Divya Patel
New York,NY
Summary
Results-driven benefits professional prepared to make impact in benefits operations. Possesses valuable expertise in managing benefits programs and optimizing operational efficiency. Known for fostering team collaboration and adapting to evolving business needs. Expertise in benefits administration, process improvement, and regulatory compliance. Experienced with benefits administration and operational management. Utilizes strategic planning to streamline processes and improve service outcomes. Track record of driving efficiency and ensuring compliance in complex benefits environments.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Health & Welfare Benefits Operations Manager
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
06.2022 - 10.2025
- Lead day-to-day administration of all Health & Welfare benefits for employees, Partners, and Retirees for over 4000+ employees worldwide.
- Spearheaded benefits implementation for new Abu Dhabi office, ensuring smooth enrollment, timely compliance with UAE immigration requirements, and employee education.
- Oversee Partner onboarding and offboarding processes.
- Develop and maintain comprehensive procedure manuals and conduct annual benefits training sessions for Open Enrollment and plan changes.
- Address and resolve escalated claims, billing, and eligibility issues to ensure timely and satisfactory outcomes, as directed, with timely responses.
- Manage vendor relationships, ensuring service delivery, compliance, and continuous improvement
- Partner with IT on system transitions, including migration from EDocs to NetDocuments.
Health & Welfare Benefits Operations Manager
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
04.2020 - 05.2022
- Managed all aspects of employee, Partner, and Retiree benefits administration.
- Oversaw life, disability, and liability insurance policies for Partners and coordinated benefits for Retirees, including Medicare and billing.
- Collaborated with Tax and Finance on K-1 and 1099 medical premium reporting.
- Served as a key Workday implementation lead, including configuration, data migration from Lawson, testing, and training.
- Designed and documented new benefits procedures and managed system transition progress using Smartsheets.
Health & Welfare Benefits Operations Supervisor
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
04.2013 - 03.2020
- Directed daily administration of all firm-wide benefit programs (medical, dental, life, disability, FSA).
- Supervised, trained, and mentored a team of three Benefits Generalists and Summer Interns fostering a collaborative and supportive work environment.
- Ensured compliance with ACA, ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, and other federal/state laws.
- Led implementation of Ebix SmartOffice CRM for Partner insurance management.
- Collaborated with IT to lead the firm’s records management transition from DocuMatrix to Skadden Records Management (SRM) as part of a paperless initiative.
- Managed HRIS reporting, system testing, and upgrades for Lawson applications.
Employee Benefits HRIS Coordinator
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
04.2012 - 03.2013
- Supported HRIS implementation and continuous process improvements.
- Developed complex HR and benefits reports using Lawson HR Report Writer and MS Access.
- Conducted system upgrade testing and served as the primary point of contact for end-user support and training.
Employee Benefits HRIS Specialist
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
06.2011 - 03.2012
- Supported HRIS reporting, testing, and validation for Lawson system upgrades.
- Trained and mentored new Benefits staff while managing first-level technical issue resolution.
Employee Benefits Insurance Plan Specialist
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
04.2010 - 05.2011
- Administered all Health & Welfare plans under Section 125, including enrollment and status changes in Lawson.
- Supported the firm’s Domestic Partner policy and maintained the Benefits intranet site.
- Trained new Benefits Assistants and processed payroll adjustments.
Employee Benefits Assistant
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
07.2007 - 03.2010
- Administered day-to-day benefits under Section 125 cafeteria plans.
- Served as liaison between employees and insurance carriers.
- Managed COBRA administration, premium reconciliations, and Open Enrollment initiatives.
Technical Recruiter
Paragon Computer Professionals, Inc.
07.2006 - 07.2007
- Recruited IT professionals for consulting and right-to-hire opportunities at AT&T through the Procure Staff system.
- Managed full-cycle recruiting, job postings, rate negotiations, and candidate qualification.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Business Management, Minor in Psychology
Rutgers University
Newark, NJ05.2006
Skills
- Benefits Administration: Benefits administration expertise, Vendor Relationship management, Decision Making, Change Management Expertise, Data analysis proficiency
- Compliance: ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA, Section 125
- HR Systems & Tools: Workday, Lawson HRMS, Travis (COBRA), Ebix SmartOffice CRM
- Technical Skills: MS Office (Advanced), NetDocuments, DocuMatrix, SRM, EDocs, Smartsheets, SharePoint DTE Timecards, Kiteworks, Aderant Expert, Chrome Expenses
- Project Management: Data Migration, System Configuration, Process Documentation/Improvement, Training & Development
Certification
Certification: Society of Human Resource Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP)
Languages
Hindi
Native or Bilingual
Gujarati
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Senior Health & Welfare Benefits Operations Manager
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
06.2022 - 10.2025
Health & Welfare Benefits Operations Manager
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
04.2020 - 05.2022
Health & Welfare Benefits Operations Supervisor
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
04.2013 - 03.2020
Employee Benefits HRIS Coordinator
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
04.2012 - 03.2013
Employee Benefits HRIS Specialist
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
06.2011 - 03.2012
Employee Benefits Insurance Plan Specialist
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
04.2010 - 05.2011
Employee Benefits Assistant
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
07.2007 - 03.2010
Technical Recruiter
Paragon Computer Professionals, Inc.
07.2006 - 07.2007
Bachelor of Science - Business Management, Minor in Psychology
Rutgers University