Benefits Manager (Hybrid)

About the role

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Benefits Manager to support the design, administration, compliance, and continuous improvement of our employee benefits programs in the United States.

Responsibilities

• Manage the administration of employee benefits programs
• Serve as a subject matter expert on benefits-related policies, programs, processes, and employee inquiries
• Manage escalated benefits issues with a high level of customer service, professionalism, and confidentiality
• Ensure plan operations are administered in accordance with plan documents, summary plan descriptions, internal policies, and applicable legal and regulatory requirements
• Partner with internal stakeholders and third-party vendors to ensure accurate and timely administration of benefit plans
• Affiliate with open enrollment planning, execution, employee communications, and system readiness
• Collaborate with HRIS, Payroll, and other teams on benefits system configurations, file feeds, integrations, and process improvements
• Recommend and implement process improvements to increase efficiency, compliance, and employee satisfaction
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations related to employee benefits, such as ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, ACA, Section 125, and other relevant requirements
• Affiliate with plan documentation, summary plan descriptions, notices, reporting, and other required materials
• Coordinate and oversee annual compliance testing, Form 5500 filings, audits, nondiscrimination testing, plan amendments, and required participant notices
• Identify operational or compliance risks and lead corrective action efforts, including coordination of corrections under applicable IRS or DOL programs when needed
• Support committee governance, including preparation of meeting materials, documentation of committee actions, tracking of decisions, and follow-up on action items
• Affiliate with fiduciary committees and senior leadership in fulfilling governance responsibilities related to plan oversight, vendor management, and participant outcomes
• Manage relationships with third-party vendors including third-party administrators, insurance providers, recordkeepers, actuaries, consultants, legal counsel, and other benefit service providers
• Monitor vendor performance against service-level expectations and contractual obligations
• Support RFPs, contract negotiations, fee assessments, and implementation of service model enhancements
• Support benefits strategy by analyzing benefits data (including but not limited to program effectiveness, market competitiveness, employee experience, and cost trends) to support decision-making, reporting, and program recommendations
• Recommend and implement plan design enhancements aligned with company objectives, participant needs, market practices, and regulatory developments
• Evaluate legislative and regulatory changes and provide recommendations regarding plan design, administration, communications, and operational impacts
• Partner with vendors to develop and oversee communication strategies to support employee education and communications to improve understanding and utilization of benefit programs
• Draft and/or review employee-facing communication materials for accuracy and effectiveness
• Partner with Benefit Operations Manager to monitor and audit benefits processes, data integrity, payroll deductions, eligibility files, and vendor performance to identify and resolve issues
• Maintain strong internal controls over plan administration, payroll interfaces, reconciliations, and financial reporting
• Lead support for internal and external audits

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• 5+ years of progressive experience in benefits administration, benefits consulting, total rewards, or a related HR function
• Broad knowledge of U.S. employee benefits programs and applicable regulations
• Experience supporting multi-state employee populations
• Experience working with benefits vendors, consultants, carriers, and internal cross-functional partners
• Strong knowledge of benefits compliance requirements and plan administration best practices
• Strong project leadership and organizational skills, with demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, solve problems, and drive projects forward in a fast-paced environment
• Demonstrated experience managing complex vendor relationships and large-scale implementations and benefits program changes
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data, identify trends, and make recommendations
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex benefits information clearly
• Strategic thinker with enterprise mindset and strong execution orientation
• Strong financial acumen and attention to detail, including experience with budgeting, forecasting, and cost management
• Commitment to confidentiality
• Collaborative and cross-functional mindset
• Proficiency with HRIS (Workday), payroll systems (ADP Globalview), Microsoft, and benefits administration platforms