Benefits and Leaves Manager

About the role

The Benefits & Leaves Manager oversees all aspects of employee benefits and leave administration, ensuring compliance with federal, state (especially California), and local regulations. This includes leadership over self-insured health plans, 403(b) administration, leave of absence programs (FMLA, CFRA, PDL, PWFA, disability), accommodations, and workers’ compensation. You will supervise HR staff responsible for day-to-day administration, collaborate with brokers and vendors, support employees and managers through complex situations, and continuously evaluate programs for quality, compliance, and cost-effectiveness.

Responsibilities

• Lead administration of medical, dental, vision, life, wellness, COBRA, and 403(b) programs.
• Manage self-insured and group health plans, including vendor relationships, claims funding, renewals, and plan performance.
• Plan and execute annual open enrollment, including employee communications and education.
• Ensure compliance with ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, ERISA, and related regulations.
• Analyze utilization and cost data to recommend enhancements or cost-containment strategies.
• Provide leadership for all employee leave programs (FMLA, CFRA, PDL, PWFA, disability, workers’ compensation, and related leaves).
• Lead and ensure compliance with the ADAAA/FEHA interactive process.
• Oversee return-to-work coordination and benefit transitions.
• Supervise and mentor team members managing leave and accommodation cases.
• Stay current on evolving federal, state, and local employment laws.
• Lead benefits- and leave-related audits, reporting, and documentation.
• Analyze trends to support organizational planning and risk management.
• Serve as the primary liaison with brokers, carriers, and third-party administrators.
• Partner with HR and internal communications teams to deliver clear, accessible guidance to managers and employees.
• Supervise, coach, and develop HR team members.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field (HR or Benefits certification strongly preferred).
• Minimum 3+ years of benefits and leave administration experience.
• 2+ years of supervisory experience.
• Experience managing self-insured health plans preferred.
• Advanced knowledge of CFRA, FMLA, PWFA, FEHA/ADA, ACA, ERISA, COBRA, and related laws.
• Experience supporting a multi-site organization (500+ employees), preferably within a nonprofit or human services setting.
• Strong communication, analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency with HRIS platforms and Microsoft business applications.
• High level of discretion and integrity when handling confidential information.

Benefits & Leaves Manager

Salary Range: $110,000 – $115,000 annually. The salary range for this position is $110,000 – $115,000 per year for employees hired in the Bay Area. The pay range provided in this job posting represents the typical range or starting rate for candidates hired within the Bay Area region. Candidates hired in other California locations may have different starting salaries based on cost of living and market data variations. Factors that may be used to determine your actual starting salary include your education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, the market data for your work location, and internal comparisons to other employees in similar roles.