Benefits and Leave Manager

About the Role

We are partnering with a large, well-established California non-profit to find an experienced Benefits & Leaves Manager to lead benefits for a workforce of more than 900 employees doing deeply meaningful—and often emotionally demanding—work with children, youth and families. This is an excellent opportunity for a benefits professional who understands the complexity of a self-funded health plan and enjoys working closely with a strong broker, TPA, and other partners to make smart decisions around plan performance, cost, design, and employee experience. The role supervises a team of two.

The HR team is described as collaborative, supportive, and refreshingly low-ego. They are looking for someone who brings both technical depth and a genuine service mindset.

Responsibilities

Benefits Strategy & Administration

• Lead a comprehensive benefits program including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, wellness, COBRA, and a 403(b) retirement plan
• Manage a self-funded medical plan, partnering with the broker and TPA on claims trends, funding, plan performance, and design
• Analyze data and identify opportunities to improve benefits, manage costs, and strengthen the employee experience
• Lead annual open enrollment and benefits communications
• Manage relationships with brokers, carriers, TPAs, and other benefits partners
• Ensure compliance with ACA, ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, and other applicable requirements

Leaves, Accommodations & Workers' Compensation

• Provide leadership and oversight for leave administration, including FMLA, CFRA, PDL, disability, and other California leave requirements
• Guide ADA/FEHA accommodations and the interactive process
• Oversee workers' compensation and return-to-work processes
• Lead and develop the team supporting the day-to-day administration of benefits and leaves, allowing you to focus on complex issues, decisions, and program leadership

Requirements

• 5+ years of HR/benefits experience, including significant responsibility for health and welfare plans
• Hands-on experience with a self-funded/self-insured medical plan strongly preferred
• Understanding of claims, funding, plan design, and vendor management—not simply benefits enrollment and administration
• Experience with retirement plans, ideally a 403(b)
• Strong knowledge of California leave and accommodation requirements
• Experience leading or mentoring benefits/leave professionals
• Openness to coming onsite for meetings as needed, anticipated to be quarterly in South San Francisco
• Comfort supporting a large, geographically dispersed employee population
• Strong analytical skills coupled with the ability to explain complex benefits issues in a practical, approachable way

Qualities

Technical expertise is essential, but how you operate matters just as much. The right person will be collaborative, thoughtful, responsive, and genuinely service-oriented—someone who recognizes that benefits and leave programs become particularly important when employees themselves are doing difficult work in service to others.

A commitment to diversity, inclusion, and the mission of supporting children, youth, and families is important. This organization believes differing perspectives, cultures, and lived experiences make both the workplace and the services it provides stronger.

Why Consider This Role

You'll have the opportunity to take meaningful ownership of a sophisticated benefits portfolio while joining an experienced HR team where you have support rather than having to do everything yourself. For someone who enjoys the intersection of benefits strategy, financial stewardship, vendor partnership, compliance, and employee service, this is a role with both substance and purpose.

Location

Fully remote; California candidates only. There will be occasional travel to company headquarters in South San Francisco.

Pay

$110k - $125k annually