Morrison Foerster LLP, an Am Law 50 law firm with 18 offices worldwide, has an opening for a Benefits Manager within our Benefits Department in our San Francisco office.

The Opportunity 

Join MoFo's fast paced and collaborative HR team!  The Benefits Manager has overall responsibility for advancing and continuously improving employee benefits operational practices and procedures, vendor management, technology, health and welfare policies and compliance.  The manager establishes and maintains a best-in-class employee benefits operational infrastructure, which is critical to the HR function having the ability to deliver value-add services and drive the Firm’s business objectives. 

• In alignment with the strategic direction of the Firm and Human Resources department, develop, communicate and implement high quality employee benefits to ensure optimal plan design and administration.
• Oversee health and welfare plans, vendor service agreements and benefit summaries.  Ensure participant tools, Firm intranet postings, and communications are in place to enable improved client services and successful health and welfare benefits’ self-service.
• Collaborate in the management of partner benefits and communicate intricacies of plans with newly hired and promoted partners.  Serve as back-up to manage benefits of partners in winddown moving to counsel explaining plan changes including moving to Retiree Health Plans.
• Manage annual open enrollment process and project plan. 
• Maintain updated documentation on all policies, vendor contracts, and benefit training.  Educate and drive accountability for the optimal use of all health and welfare benefit plans.
• Promote client service throughout the benefits team: ensure client service standards are set and achieved by team members; provide coaching and mentoring to team members to ensure client service is accomplished individually and through teamwork.    
• Play a key role in the design and development of the administration of health and welfare international benefit programs.
• Manage benefits related third party vendors including contract negotiation, benefits administration and service levels; including but not limited to medical claims administration, dental claims administration, life insurance and disability vendors, etc.
• Ensure all benefit plans are in compliance with all current federal and state regulations/guidelines including evolving governmental reporting under the ACA, and participant disclosures (5500s, SARs, SMMs, HIPPA and SPDs).
• Ensure timely and appropriate communications to all plan participants to promote employee awareness of open enrollment, programs, new plans, plan changes and plan documents.
• Proactively manage and administer group medical, dental, vision, life, accident, short-term disability, long-term disability, and all other leave of absence programs.
• Proactively manage and oversee administration of COBRA and Retiree Health Plan benefits in coordination with Medicare.
• Communicate with, and educate new hires, Firm committees, partners, attorneys and staff regarding benefits programs offered by the firm.
• Ensure department practices appropriately safeguard confidential information; keep abreast of changes in policy, laws and trends and make responsive changes.  Manage team adherence to privacy laws and regulations.
• May assist in total reward programs including compensation projects: pay structures and ranges; FLSA job classification compliance; wage and hour compliance, market review; and salary survey submissions.

Ideal Candidate       

• 8+ years of benefits administration and leadership experience as part of a Human Resources department preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources or related field strongly preferred; however, a strong mix of education and experience will be eligible.
• History of increasing responsibility in employee benefits, with emphasis in process improvement and compliance reporting.
• 3+ years of managing a benefits team preferred.
• CEBS designation a plus.

Who We Are

At Morrison Foerster, our culture is defined by our deeds. We’re passionate about what we do. We’re equally passionate about how we do it. We resist hierarchies and operate within a model of respect — for our colleagues, their ideas, and the differences that make us stronger. We encourage you to learn more about who we are, and what we do.

Should you find you’re ready to do the best work of your life, we encourage you to let us know!

Where required by law, salary ranges are stated below. Additional compensation may include a discretionary bonus, overtime as applicable, health/welfare benefits, retirement contributions, paid holidays, and PTO. The range displayed is specifically for positions performed in those cities/states and may vary based on factors including but not limited to the following: local market data and ranges; an applicant's skills and prior relevant experience; and certain degrees, licensing, and certifications.  

San Francisco salary range: $125k to $165k