourly rate of compensation) for this position ranges from $143,965.60 - 215,948.40 USDas an annual base salary. Hourly and salaried non-exempt employees will also be paid overtime pay when working qualifying overtime hours. Base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.  In addition, our positions offer a short-term incentive bonus opportunity; eligibility to participate in our equity-based long-term incentive program (salaried roles), to receive a retirement contribution (hourly roles), and commission payment eligibility (sales roles). Benefits offered included a qualified retirement program [401(k) plan]; paid vacation and holidays; paid leaves; and, health benefits including medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans. Additional details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. If hired, employee will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base pay (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors. 

Equal Opportunities

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.

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