Microsoft Global Benefits is looking for a Benefits Program Manager with deep subject matter expertise in American Sign Language (ASL) and deaf community/culture. You will manage and further build on our existing workplace accommodation program for the deaf and hard of hearing (HoH). This role will lead new global initiatives and projects that are scalable and improve upon support-related processes to meet the changing needs of our deaf/HoH community. In this role you will also build solid relationships with deaf/HoH employees, and internal and external program stakeholders. As a steward for the deaf community, this individual will need to excel in collaborative, impact-driven work, and serve as the connector between our employees, departments and suppliers.

Responsibilities

Program Design and Adaptation

• Creates principles that guide program design and adaptation for benefits programs.
• Leads benefits design and adaptation processes that interpret new or emerging legislation and industry trends. Synthesizes market information and meets business needs while ensuring cross-program alignment. Uses this insight and works with external partners to improve design of programs.
• Communicates value of new or changing benefits programs and provides recommendations regarding the overall cost of proposed changes to their manager or leadership. Influences stakeholders to gain buy-in and approval of program design.

Program Implementation

• Provides advice and guidance to others within and across teams (e.g. IT, Legal, Tax, Communications, HR Services) using their area of expertise to improve and integrate plans and materials before and during program implementation, and for ongoing management. Ensures alignment with internal teams' programs and other systems (e.g., compensation, payroll). Acts as the program spokesperson to communicate change.
• Acts as a thought leader and project manager in implementing large or global benefits programs (e.g., supplier processes). Develops change and readiness plans.
• Provides guidance and supports key activities that are led by Benefit Program and Accessibility Managers. Coaches the organization on mitigation strategies and potential legal and regulatory implications of benefits change and readiness plans by staying up to date on relevant legislation and policies (e.g., ADA, HIPAA). Interacts with internal and external stakeholders to influence and drive mitigation of legal and regulatory implications.

Program Management

• Runs complex benefits processes, encompassing annual processes and collateral resources, and ensures that the programs support the business and HR (Human Resources) by monitoring progress and results and adapting to competing demands, market trends, and organizational changes. Brings industry perspective and business insight to discussions with prospective suppliers and business partners.
• Facilitates the promotion and awareness of Microsoft's benefits programs by communicating and presenting program value to stakeholders.
• Drives complex, high-risk projects. Consults and partners with stakeholders as a subject matter expert to resolve technical issues and develop approaches to improving processes. Recommends short- and long-term benefits solutions (e.g., policy adjustments, program corrections, leveraging of existing solutions) to meet business need.
• Manages compliance of benefits processes by incorporating Microsoft philosophy, policies, and procedures, as well as regulatory, governmental, and other external compliance considerations into the development and implementation of business plans. Monitors resources (e.g., web content, toolkits) to maintain compliance.

Supplier Selection & Management

• Leverages Microsoft’s Procurement policies & processes to develop baseline global benefits specific requirements for ongoing supplier management related to performance, (Service Level Agreements) SLAs, financial health reviews, compliance (HR Privacy, SSPA, subcontractors, contracting, outsourced services).
• Develops and executes Supplier Relationship Management approach for key strategic suppliers including annual review of performance, strategic opportunities, innovation plans, technology roadmaps, risk assessment areas, investment plans, etc.
• Leads supplier evaluation, requests for proposals, selection, on-boarding by executing screening processes involving interviews, participates in annual reviews, helps negotiate competitive contracts to define service deliverables, tracks and leads master agreement negotiations in partnership with other groups (e.g., Procurement, Corporate Functions Engineering, Supplier Security, Privacy Assurance, (Corporate, External, and Legal Affairs) CELA, Accessibility), and provides SOW (Statement of Work) development guidance, as needed.
• Ensures simple, efficient and complaint buying through engagement with various business partners (Procurement, MSDEE (Microsoft Digital Employee Experiences), HR Privacy, HR Services, Legal)
• Recommends guidelines and standards for vendor performance. Addresses supplier-delivery issues and ensures resolutions to performance issues.

• Knowledge of American deaf culture and the community of deaf and hard-of-hearing
• Finalists will be asked to participate in an ASL skills assessment from a third party
• Embody our culture and values

Qualifications

• 10+ years work experience in HR, Benefits, or related roles
• OR Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources, Business, Social Sciences, or related field AND 7+ years work experience in HR, Benefits, or related roles
• OR equivalent experience.
• 3+ years technical experience in leading or providing ASL interpreting and/or program services for deaf and hard of hearing individuals
• Program management or service delivery management experience
• One or more certifications for ASL interpretation
• National Interpreter Certification (NIC) test that is given jointly by the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) and the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID)
• Certified Deaf Interpreter (CDI) given by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID)
• or similar certification

Additional or Preferred Qualifications

• 1-2 years project management experience and program design experience.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully manage multiple internal partner and supplier relationships.
• Ability to work both independently with minimal direction and collaboratively across multiple functions both externally and internally (Global Benefits, HR Services, HR Privacy, HRIT (Human Resources IT), Legal, Procurement, Accessibility).
• Analytical skills that enable extracting data from a variety of sources, drawing conclusions and translating those into clear opportunities and actions.
• Ability to drive clarity, and deliver results in a fast-paced and highly matrixed environment.
• Customer focused, responsive and action oriented, displaying urgency as required to meet business needs.