Principal Benefits Analyst (Hybrid)

Who We Are
Join a team that puts its People First! Since 1889, First American (NYSE: FAF) has held an unwavering belief in its people. They are passionate about what they do, and we are equally passionate about fostering an environment where all feel welcome, supported, and empowered to be innovative and reach their full potential. Our inclusive, people-first culture has earned our company numerous accolades, including being named to the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® list for eight consecutive years. We have also earned awards as a best place to work for women, diversity and LGBTQ+ employees, and have been included on more than 50 regional best places to work lists. First American will always strive to be a great place to work, for all. For more information, please visit www.careers.firstam.com.
What We Do
Administers the company's employee benefits programs, which may include health and wellbeing, absence management, worker's compensation, income protection, retirement, and related programs. Leads projects including vendor and program implementations and improvements. Ensures compliance with federal and state legal and tax requirements and prepares and files required reports. May assist HR and/or employees and with questions, filing claims, and counseling on types of coverage.
This role is hybrid in the office 3 days per week in Santa Ana, CA.
What You'll Do:

• Participate in health and wellbeing, plan strategy, design, incentive structure, renewal, stewardship, and service meetings, and monitoring financial performance.
• Manage vendor performance and lead implementations, including new benefit programs, policies, and annual enrollment projects.
• Apply experience, creativity, and critical thinking skills to support advancement of the company's ongoing health and workforce health objectives by reviewing market trends and benchmark data.
• Analyze health plan trends, high cost spend, utilization, and market trends to identify and recommend plan design changes or new programs to implement.
• Ensure plans and administration remain in compliance to all applicable regulations and laws through required documentation, filings, testing, communication, and administration.
• Analyze and prepare key health and productivity report metrics for executive management.
• Develop and deploy employee communication and education programs.
• Acts as liaison between company and various insurance carriers and plan administrators.
• Serve as subject matter expert on all government regulations governing benefits programs, absence, and worker's compensation, including (but not limited to) ERISA, HIPAA, FMLA, and OSHA.
• Stay current on regulatory updates, including emerging and new legislation and provide recommendations on necessary changes for compliance or plan enhancements.
• Measure and report benefits, wellbeing, absence, and worker's compensation utilization to executive management as required; apply critical thinking skills to interpret results and develop recommendations as needed.

What You'll Bring:

• Comprehensive knowledge of employee health and welfare benefit plans, including medical, dental, prescription, account-based plans, life/AD&D, disability, and ancillary offerings; both self-funded and fully insured arrangements
• Comprehensive knowledge of and experience with leaves of absence and worker's compensation
• Comprehensive knowledge of benefit terminology and concepts, practices, and processes, including familiarity of new and emerging models
• Involvement with annual plan audits, Form 5500 filings, and other regulatory requirements annually
• Superior customer service skills; results oriented; effective problem-solving skills.
• The ability to communicate with employees comfortably and effectively at all levels of the organization.
• Superior oral and written communication and presentation skills; the ability to present complex issues/data with a high level of clarity and integrity.
• Ability to analyze complex issues, diagnose potential problems and identify and implement solutions.
• Superior computer/technical skills (Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, PowerPoint, Workday)
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with a cross-functional team in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities and demands.
• Sense of accountability; owning one's work and taking pride in it
• Self-starter: interest in continually challenging oneself and willingness to step outside of one's comfort zone
• Demonstrated vendor management and negotiation skills.
• Ability to drive projects to successful completion.
• Well organized and detail oriented
• Bachelor's Degree in human resources, business, insurance, mathematics, actuarial science, finance or any other major with significant quantitative coursework is preferred.
• PHR, SPHR, CEBS, PHIAS, Life and Health agent, CLMS or other designation/certification preferred.
• A minimum of 7 years' experience in benefits, wellbeing, absence, and worker's compensation, with an increasing degree of complexity and a superior understanding of federal and multi-state benefit laws and regulations, including working knowledge of Health Care Reform and its ongoing changes
• Experience with consulting or brokerage firms, or experience with a group health insurance company a plus

Pay Range: $73,680- $108,350 Annually
This hiring range is a reasonable estimate of the base pay range for this position at the time of posting. Pay is based on a number of factors which may include job-related knowledge, skills, experience, business requirements and geographic location.
What We Offer
By choice, we don't simply accept individuality - we embrace it, we support it, and we thrive on it! Our People First Culture celebrates diversity, equity and inclusion not simply because it's the right thing to do, but also because it's the key to our success. We are proud to foster an authentic and inclusive workplace For All. You are free and encouraged to bring your entire, unique self to work. First American is an equal opportunity employer in every sense of the term.
Based on eligibility, First American offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401k, PTO/paid sick leave and other great benefits like an employee stock purchase plan.